THE 2009 SOUTHERN TOUR: 2009 Tour Schedule 2009 Tour Letter 2009 Tour Statistics 2009 Pro Hole-by-hole Statistics 2009 APA Hole-by-hole Statistics2009 SOUTHERN TOUR EVENTS: March 14 - Burlington, NC March 15 - Burlington, NC March 21 - Martinsville, VA March 21 - Martinsville, VA March 22 - Martinsville, VA (SPT Match Play Championship) April 25 - White Lake, NC April 25 - White Lake, NC April 26 - White Lake, NC (25th Annual Carolinas' Open) May 30 - High Point, NC May 30 - High Point, NC May 31 - High Point, NC June 13 - Martinez, GA June 13 - Martinez, GA June 14 - Martinez, GA July 4 - Gastonia, NC July 5 - Gastonia, NC July 18-19 - Martinez, GA (PPA Southern Open) August 1 - Winston-Salem, NC August 2 - Winston-Salem, NC August 8-9 - Burlington, NC (35th Annual Elton Davis Memorial) August 22 - High Point, NC August 23 - High Point, NC (NC State Championship)
September 5 - Martinez, GA September 6 - Martinez, GA (Georgia State Championship) Sept 14-19 - Orlando, FL (Week of the Nationals) October 3-4 - Burlington, NC (SPT Tour Championship) October 10-11 - Lynchburg, VA (2009 Clayton Cup and Hancock Cup Matches) 2009 SOUTHERN Tour Committee: Tony Jackson - Chairman Jeff Carr - Vice-Chairman and Secretary Rick Baird - Treasurer Frank Warren - Statistician Rick Rybaczek Ricky Schults Greg Newport Larry Smith - APA Representative Todd Trent - APA Representative  2008 PPA Southern Tour Champion Rick Culverhouse
 2008 APA Southern Tour Champion Ben Blake
SOUTHERN TOUR PPA CHAMPIONS: 2008 - Rick Culverhouse 2007 - Jay Klapper 2006 - Vince Batten SOUTHERN TOUR APA CHAMPIONS: 2008 - Ben Blake 2007 - Larry Smith 2006 - Caleb Kennedy NORTH CAROLINA STATE PPA CHAMPIONS: 2008 - Ricky Schults 2007 - Jeff Carr 2006 - Brad Lebo 2005 - Brad Lebo 2004 - Gary English 2003 - Vince Batten 2002 - Ray Guthrie 2001 - Andy Coradini 2000 - Greg Ward 1999 - Bart Bason 1998 - Bill Kirby, Jr. 1997 - Todd Barfield 1996 - Peter Neumann 1995 - Glenwood Arrington 1994 - Bill Kirby, Jr. 1993 - Bob Davis 1992 - Bill Kirby, Jr. 1991 - John Crawford 1990 - Danny Dore 1989 - Todd Barfield 1988 - Jimmy Mott 1987 - Randy Livesay 1986 - Terry Phillips 1985 - Terry Phillips 1984 - Charlie Davis 1983 - Steve Lyon 1982 - Bill Kirby, Jr. 1981 - Ed Haggerty 1980 - Daryl Hayden 1979 - Ed Haggerty 1978 - Sam Baucom 1977 - Ed Haggerty 1976 - Steve Lyon 1975 - Eddie Lovett NORTH CAROLINA STATE PPA PLAYERS OF THE YEAR: 2005 - Brad Lebo 2004 - Brad Lebo 2003 - Andy Coradini 2002 - Andy Coradini 2001 - Greg Newport 2000 - Gary Hester 1999 - Greg Newport 1998 - Bart Bason 1997 - Greg Newport 1996 - Mike Brown 1995 - Bill Kirby, Jr. 1994 - Larry Simpson and Bill Kirby, Jr. 1993 - Bill Kirby, Jr. 1992 - Bill Kirby, Jr. 1991 - Bill Kirby, Jr. 1990 - Bill Kirby, Jr. 1989 - Larry Simpson NORTH CAROLINA STATE APA CHAMPIONS: 2008 - Todd Trent 2007 - Chris Alley 2006 - Jeff Carr 2005 - Ricky D. Schults 2004 - Brian Hutchins 2003 - Russell Sigmon, Jr. 2002 - Russell Sigmon, Jr. 2001 - Tommy Hutchinson 2000 - Chris Hudson 1999 - Ray Guthrie 1998 - Billy Caudle 1997 - Jimmy Comer 1996 - Jimmy Comer 1995 - Steve Vaughan 1994 - Adam Smith 1993 - Keith Waters 1992 - Wayne Hancock 1991 - Gary Collins 1990 - Dan Wales 1989 - Michael Foster 1988 - Todd Barfield 1987 - Billy Armstrong 1986 - Scott Anderson 1985 - Wayne Hancock 1984 - Kelly Morris 1983 - Wayne Hancock 1982 - Ken Pierce 1981 - Bill Humbert 1980 - Larry Whitlock 1979 - Dean Dwiggins 1978 - Robin Lipford 1977 - Phillip Riley 1976 - Bob Davis 1975 - Kelly Randall SOUTH CAROLINA STATE PPA CHAMPIONS: 2006 - Greg Ward 2005 - Vince Batten 2004 - Brad Lebo 2003 - Tony Varnadore 2002 - Robert Johnson 2001 - Greg Ward 2000 - Randall Smith 1999 - Jay Klapper 1998 - Dan Anders 1997 - Todd Fowler 1996 - Greg Ward 1995 - Todd Barfield 1994 - Rick Baird 1993 - Greg Ward 