June 10, 2009

AMHERST, VA — The Carl Spackler Open will play its 2009 version of the tournament practice round today in Amherst, VA. Ray Flanagan, Fernando Martinez, and Randon Mineweaser plan to lead the 76 players through the course. The optional round will be used to work out those final swing flaws and get to know the beautiful Poplar Grove Golf Club.

"I really would like to not only play well today, but make some very important notes along the way", says Martinez. "I really think the woods will stay in the bag more than usual and I will rely on my 5 and 7 iron."

Greg Long, Greg Garrett, and Kevin Long, Jr. on the other hand have played the course before and plan to have fun and get to the know the course in a much bigger way. "I think my bad shots are out of my system", said Garrett. "Hopefully things will be getting better with less sleep and more beer."

The Carl Spackler Open will be begin Round 1 tommorrow afternoon at 10:00AM EST. There are 88 players that signed letters of intent and will arrive by 11:45PM EST. The annual player meeting begins first thing Thursday morning. Tom McCauley's Wednesday golf clinic has been cancelled because he is a hacker now. Jason Ridgeway has stepped up to replace him.

Tom Fowble, winner of the 2003 Golden Jacket, has already arrived and plans to get a full day at Poplar Grove. Greg Long, winner of the 2001 Jacket and rookie Bobby Owens, Jr. arrived yesterday for two long days of practice at Poplar Grove Golf Club.

Practice round scorecards will begin to flush the website starting at 6:00PM EST tonight. Scorecards will be entered quickly between 5:30PM EST and 7:30PM EST. Round 1 tournament scoring will begin to flush the website Thursday starting at 2:30PM EST.