February 11, 2005

CHESTERVILLE, OH — Mike Watkeys, the current owner of the Carl Spackler Outfit, announced late in January that he would return for his 4th straight year if his late registration would be accepted with a large apology.  Watkeys scared the field of players throughout last month as his name continued to be left off the list.

Mike Trojanowski of the Captains Club made the unprecedented announcement.  With a breath of fresh air, Mike started, "We are very excited about Mike's opportunity to return to the gentlemen's club in Pennsylvania. There is nothing like having our Carl Spackler back.  It is just disappointing that we will have to wait 117 more days."

Mike Watkeys started last year's tournament with 136 strokes including 73 strokes on the back nine.  "We were all surprised with Watkeys decision on 47th place," says Trojanowski.  "His first round performance included only 11 points.  We could have given him 3 points for triple bogey and he would have opened the tournament with 20 points."

Watkeys has not mentioned golf since his 47th place finish in 2004. Mike also holds half of the all-time record for the worst round of golf in Spackler history with 9 points.  His 2nd round in Williamsburg (April 2002) was incredibly poor shooting 128 strokes.  The round came one day after he slammed a golf cart into a tree going full speed.

Watkeys holds the 2002 Horses Ass honor and the current Crapper Award as the worst golfer in Spackler history.

Watkeys has nearly guaranteed an improvement. Watkeys received 1 point for double bogey and 2 points for bogey for the last 3 years.  He is scheduled to receive much more bulk in 2005 with 2 points for double bogey and 3 points for bogey.  "He is actually scheduled for 6 points for par," says Mike Trojanowski.  "He should be in good shape."

The 2005 Carl Spackler Open is scheduled to begin in 116 days. The field doubled from 9 players in 2001, to 18 in 2002.  It nearly doubled again in 2003 with 32 players. Once again, the field doubles with 66 players in 2005.  Watkeys signs as the 66th player and will once again represent the state of Ohio.