June 10, 2011

BARNESVILLE, PA — The 11th playing of the Carl Spackler Open is underway. The world's finest players converged on Barnesville, PA to research and play the tournament site, Mountain Valley Golf Course. Defending champion Jay Myers, whose sizzling performance during the 2010 Carl Spackler Open set a variety of all-time records, has been joined in Barnesville by the best amateur golfers.

As usual for its premier event, Mountain Valley has toughened up its courses. The tournament has been set at 6,450 yards using the logo tees.

"It is time to get it on," says Brian 'Butter' Flanagan. "This is where we separate the men from the boys."

Perhaps the biggest challenge facing the tournament field is hot and humid weather. The heat index yesterday touched 100 degrees, incorporating mid-90 degree temperatures and 90% humidity. The eventual winner must not only overcome one of the toughest tests in championship golf, but stifling playing conditions. Combine that with making shots during the heat of competition, and the champion of the 2011 Carl Spackler Open will certainly have earned his first-place credit of $300, Golden Jacket, and Championship Trophy.

Headlines were burning this past week with reflections of Jay Myers amazing win in South Padre Island last April 2010 and Jason Watson's club slipping out of his hands and landing in a golf course homeowner's swimming pool.

If you're stuck at work and are hoping to catch a little something online, you can find a few cameras displaying continuous action on SNN, or you can follow the Tournament Leaderboard online, grab updates on leaders, scores and hole by hole statistics.

TV Times for the U.S. Open (all times are local, eastern time)

Friday, June 10 (SNN: 4:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.)

Saturday, June 11 (SNN: 8:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.)

Saturday, June 11 (SNN: 5:00 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. (rebroadcast))

Sunday, June 12 (SNN: 10:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.)

Sunday, June 12 (SNN: 5:00 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. (rebroadcast))