1992 - Randy Orr 1991 - Bobby Ward 1990 - Randy Orr 1989 - Randy Orr 1988 - Greg Ward 1987 - Bill Kirby, Jr. 1986 - Dean Dwiggins 1985 - Bill Kirby, Jr. SOUTH CAROLINA STATE APA CHAMPIONS: 2006 - Jeff Carr 2005 - Jeff Carr 2004 - Brian Hutchins 2003 - Ricky D. Schults 2002 - Tommy Hutchinson 2001 - William Glisson 2000 - Tommy Hutchinson 1999 - Brian Hutchins 1998 - Billy Caudle 1997 - Tommy Hutchinson 1996 - Tommy Hutchinson 1995 - Richard Griffin 1994 - Terry Conner 1993 - Richard Griffin 1992 - Lewis Wommer 1991 - Michael Foster 1990 - Kenny Roper 1989 - Rodney Ashley 1988 - Wayne Hancock 1987 - Todd Barfield GEORGIA STATE PPA CHAMPIONS: 2008 - Jeff Carr 2007 - Frank Warren 2006 - Michael Hitt 2003 - Greg Ward 2002 - Randy Reeves GEORGIA STATE APA CHAMPIONS: 2008 - Ben Blake 2007 - Larry Smith 2006 - Vanette Block 2003 - Jeff Carr 2002 - William Glisson FLORIDA STATE PPA CHAMPIONS: 1981 - Gary English 1980 - 1979 - 1978 - Gary English 1977 - Dan Anders 1976 - Joe Joyner ELTON DAVIS MEMORIAL CHAMPIONS: 2008 - Greg Ward 2007 - Tony Jackson 2006 - Rick Culverhouse 2005 - Lance Perdue 2004 - Opie Roberts 2003 - Daryl Freeman 2002 - Greg Newport 2001 - Mike Brown 2000 - Randy Reeves 1999 - Greg Ward 1998 - Greg Ward 1997 - Robert Johnson 1996 - Greg Ward 1995 - Todd Barfield 1994 - Dave Taylor 1993 - Bill Kirby, Jr. 1992 - Larry Simpson 1991 - Darryl Posey 1990 - Greg Ward 1989 - Mark Rainey 1988 - Larry Simpson 1987 - Steve Shively 1986 - Dean Dwiggins 1985 - Austin Jones 1984 - Bill Kirby, Jr. 1983 - Bill Kirby, Jr. 1982 - Ed Haggerty 1981 - Charlie Davis 1980 - Rick Waldorf 1979 - Bill Kirby, Jr. 1978 - Wesley Beck 1977 - Fred Scott 1976 - Bobby Gilmore 1975 - Daryl Freeman CAROLINAS' OPEN CHAMPIONS: 2009 - Randy Reeves 2008 - Vince Batten 2007 - Rick Culverhouse 2006 - Daryl Freeman 2005 - Randy Reeves 2004 - Greg Ward 2003 - Vince Batten 2002 - Greg Ward 2001 - Greg Newport 2000 - Gary Hester 1999 - Kevin Lacey 1998 - Greg Ward 1997 - Todd Barfield 1996 - Greg Ward 1995 - Todd Barfield 1994 - Mike Brown 1993 - Tom Butler 1992 - Greg Newport 1991 - Jeff Estep 1990 - Greg Ward 1989 - Tommy Godfrey 1988 - Jerry Campbell 1987 - Mark Rainey 1986 - Rick Baird 1985 - Greg Ward PALMETTO CLASSIC CHAMPIONS: 2006 - Jay Klapper 2005 - Ray Guthrie 2004 - Michael Hitt 2003 - Frank Warren 2002 - Greg Ward 2001 - Greg Newport 2000 - Greg Newport 1999 - Greg Newport 1998 - Dan Anders 1997 - Allen Wall SOUTHERN PUTTING TOUR HISTORY: SPT All-Time Statistics Thru 2008 2008 SOUTHERN TOUR: 2008 Tour Schedule 2008 Tour Letter (addendum) 2008 Tour Statistics 2008 SPT Pro Hole-by-hole Statistics 2008 SPT APA Hole-by-hole Statistics 2007 SOUTHERN TOUR: 2007 Tour Schedule 2007 Tour Letter 2007 Tour Statistics 2006 SOUTHERN TOUR: 2006 Tour Schedule 2006 Tour Letter 2006 Tour Statistics 2005 NC STATE TOUR: 2005 North Carolina Tour Schedule 2005 North Carolina Tour Letter 2005 North Carolina Tour Statistics 2005 SC TOUR: 2005 Tour Schedule 2005 Tour Letter 2005 Tour Statistics 2004 NC STATE TOUR: 2004 Tour Schedule 2004 Tour Letter 2004 Tour Statistics 2004 SC TOUR: 2004 Tour Schedule 2004 Tour Letter 2004 Tour Statistics 2003 NC STATE TOUR: 2003 Tour Schedule 2003 Tour Letter 2003 Tour Statistics 2003 SC TOUR: 2003 Tour Schedule 2003 Tour Letter 2003 Tour Statistics 2002 NC STATE TOUR: 2002 Tour Schedule 2002 Tour Letter 2002 Tour Statistics 2002 SC TOUR: 2002 Tour Schedule 2002 Tour Letter 2002 Tour Statistics 2001 NC STATE TOUR: 2001 Tour Schedule 2001 Tour Letter 2001 Tour Statistics 2001 SC TOUR: 2001 Tour Schedule 2001 Tour Letter 2001 Tour Statistics 2000 NC STATE TOUR: 2000 Tour Schedule 2000 Tour Letter 2000 Tour Statistics 2000 SC TOUR: 2000 Tour Schedule 2000 Tour Letter 2000 Tour Statistics 1999 NC STATE TOUR: 1999 Tour Results 1999 SC TOUR: 1999 Tour Results 1996 NC STATE TOUR: 1996 Tour Schedule 1996 SC TOUR: 1996 Tour Schedule 1984 NC STATE TOUR: 1984 Tour Schedule 1983 NC STATE TOUR: 1983 Tour Schedule South Carolina Tour History: Complete SC Tour History (1987-2003) (in Microsoft Excel format courtesy of Michael Hitt) | PPA Southern Tour News:Randy Reeves Captures 25th Annual Carolinas' Open Title  Randy Reeves
