June 30, 2004

WARREN, PA — Three-time spelling bee Champion Jim Zavinski has never thrived at golf.  At least not until he entered the 2004 On Tour Championship as a rookie.  Zavinski has been climbing up the board for months and is just one step from entering the Top 10.  A 40-point effort at Yankee Run and 41-point effort at Tam O Shanter Golf Club has established him as a player to consider.

The 38-year-old Pennsylvanian, whose last victory came in 1983 at the Warren County Spelling Bee, was struggling with quad bogeys and higher until this week in Ohio.

"These golf courses played like my home course," Zavinski told reporters.  "They were difficult golf courses, but my game is strong right now.  The course demands a strong game from the tee, but the greens are very, very good and have a lot of variety which I liked.  That is where I took advantage."

"I left the course with a good taste in my mouth, but the tricky last hole deserved a stubborn look after a triple bogey."