June 16, 2002

POWELL, OH — Ohio boy Bill Bateson announced he will begin to play amateur golf at a news conference in Columbus, Ohio on Saturday.  Bateson, 31, registered a few weeks ago and has made a verbal committment to the 2003 Carl Spackler Open Championship.

?I feel that the time is right for me to register for this premier event,? Bateson said. ?It has always been my dream to enter an amateur golf tournament and I think I am ready for that.  Bill plans to play a full summer golf schedule.

Bateson signed in late May.  He said Saturday that no club or ball deals would be accepted for the next three months because he wants to get comfortable playing tournament golf.

The 2003 Carl Spackler Open date is scheduled to be released in two weeks.  Rumors have surfaced that the major will be played in Ohio, West Virginia or Pennsylvania.