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26 April 2009 - White Lake, NC - On a sunny, pleasant spring morning, the Southern Putting Tour contested its first major medal play tournament of the season, the 72-hole Carolinas' Open, on course # 1 at the White Lake, NC Putt-Putt facility. 1997 PPA National Champion Randy Reeves took full advantage of the favorable playing conditions, firing progressively-improving rounds of 26, 25, 24, and 23 for a 72-hole total of 98 and a one-shot win, his second of the 2009 PPA season. With his second career Carolinas' Open title, Reeves became the fifth player in the 25-year history of the tournament to notch multiple victories in the event. Tony Jackson, who had won the Virginia Putting Classic just a week earlier, made a valiant attempt at capturing his second major state tour title in eight days. Sharing the third-round lead with Reeves at 75, Jackson posted a stellar final-round 24 ahead of Reeves. At 99, however, Jackson's efforts fell a stroke short of success and the diminutive putting dynamo settled for runner-up honors. 2006 GA State Champion Michael Hitt provided yet another impressive 2009 season performance, finishing in third position at 104. A fourth-place tie at 105 included two-time PPA ProPutters.com Classic Champion Greg Newport and PPA Hall of Fame member Greg Ward. The cash line for the sixteen money spots awarded in the event fell at 110.  Vanette Block
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The amateur division of the tournament could have doubled as the women's division, as two female players dominated the amateur action. 2006 PPA Women's National Champion Vanette Block carded steady rounds of 26, 27, 26, and 27 for a 72-hole total of 106 and a two-stroke triumph, her fourth in eight amateur contests in 2009. 2003 APA National Champion Bonnie White orchestrated a spirited charge at Block's lead early in the final round. Entering the fourth round at 81 and two strokes behind Block's lead, White recorded a front-nine 11 to maneuver well within striking distance. After an ace at the 16th hole, White needed to ace the final two holes to force a playoff with Block. White's ace effort narrowly missed on the 17th hole, however, and she completed the event in second place at 108. 2001 PPA National Championship runner-up Ray Guthrie finished in third position at 113. After seizing a three-stroke 36-hole lead at 50, 2007 NC APA State Champion Chris Alley struggled in the event's final two rounds and at 115 fell into a tie for fourth place with 2004 Carolinas' Open APA Champion Steve Helton. The final of the fourteen amateur expense reimbursement spots distributed in the tournament came at a score of 121. click here for the complete article and scores
Jay Klapper Fires Final-Round 23 to Defeat Michael Hitt by One Stroke in White Lake, NC  Jay Klapper
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25 April 2009 - White Lake, NC - On course # 1 at the beautiful White Lake, NC Putt-Putt facility, the Southern Putting Tour held the second of two Saturday 54-hole tournaments. With significant late-afternoon heat and bright sunshine, judging proper speed on the thick, newly-laid carpets became quite difficult. The challenging conditions proved no match for the putting wizardry of 2005 PPA National Champion Jay Klapper, however, as he followed opening rounds of 27 and 25 with a tournament-low final-round 23 to record a 54-hole total of 75 and earn a one-stroke victory, his first of the 2009 PPA season. 