Jason Wright confers with his coach on his way to shooting a 77 in the second round. (Photo: The PGA of America)

October 5, 2008 -- The rain held off as the putts fell during an exciting Day 2 of the 2008 Special Olympics Golf National Invitational Tournament played here today at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Fla.

Jason Wright of Ozark, Mo., shot a second-round 77 with an eagle at #11 and two birdies at #10 and #15 on PGA Golf Club's Ryder course in the Level 5 Individual 18-Hole Stroke Play competition. This follows Wright's first-round 86 where he had a birdie on #9. Wright predicted a gold medal performance yesterday and shared his strategy for tomorrow's final round. "I need to play hard and finish strong tomorrow," Wright said. "I'm especially excited about playing with my friend Joel Murray from Louisiana. We only get to see each other here at this tournament."

Wright joins more than 200 golfers from 24 U.S. Special Olympics programs who are competing on PGA Golf Club's Ryder and Wanamaker courses, Oct. 4-6.

As part of a worldwide sports training and competition program for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, Special Olympics golf offers five levels of play for athletes with different golf abilities. Level I consists of an individual skills contest, where six golf skills are tested. Level II is an alternate shot team play, where a Special Olympics athlete is paired with a non-Special Olympics partner of more advanced skill for a 9-hole competition. Level III is Unified Sports team play, pairing Special Olympics and Unified partners of similar ability for an 18-hole competition. Levels IV and V are individual stroke play 9-hole and 18-hole competitions, respectively.

Grace Anne Braxton of Fredericksburg, Va., followed up her personal best 83 yesterday with an 86 in today's women's division of the Level 5 Individual 18-Hole Stroke Play competition. Her play has made an impression on her caddie and first-time Special Olympics volunteer, Jerry Rogak of Port St. Lucie, Fla. "While this is my first time volunteering at Special Olympics, it certainly will not be my last," said Rogak. "I've played competitive tournaments all my life and I am simply amazed at the sportsmanship Special Olympics golfers show during the course of this event. I've found that they genuinely want their fellow players to do well and encourage their every shot. Their reactions to playing the game are inspiring and they just enjoy the chance to play. It will make me play differently moving forward."

Special Olympics golfer Erika Johnson and playing partner Wayne Wilbanks of Murphy, Texas, shot a second-round 49 for a two day total 98 and lead of the co-ed division of the Level 2 9-Hole Alternate Shot Team Play competition. Wilbanks said Ericka started them off with a 200-yard drive straight down the middle. "We have a new nickname for Erika -- Bamm-Bamm," said Wilbanks. "She played beautifully today and is hitting the ball so well."

Wilbanks is a teacher at Wylie (Texas) High School and first met Johnson as a student six years ago in his Junior ROTC class. Johnson learned about Wilbank's love of the game and they have been playing golf together at Woodbridge Golf Club in Wylie since then. Johnson, age 20, graduated Wylie High School in 2006 and now works at the local AMC Movie Theater.

The tournament closed day two with a special Banquet for athletes, partners, coaches and family members at the PGA Learning Center. The banquet program featured speaker Steve Harmon, Golfweek Deputy Editor, who entertained the audience with stories on the newsmakers of golf in 2008 including the most recent U.S. Ryder Cup team win at Valhalla Golf Club. Harmon is volunteering on Monday in the final round and helping present awards during the closing ceremony.

The final round begins Monday, Oct. 6, with an 8:30 a.m. shotgun start and award presentations beginning at noon. Team departures will begin at approximately 3:00 p.m.

Top-Scores Day 1:

(full results at www.PGAMediaCenter.com)

Level 5 ~ 18-Hole Individual Stroke Play

Jason Wright, Ozark, Mo. -- 86-77 163

Tyler Lagasse, Tynsboro, Mass. -- 87-79--166

Brian Shahan, Cordova, Md. -- 83-83--166

Grace Anne Braxton, Fredericksburg, Va. -- 83-86--169

Level 4 ~ 9-Hole Individual Stroke Play

Mitchell Hern, Alexandria, Minn. -- 50-46--96

David Johnson, Ft. Myers, Fla. -- 48-54--102

Wesley Williams, Mystic, Conn. -- 49-53--102

Level 3 ~ 18-Hole Unified Sports Team Play

Raymond/Raymond, Columbia, S.C. --95-88 183

Setzer/Adams, Memphis, Tenn. -- 102-98--200

Rohrer/Rohrer, York, S.C. -- 79-DQ DQ

Level 2 ~ 9-Hole Alternate Shot Team Play

Johnson/Wilbanks, Murphy, Texas -- 49-49 98

Binggeli/Binggeli, Clarkesville, Ind. -- 49-49 98

Level 1 ~ Individual Skills Competition

Lori Thomas, Orlando, Fla. -- 50-69--119

William O'Shields, Raleigh, N.C. -- 66-53--119

Devonta Hamblet, Tuscaloosa, Ala. -- 57-59--116

For more information on the tournament, The PGA or PGA Golf Club, please visit www.PGA.com. For more information on Special Olympics, please visit www.specialolympics.org.

Contact: Sherry Major, PGA of America, 305.318.5208