September 12, 2003

TERRA ALTA, WV — The Founding Father Brian Flanagan is ready for the 2nd major of 2003. That major in West Virginia is better known as Golfapalooza. "We have been talking about 2002 for a year and feel like it was yesterday," he told in a conference call on Thursday. "As time progressed, and yesterday watching Brian Flanagan hitting balls on the range, it has just reinforced that is excited."

Golfapalooza 2003, which takes place at Alpine Lake Golf Resort from Sept 25-27, is golf's 2nd major championship of the year. Flanagan insists, however, that the excitement level for Golfapalooza will be just as high as the Carl Spackler Open.

"From a media standpoint it has been a little quieter -- there's been no qualifying and no founding father picks which are usually exciting," he said. "But Rick Dosky, Jason Watson, Greg Long, Brian Flanagan, Gus Sokos, Greg Garrett and Don McFarland have been waiting a year for this and have been excited for a year."

"As last year, I am hoping to stay out of the emergency room this year", said Greg Long. Greg escorted a player to the local hospital in 2001 from alcohol poisoning. "As a precaution, we have proactively obtained wristbands again with player social security numbers. Hopefully that will simplify things at the hospital."

Flanagan said that another doctor will be available this year to assist Gus Sokos in medical duties.  The "AssMan" Mehul Patel has joined the 2003 field as a rookie.  The proctologist comes from Pittsburgh, PA and plans to make an impact if needed.  With the Assman in town, Flanagan will be forced to remind everyone that they will continue to be "under the microscope". "It means more now, we have become larger as a group," he said.

Tee times for Round 1 have been published on the Golfapalooza portion of the website. Live scoring will begin Thursday evening through Saturday evening.