March 15, 2004

BRUNSWICK, OH — Mike Certo is in the same place as he was a year ago, but miles ahead in his golf game and suddenly firing at pins in every attempt to win his first On Tour Championship.

"Hopefully, this year, it'll work out better," said Certo, who hit just one fairway on February 28, the last round played by Mike.  "Last year I wasn't playing very well at all," Certo said. "With experience, I was able to hold on last year under adverse swing thoughts, I guess you would say.

Certo complained to the Spackler Business Office in January after the media described the Ohioan's swing as enough to make Ben Hogan "puke."

Mike said his swing wasn't "pretty," but will be effective enough to beat at least half the field this summer.  "Sure my swing mightn't be all that pretty, but I get the job done," Certo said of the assessment. "I've plan to get the winner's check and there's a lot of other guys that swing it really good and they will be broke."

Along with winning nine professional majors, Ben Hogan was renowned for his endless pursuit of perfection and spent hours on the practice range honing the most envied swing in golf.

Certo signed to play the 2004 Carl Spackler Open on June 10 in Winston-Salem, NC.  Mike signed in December as the 8th player in the field above the age of 45.