The PPA Southern Tour
(Last updated on June 27, 2009 )
THE 2009 SOUTHERN TOUR:
2009 Tour Schedule
2009 Tour Letter
2009 Tour Statistics
2009 Pro Hole-by-hole Statistics
2009 APA Hole-by-hole Statistics

2009 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

2005 PPA South Carolina State Champion - Vince Batten
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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 Schedule

4 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.

 

 
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