June 1, 2012

CONKLIN, NY — The remaining stretch to the 2012 Carl Spackler Open is short. Only a few available hours are left for the tournament field to get in their last rounds of practice and work out the kinks in their game. The stakes remain the same, a tournament purse and trophy are just the salad to the steak. The Golden Jacket is the prize everyone is seeking.

The field has several familiar faces that are sure to draw crowds of local fans out to the fairway edges to watch for missile-like balls rocketing towards their faces. Mike Davis, Chris Milam, and particularly the return of Jay Glover have all signed to participate.

"This course is really in trouble," exclaimed a zealous Allan Hench. "I feel like I am really going to extend my can of whoop ass from last year. The true rolling greens is the kinda edge that has me excited." Hench and Bob Morris are two of several players that could be leading the pack after round one. Unfortuately, Bob Morris' Carl Spackler Open history has him easily ignored.

The reigning champion, Jay Dilks, returns to see if lightening will strike twice in the Appalachian Mountains. "Winning this tournament changed my life," said Dilks from his home in Oil City, PA. "I can hardly believe it has been a year and certaintly never expected to become a household name. I have seen Rick Dosky and Jay Myers win this thing as hackers, but never considered rounds in the high 70's and low 80's would ever win this thing. It has been eye opening and a pleasure to be your champion."

Mark Wray is looking to rebound from his showings in Michigan, Indiana, Virginia, Texas, and Pennsylvania. "Everyone has no choice but to think my game sucks," says Wray. "I realize that shining this year will not prevent me from taking home the Crapper Award. This year's tournament is all about obtaining some respect."

Greg Garrett turned 50 in mid-May and fully expected to play from the senior tees. "I have added lots of wedges this year. How many clubs are allowed in a golf bag?"

Rookie Eric Dahlin enters the tournament as a rookie and with home field advantage. Matt Mogel, Mark Vacca, Mike Trojanowski, Jon Munksgard, Greg Long, Mike Lewis, Kyle Marti, Greg Garrett, Jon Marti, and Barry Cederquist are the players bringing Conklin Players Club knowledge from a past visit.

Conklin Players Club has been appreciated by players on the New York-Pennsylvania border since it opened in 1991. The course started without an experienced architect and it continues without a professional. The course will host its first major starting on June 7.

Mark Roner and Corey Carter come to their first major championship with gold in their hearts and fear in their eyes of the outfits. Their ability or inability to manage the course, its hazards, and most importantly the rookie jitters will be represented on the Tournament Leaderboard by Thursday afternoon.

"I am not as concerned about winning the tournament," says rookie Eric Dahlin. "My fear is being forced to throw the golf tournament in the final round so that I do not get a hazing."

The golf facility is rumored to provide near perfect conditions and golfers will not be granted too many excuses for poor play.

The winner of the 2012 Carl Spackler Open is expected to be ignore the rain and remain focused. The tournament field of 63 golfers comes from 15 states plus Jamaica. Players will represent Texas, California, Missouri, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Massachuetts, New Jersey, Washington DC, Virginia, North Carolina, Indiana, and Florida.

The golf tournament will be scored live for its first time in 12 years. "The website will populate golfer scorecards hole-by-hole and have a live Leaderboard that updates by the minute," says Captains Club member Brian Long. "We have confirmed 15 scorers and expecting to confirm another 6 prior to the practice round."

The annual practice round will commence on June 6, 2012 at 2:00PM EST. The round is 19 holes, which will include both Hole 7's.

Several stories are sure to surface as the tournament nears and players begin their migration to New York. Who will be the next Cinderella story? Who will be the next Horse's Ass? Who will be the next to create a moment that falls into Spackler lore?