2006 GA State Champion Michael Hitt continued his recent stellar play, completing the event in second place at 76. At 78, 2008 Southern Putting Tour Match Play Champion Rick Rybaczek finished third. A three-way, fourth-place logjam at 79 included 2006 PPA National Champion Brad Lebo, two-time PPA ProPutters.com Classic Champion Greg Newport, and reigning NC State Champion Ricky Schults. Second-round leader Manfred Stewart suffered a final-round 31 to tumble into a three-way tie for seventh position at 80. The last of the eighteen money spots allocated in the professional division for the tournament came at 84.  Todd Trent
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In the amateur division, reigning NC APA State Champion Todd Trent easily could have been preoccupied with preparing for the lavish cookout which he hosts each season at the conclusion of the Saturday events in White Lake. Instead, Trent turned the post-tournament soiree into a victory party, as he carded rounds of 28, 24, and 30 for a 54-hole total of 82 and a one-shot triumph, his first in 2009. Wilson, NC's Johnny Brown captured runner-up honors at 83. At 84, 1999 VA APA State Champion Malcolm Shumaker finished in third position. A three-way tie for fourth place included 2003 APA National Champion Bonnie White, Mark Lawson, and David Gregor. The final of the fourteen amateur division expense reimbursement spots awarded in the event fell at 90. Epic Clubhouse Charge Earns Greg Ward a One-Stroke Victory in White Lake, NC 25 April 2009 - White Lake, NC - The Southern Putting Tour gathered on a sunny spring morning at the festive setting of the White Lake, NC Putt-Putt facility to contest the first of three weekend tour events. The players unexpectedly were greeted by pristine new carpets which recently had been placed throughout the course. Predictably, the week-old carpets required aggressive play and much adaptation and resulted in minimal separation of the bulk of field scoring.  Greg Ward
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In his inaugural 2009 tour appearance, 2001 PPA Hall of Fame inductee Greg Ward took a scenic route to an eventual one-stroke victory. Ward opened his 2009 campaign with a brilliant 23 to assume the first-round lead. A pedestrian middle-round 29, however, dropped Ward into fifth place at 52 after 36 holes, four strokes off of the blistering pace being set by two-time South Carolina State Match Play Champion Darrell Britt. Ward continued his sluggish mid-tournament effort on the outward nine of the final round, posting a lackluster front-nine 15. But with grit and fortitude befitting the sport's all-time victories leader, Ward refocused to ace eight of his final nine holes, including the last six, to record a 54-hole total of 77 and notch a hard-fought one-stroke triumph. Britt and the recently-resurgent Manfred Stewart shared runner-up honors at 78. Beating only six players in the field entering the final round, 2006 GA State Champion Michael Hitt fired an inspired, tournament-low closing-round 22 to pole-vault into a fourth place tie with 2005 PPA National Champion Jay Klapper at 81. The cash line for the seventeen money spots awarded in the tournament fell at 85.  Vanette Block
