January 28, 2010

HILLIARD, OH — Greg Garrett, the winner of 3-straight Golden Rods and 2009 Skills Challenge Contest, signed in mid-January as the 16th golfer to play golf at the Open Championship. Garrett attends his 9th-straight tournament as the 4th best putter in Spackler history with a few golfers in his legendary ball park.

"My putting has been off a smidge over the last couple of years, but still remains rock solid," said Garrett. "It has been great watching my short game talents get exposed in a national environment."

Greg Garrett lost the Golden Rod in 2008 to Trent Cooper by a very narrow margin. He submitted his required registration paperwork with his traditional signature and motto, "Putts do break if you hit it hard enough."

Garrett history includes the 2002 Stroke Award, 2003 4-man Scramble, 2004 & 2009 Skills Challenge Contest, 2004-2007 Golden Rod, and 2007 Longest Drive. He also played in the final pairing in April 2002 and June 2005, but failed in both attempts to acquire a Golden Jacket.

As a member of the Captains Club, Greg Garrett joins Chris Philipsen as Vice Pesident of Online Scoring. Both are expected to enter 200 scorecards and 3,600 scores. Garrett slips to the 36th best golfer in Spackler tournament history with a career best 5th place finish in Williamsburg.

"Garrett is one of our MVP's," said Jason Watson from his home in Dallas, TX. "It has been a pleasure to see the tournament grow with guys like him."

Greg Garrett, a.k.a. Double G, finished the 2009 Virtual Tournament with a tie for 46th position. He opens the golf season with a higher 14.0 stroke handicap.

Jason Ridgeway returns for his 7th straight year, but for the first time with wife and child. The effects of the commitment are unknown. His signing continues to load up Ohio representation. "I know the history," said Ridgeway of Carl Spackler Open. "The Golden Jacket has resided in Ohio for 6 of the 9 years."

Ridgeway, winner of the 2007-2009 Columbus Ohio City Championship, signs as the 17th player and clearly the best stroke handicap in the field. Ridgeway enters the 2010 tournament as the 2nd best golfer in Spackler history. He also holds the 6th best putter in history.

"I have decided to enter the golf tournament for a 7th time to beat Kyle Marti yet again," said Ridgeway from his office in Dublin, OH. "Just like Ohio State beats Michigan, I plan to beat Kyle Marti and his improved (from extreme hacking to moderate hacking) swing. I am looking forward to this year's tournament and the venue that has been selected. It should be another great year of drinking, friends, golf and great stories to tell."

Jason finished 12th in 2009, 7th in 2008, 2nd in 2007, 8th in 2006, and 2nd in 2004. The lone disaster occured at Mountain Valley in 2005 when Ridgeway finished 44th. "I blame Tobash for essentially getting cut in 2005 event," said Ridgeway. "Those greens were cut like my office rug."

The 2010 Carl Spackler Open Championship begins on April 14 with the traditional practice round. There are 40 to 60 participants expected to sign for the 10th annual event.