April 18, 2005

POTTSVILLE, PA — Today we remember the 2nd annual Carl Spackler Open.  The anniversary of Mike Trojanowski's rise to stardom.  The anniversary of Matt Davis proudly standing on the first tee.

After nearly finishing double, double, triple bogey during the Wednesday afternoon practice round, Matt was leading the field in golf apparel. Nothing was going to stop him for starting this major championship with fire.

At the tee box, pointing at his newly Carl Spackler designed golf shirt, Matt Davis straightened up to say, "Nice shirt huh!". Continuing with a grin, "My mom made three shirts including Tiger red on Saturday."

Instead, he got the shock of his golfing life. "Isn't there a S in Williamsburg", Brian Flanagan asked him. "Well Yes!" replied Davis. "I think you are missing a S", Flanagan replied.

"There should be a two-stroke penalty for stupidity like this", remarked CEO, Jamie Myers. Davis did not take his hat and throw it angrily at the ground. He did not even grab the his driver and toss it off the tee box. As if he was in shock, he thought it was cool.

"At that moment, I felt like I had been kicked in the teeth," Jay Dilks said. "It wasn't even my shirt." A day that had begun with such promise for the fading 31-year-old amateur now appeared on the verge of ruin. With so many players looking for an early lead, giving up the mental game sunk Davis on the spot. "The first few holes I felt really lousy. I got plugged on the fourth and everything seemed to be going against me," he said. "At that time, I felt like picking it up and walking in."

Davis said it was his responsibility to check the shirt for errors before leaving his mom's house. "You want me to stand here and make excuses?" Davis said. "There is no excuse. The buck stops at me. My fault, but if I win the Horses Ass Award, the trophy will go on my mom's store window."

Davis did not take home the Horses Ass Award in 2002.  Instead Mike Watkeys drove the golf cart at full speed into a tree.  He flew through the windsheld with his tequila sunrise.

Great memories in 2002 have continued to resurface each April 18.  As players get ready for the biggest tournament yet, everyone is anxiously awaiting June 9.