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In the amateur division, 2006 PPA Women's National Champion Vanette Block appeared in command of the tournament after 36 holes. At 55, she enjoyed a three-stroke lead over a quartet of amateurs. With a third-round 32, however, Block gave new life to the amateur field and allowed four other players to join her atop the leaderboard at the end of regulation play. The cast of five former PPA professionals bunched at 87 and destined for an 18-hole playoff included Block, 1998 North Carolina APA State Champion Billy Caudle, two-time Ray Browning Memorial APA Champion Barb Mingo, reigning Southern Putting Tour APA Match Play Champion Chuck Nance, and two-time North Carolina APA State Champion Jimmy Comer. The last of the fourteen amateur division expense reimbursement spots allocated in the event fell at 92. In the ensuing 18-hole amateur playoff, Nance carded a front-nine 13 to seize a one-stroke lead over all four of his opponents. Disaster struck for Nance at the 10th hole, however, as he recorded a double bogey. Block took advantage of the opportunity, magically acing the enigmatic 10th and 11th holes to move into the lead by one stroke. Comer aced the 12th hole to grab a share of the lead with Block at six-under par. Block rebounded with consecutive aces on holes 13-15 to increase her lead to three strokes over Caudle, Nance, and Comer. Upon deucing the final three holes, Block posted a playoff score of 27 to capture her third amateur title in six events in 2009. Caudle and Nance each carded a playoff score of 28. Comer and Mingo shot 29 and 31, respectively. Randy Reeves Wins 2009 Southern Putting Tour Match Play Championship 22 March 2009 - Martinsville, VA - Under sunny skies on a pleasant spring morning, the Southern Putting Tour contested its first major championship of the 2009 season, the Southern Putting Tour Match Play Championship, on course # 2 at the Laurel Park Mini Golf facility in Martinsville, VA. The event consisted of a double-elimination match play format in which the players in each division were seeded according to their 108-hole aggregate score from the previous day's two 54-hole medal play tournaments. 36-hole matches were played in the winner's bracket, while 18-hole matches were played in the loser's bracket.  Randy Reeves
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1997 PPA National Champion Randy Reeves continued his strong weekend play with a dominating performance. Entering the tournament as the second seed in the professional division, Reeves won five consecutive matches to capture his first victory of the young 2009 season. Reeves defeated three-time USPMGA U.S. Open Champion Matt McCaslin, 2007 Elton Davis Memorial Champion Tony Jackson, 2006 GA State Champion Michael Hitt, and hometown favorite Randal Smith twice en route to the title. Smith played with inspired brilliance throughout the event, but ran into a buzz saw in the tournament's final match, losing 10 & 9 to Reeves and settling for runner-up honors. After suffering an opening-round trouncing by Jackson, 2006 PPA National Champion Brad Lebo rebounded to win five consecutive matches and claw his way into a third-place finish. Reigning GA State Champion Jeff Carr completed the event in fourth position. Hitt and 2005 PPA National Champion Jay Klapper tied for fifth place.  Chuck Nance
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In the amateur division, 1998 North Carolina APA Match Play Champion Chuck Nance's unflappable tenacity earned him his first title of the 2009 season. Nance defeated James LeBrun and Art Koerber before losing to reigning PPA ProPutters.com Classic APA Champion Larry Smith. Then in consecutive loser's bracket matches, Nance miraculously overcame a three-hole deficit with three holes to play against both reigning Southern Putting Tour APA Champion Ben Blake and 2006 PPA Women's National Champion Vanette Block to win both matches in sudden death. Subsequently, Nance defeated Johnny Brown and then Smith twice in two very close matches to capture the championship. Smith completed the event in second place, with Brown finishing in third position. Block notched a fourth-place finish. A fifth-place tie included Blake and 2007 Southern Putting Tour APA Match Play Champion Frankie Peters.
