August 20, 2005

COLUMBUS, OH — Todd Flanagan became the 27th Loozer to sign for this year's event when he told his brother he was coming and gave him $150. While there really was no doubt that Todd would show up, Butter did have some anxious moments. "He kept telling me he had no money to come this year," Butter said to the gathered media this week. "I didn't know if he was serious or if he thought I would pay for him to come. He knows that may have been an option a couple kids ago, but not now." When asked if he wasn't helping out his brother because he was still upset about losing the MELC to Todd last year by one point, Butter got up and walked away without saying anything else.

Other late additions include Jack Kaniecki, Mark Kaniecki and two of Mark's co-workers, rookies Alex "Bulzie" Bonomo and "Little Joe" Reynolds. These two rookies look to challenge Greg Long for the individual low score trophy. While the rookies have posted some impressive scores this summer, it will be interesting to see how they fare away from their home courses under the pressure of the Golfapalooza atmosphere. "I'm willing to bet these rookies have not had to make putts with people throwing pine cones at them," Founding Father Brent Kaniecki said. "The group sitting on the hill at 18 will be interested to see how they can handle it."

Thirty-two days are left until the Wednesday practice round tees off.