Mainer to defend virtual golf title

BANGOR, Maine – A Bangor man with multiple sclerosis is preparing to defend his title as reigning champion in an international cybergolf competition.

Paul Willey, 38, gained a reputation last year as the Tiger Woods of online golf when he captured the top prize of $100,000 by winning the WingspanBank.com Virtual Golf Association Tour.

This year’s tour, which begins on June 25th, will comprise players from 12 countries.

In virtual golf, mouse clicks supplant shots and video mimics the course. The final last year simulated Hawaii’s Hapuna course, in windy conditions with fast greens.

Willey, who uses a motorized wheelchair, has been playing computer golf since 1986, seven years before he was diagnosed with MS. He began entering tournaments in 1996.

Because the disease can cause Willey’s hand to go into spasm and his strength to wane, the computer game is physically challenging. He has to cope with fatigue, pain and the tremors that can affect his shot.

But there is no evidence of any problems in his performance. He has averaged 282 yards per drive, hitting greens with 89 percent of his approach shots and boasting a scoring average of 58.56.

Willey has been ranked No. 1 in the world about 80 percent of the time since 1996. The tournament is co-sponsored by Microsoft.