January 20, 2005

DUBLIN, OH — Jason Ridgeway was caught at the local range just days after signing for his 2nd straight Open Championship.  Jason Ridgeway signed to play his 2nd major championship in the Pennsylvania mountains.  He signs as the 44th player and 13th player from Ohio.

"Ridgey, if we could get some opening thoughts, we'll go through your card, birdies, bogeys, and we'll go to Q&A," said Tom McCauley at the 2004 SNN Post Game Show last June.  What came next was not expected, but sometimes the truth hurts.

"Well, I've got to get the missed putts out of the way first," said Jason Ridgeway.  "What a disappointing finish.  For all of the pars, birdies, and long putts during Round 1 and 2, it really did not matter if you cannot close the deal.  I was the complete opposite during final round play and that was quite disappointing."

Ridgeway blamed the pressure and his awful start.  "I started out missing the fairway and bogeying the first 3 holes," said Ridgey of his final round. "Kind of not a good way to start. Pretty much set the tone at that point."

After the bogey on the first 3 holes, he settled down with 1 birdie and 4 pars to finish the front side.   "He never got nice lines or a nice pace on his putts," said McCauley of his 36-point round.  "The fact that he was in the lead and playing an average golfer with 3 birdies on the final day brought him no comfort level."

"I felt very fortunate to be paired with Hoden," said Ridgeway. "Not that playing with Davis or Hevy Jo would have been any different, but I think Hoden played a little better than he expected as a rookie.  We had some nice conversations out there. He was rooting me along. I kept making pars and bogeys. It was a pleasure to play with him."

Ridgeway placed 2nd in a field of 48 players at Tanglewood Park in 2004.  He shot rounds of 60, 60, and 34 NOOG points.

"Jason is just trying to win a golf tournament," said McCauley.  "Whether it's a major or a regular event, that is paramount to him.  He just wants to win.  He would be very honored to win our tournament. So I'm sure that is his goal in June."

The 2005 Carl Spackler Open begins in 139 days near Pottsville, PA.  The venue selected is in the mountains and commands accuracy.