April 27, 2009

POWELL, OH — Bill Bateson, winner of nothing, has been playing golf for as long as anyone can remember. He has developed his powerful sweaping draw into something some players envy. He had a chance to close the deal at Scioto Reserve when some round killers sent him packing.

"This might just be the year of the round killer," says Greg Long. "Bateson had a chance to reclassify himself in the golf industry as a solid "A" player, but let another round get away from him."

Bateson shot a 12-over 84 and scored 70 points on Saturday. He finished his 137th posted round with a triple-bogey and double-bogey. Billy continues to dream about breaking 80.

"I was playing pretty decent nothing spectacular until the 8th hole," said Bateson. "Par 3 playing 145, hit a 8 iron that lipped the cup and stop 3 inches behind the hole for my first birdie of 2009."

The back nine had crazy 30mph winds. Bateson started off lousy on the back nine with a double on the par 5 10th by hitting his drive into the water on the left. He had a 3 putt bogey on 11.

"I arrived to the 16th hole, which is a par 3 measuring 200," said Bill Bateson. "I played it at 230 with my 3 wood and put it about 10 feet away for my 2nd birdie of the day. I needed to par the last two holes for a career-low 79."

Bill stood up on the tee box at the 17th, with a crazy right to left wind and hooked his drive into the water. He took a drop, chunked his 3rd shot just short of the creek, and hit his 4th onto the green, and 3 putted from there.

"The 18th was playing directly into the wind," said Bateson. "I hit a lousy tee shot short of the creek and fairway in our very thick rough, duffed my second just over the creek, hit my 3rd short and left of the green, chipped on and 2 putted for a round killing finish."

The round was his best of the year and best since October 2008. The two birdies provided Bill 18 of his 70 points.

The round killers at 17 and 18 will haunt Bill Bateson for sometime. He enters the 2009 Virtual Tournament in a tie for 18th position with 55.7 points per round.