June 15, 2012

BINGHAMTON, NY — Over a set of beautiful days where a number of golfers thought they were playing golf inside their house with the ceiling fan on, Andy Hanks was piling up the points. The best course conditions in tournament history, very slight breeze, cloud cover, and 68 to 70 degree temperatures left everyone thinking about the golf tournament and their golf swings.

Andy Hanks opened Round 1 with double-bogey at the first hole and then repeated that double-bogey at the second hole. Hope was nearly lost as quickly as it started. Hanks closed the first nine holes with a unimpressive 8-over 43.

Hanks moved over to the back nine where he carded birdies at the island green 10th hole and the final hole, which proved to be no match for Hanks all week.

Hanks entered his 4th tournament averaging 3.4 double-bogeys, 4.8 bogeys, 6.9 pars, and 1.93 birdies per round. He completed the first round of the 54-hole golf tournament with 2 doubles, 4 bogeys, 10 pars, and 2 birdies.

Hanks opened the 2012 Carl Spackler Open with a 6-over 78 while opening with two double-bogeys. The incredible back nine resulted in an impressive round and one of only three rounds played by anyone under 80 strokes. The rare round in the 70's was good for 70 points and 12 points behind the leader (Jim Brewster).

Andy returned for "moving day" and did his best to throw away the tournament through the first 9 holes. The dreadful 9-over 45 was saved by a 8-point two-putt birdie at the 9th hole.

The final 10 holes were something of a dream. Hanks birdied the 9th hole, eagled the 12th hole, and then eagled the final hole. He scored 55 points on the back nine and 63 points during the final 10 holes.

"I have been waiting for someone with a golf game to stop making excuses about their handicap and go out there and score me some points," says Captains Club member Greg Long. "I saw it once before during the final round at Rock Hollow Golf Club, but it was too late for Marty Zabonik after one of the worst starts in Spackler history. I was very glad to see Mr. Hanks score 81 points while shooting a dreadful front nine. It was confirmation of what I have been saying for a decade."

Andy Hanks had every reason to doubt himself as he heard the media and players on the range say, "He is leading because of eagles. He cannot repeat that. Low handicappers cannot win this tournament."

Hanks opened Saturday's round as the leader and with a 7-point lead. Rookie Mark Roner charged early, often, and quickly. The Floridian scored a 12-year record-high 90 points on Saturday. He had the lead down the stretch.

Andy carded two birdies through 16 holes and was in second place. He had done enough to win almost any previous tournament, but Roner was doubling his pars and tripling his bogey production while in New York. Hanks birdied the 53rd and 54th holes to win the 2012 Carl Spackler Open by two points.

He finished with 222 points and won by 2 points over Mark Roner and 18 points over Jim Brewster.

Hanks graciously won the 2012 Carl Spackler Open, Golden Jacket, Golden Hat, Winners Trophy, and rotating Championship Trophy. He also took home a $300 credit to the 2013 Carl Spackler Open.

Hanks is the third player from Pennsylvania to win the golf tournament. He follows Steve Hoden, who won the tournament back in June 2004 and previous champion Jay Dilks. Hanks is also the 3rd "A" player or single-digit handicap in the past 5 years to win a Golden Jacket.