Russell Sigmon, Jr. Fires 66 in Martinsville, VA to Capture His First Career Professional Win in Style Russell Sigmon, Jr
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21 March 2009 - Martinsville, VA - On a sunny, calm, and pleasantly cool afternoon, the Southern Putting Tour contested the second of two Saturday 54-hole tournaments on course # 2 at the Laurel Park Mini Golf facility in Martinsville, VA. The field indeed took full advantage of the ideal scoring conditions. Sixth-year professional Russell Sigmon, Jr. entered the event on his home course seeking his first career professional victory. The inspired Sigmon played brilliantly, shattering the existing 54-hole course record by four strokes en route to a 54-hole total of 66 and an emphatic three-stroke win. Sigmon fired three consecutive bogey-free rounds of 22, shooting 11 for each of his six nine-hole scores. 2007 GA State Champion Frank Warren also turned in a stellar performance, firing three consecutive rounds of 23 to notch runner-up honors at 69. A tournament-low score of 20 in the second round of the event propelled 1997 PPA National Champion Randy Reeves to a third-place finish at 70. 2006 PPA National Champion Brad Lebo opened the tournament with eleven consecutive aces and played steadily thereafter to complete the event in fourth position at 71. 2006 GA State Champion Michael Hitt closed with an impressive round of 21 to tie reigning Southern Putting Tour Match Play Champion Rick Rybaczek for fifth place at 74. The last of the twelve money spots awarded in the tournament fell at 79.  Ben Blake
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In the amateur division, reigning Southern Putting Tour APA Champion Ben Blake carded steady rounds of 25, 27, and 27 for a 54-hole score of 79 to tie second-round co-leader Larry Smith atop the amateur leaderboard at the end of regulation play. In a well-played 18-hole playoff, Blake defeated Smith by two strokes, 24-26, to earn his first victory of the young 2009 season. Second-round co-leader Johnny Brown continued his strong 2009 early-season campaign, completing the event in third place at 80. A solid final-round 25 catapulted David Myers into fourth position at 81. Reigning Southern Open APA Champion Larry Hoover rounded out the amateur division's top five finishers at 82. The final of the fourteen amateur division expense reimbursement spots allotted in the event fell at 87. click here for the complete article and scores
Caleb Kennedy Defeats Jay Klapper in Playoff to Earn Victory in Martinsville, VA Caleb Kennedy
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21 March 2009 - Martinsville, VA - Course owners Kevin and Hope Thompson graciously welcomed the Southern Putting Tour to the first of three weekend tournaments on course # 2 at the Laurel Park Mini Golf facility in Martinsville, VA. 2005 PPA National Champion Jay Klapper charged into the clubhouse with a tournament-low final round of 22 for a 54-hole total of 75 to match 2007 Southern Putting Tour Co-Player of the Year Caleb Kennedy for the tournament lead at the end of regulation play. In the ensuing 18-hole playoff, Klapper seized a one-stroke lead after 14 holes. Klapper's untimely bogey on the 15th hole would prove costly, however, as Kennedy took advantage of the opportunity and ultimately won the playoff, 24-26. A three-way, third-place tie at 77 included Martinsville local standout Russell Sigmon, Jr., two-time PPA ProPutters.com Classic Champion Greg Newport, and second-round leader Randy Reeves. The final of the thirteen money spots awarded in the tournament fell at 82.  Vanette Block
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In the amateur division, 2006 PPA Women's National Champion Vanette Block earned her second victory in three starts this season, firing rounds of 24, 28, and 29 for a 54-hole score of 81 to hold on for a one-stroke, wire-to-wire victory. Asheboro, NC's Mark Lawson made a spirited late run at the title with a final-round 26 but settled for runner-up honors at 82. At 83, former PPA professional Lance Perdue and 1998 North Carolina APA Match Play Champion Chuck Nance shared third place. Reigning North Carolina APA State Champion Todd Trent completed the tournament in fifth position at 84. The cut for the last of the amateur division expense reimbursement spots allocated in the event came at 91. click here for the complete article and scores
Greg Newport Fires 82 to Win His Fifth Career Howard Loy Memorial Tournament Greg Newport
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15 March 2009 - Burlington, NC - On a second consecutive cold and very rainy morning, the PPA Southern Putting Tour held the second of two weekend 54-hole tournaments, the Howard Loy Memorial, on course # 1 at the picturesque Burlington Putt-Putt Fun Center. General field scoring surprisingly improved over that of the previous day's event despite several brief rain delays and more challenging playing conditions. Two-time PPA ProPutters.com Classic Champion Greg Newport drew upon his extensive experience on and knowledge of the Burlington layout to card steady, sensational rounds of 27, 27, and 28 for a three-round total of 82 and a one-stroke win. Reigning GA State Champion Jeff Carr used a tournament-low second-round 25 to earn runner-up honors at 83. The early well of aces ironically went dry for second-round leader Gary Hester in the near-flooding conditions of the final round, as he settled for third place at 84. 2006 PPA National Champion Brad Lebo fired a final-round 27 to pole-vault out of the pack into a fourth place finish at 85. At 86, reigning North Carolina State Champion Ricky Schults completed the tournament in fifth position. The final of the eleven money spots awarded in the event fell at 90.
