April 20, 2009

WINDSOR MILL, MD — The drama continues, at least as far as the Virtual Tournament is concerned. Scott Mealey hit a near record 96 points as he stunned the tournament field and grabbed the top spot in season-long event. The +28 stroke handicap has completely reinvented himself after nearly double-bogey golf for nearly 5 years.

Mealey, a.k.a. Red Zone Violator, fired 7 pars last Friday at Diamond Ridge Golf Course. "Unstoppable!" shouted Mealey after 4 holes. "How do you contain 96 points in 18 holes? You can't. You won't. You just sit and watch a legend in the making."

Mealey also carded 6 bogeys. The round, 13-over 85, was the lowest career round for Mealey with 50 career posts. It was the 2nd highest point total behind Matt Davis' 102 points.

"A round of lifetime," said Mealey of his 96 points. "I was like the old guy in Caddyshack all day, 'this is the greatest day of my life!' It was supposed to rain in the afternoon, then didn't. I told my buddy at the 9th hole, I didn't care if it starts pouring rain, I am finishing this round."

Mealey routinely hit fairway after fairway. If that is far from believed, he also hit green after green. The Red Zone Violator never 3 putted.

"I had the best driving day, chipping day and putting day all at the same time," said Mealey. "I kept shaking my head all day, like I couldn't believe each shot was going straight."

Mealey played the day before, which definitely helped. He shot 111 in a tough cold wind at a hard course and was getting accustomed to the newly purchased irons.

Scott returned to the golf on Sunday. He shot an impressive 25-over 97 worth 77 points. "The second best round since April 2004," says Jeremy Myers. "This hacker is leaving a fellow hacker behind."

He carded 6 bogeys and 3 pars at Mount Pleasant on Sunday. He now understands and can identify a sports defined zone.

One thing is for sure. The 96-point round will never be counted for handicapping because the best of 15 scorecards never counts. It is thrown out with the four worst rounds.

The monsterous rounds allowed Mealey to enter the Virtual Tournament in first position in both points and USGA Handicapping. He presently leads with 67.5 points per round and 1.8 points per round ahead of Matthew Boland of St. Louis.