 Johnny Brown
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In the amateur division, Wilson, NC's Johnny Brown carded a brilliant and timely final-round 27 to break out of a four-player logjam atop the 36-hole amateur leader board and notch his first career Southern Putting Tour victory. Brown recorded rounds of 30, 31, and 27 for a 54-hole score of 88 and a four-stroke win. Reigning North Carolina APA State Champion Todd Trent finished in second position at 92. With a final-round 29, 2003 APA National Champion Bonnie White leapfrogged into a third-place tie with reigning Southern Putting Tour APA Champion Ben Blake at 93. 1993 North Carolina APA State Champion Keith Waters rounded out the top five amateur finishers at 95. The eighth and final amateur division expense reimbursement spot came at a score of 97. click here for the complete article and scores
Robert Johnson Captures Southern Putting Tour Season Opener  Robert Johnson
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14 March 2009 - Burlington, NC - A dedicated and adventuresome field of 23 professional and 15 amateur players gathered in a bitterly cold, driving rainstorm to contest the first PPA Southern Putting Tour event of the 2009 season on course # 1 at the beautiful Burlington, NC Putt-Putt Fun Center. The challenging conditions proved no match for 2003 PPA National Champion Robert Johnson. The wily veteran from Lake Wylie, SC courageously rebounded from a disappointing first-round 33 with a spectacular second round of 25 and a solid third-round of 28 for a 54-hole total of 86 and a hard-fought one-stroke victory. 2006 PPA National Champion Brad Lebo orchestrated a spirited final-round charge and had a chance to force a playoff with Johnson with an ace on the event's final hole. Lebo failed to convert that ace, however, and at 87 settled for sharing runner-up honors with second-round leader Tony Jackson. A four-way, fourth-place logjam at 89 included defending champion Rick Baird, two-time PPA ProPutters.com Classic Champion Greg Newport, 2006 PPA Senior National Champion Steve Toomey, and 1997 PPA National Champion Randy Reeves. The cash line for the eleven money spots awarded in the tournament fell at 90.  Vanette Block
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In the amateur division, 2006 PPA Women's National Champion Vanette Block seized a one-stroke lead over a trio of amateur contestants after 36 holes before splashing her way to an unfathomable tournament-low, third-round 23. Block posted rounds of 31, 29, and 23 for a 54-hole total of 83 and an emphatic five-stroke win. Wilson, NC putting icon Johnny Brown fired 88 to finish in second place. At 93, 2008 North Carolina APA State Champion Todd Trent completed the event in third position. Bunched in a fourth-place tie at 95 were Art Koerber, 2007 North Carolina APA State Champion Chris Alley, and 1993 North Carolina APA State Champion Keith Waters. Four players split the final amateur division expense reimbursement spot at 96. click here for the complete article and scores
PPA Southern Tour Schedule4 January 2009 - The PPA Southern Tour today released their 2009 tournament schedule and tour letter. The Southern Tour will kick off it's schedule on March 14th in Burlington, North Carolina and will end it's season with the Southern Putting Tour Championship, also in Burlington. The tour is proud to host the 2009 PPA Southern Open which is scheduled in July on Mark Ross's course in Martinez, Georgia. |