Bob Williamson New Putting King

Columbus, Ohio - July 3-4-5, 1964 - A very hot 4th of July weekend found Jacksonville pro, Bob Williamson, maintaining "a cool head" in dominating a field of 201 pro by copping the $5,000 first place purse and the 1964 PPA National Championship title.

Williamson held a personal duel throughout the tournament with handsome Pat Youmans of Savannah, GA. At the end of the first-day's rounds Youmans took the lead with a 115. Williamson finished three strokes back at 118. On the first round of the second day, Williamson fired a 27 to Youmans 30 to even the duel. However, at the end of the day's competition, Williamson found himself two strokes back with an eight round total of 244 as compared to Youmans' 242.

During the final day's rounds, Williamson began to put pressure on Youmans. Although Pat fired very respectable rounds of 27-33-30-29 for 25 under par 119, Williamson posted scores of 26-31-28-30 for a 29 under par 115. This moved Williamson out in front of Youmans with a 12-round total of 361, 71 under par.

With all the excitement displayed by these two champion putters, no one seemed to notice the determined John Connor of Greenville, SC. John, brother of all-time PPA money winner, Neil Connor, ended up just three strokes off the pace with a 70 under par 362. During the three-day tournament and the week preceding the event only once did the rain hinder play. a very severe but "quite cooling" downpour appeared on the scene at the end of the first day's rounds. Only four remaining contestants caught the full force of the downpour.

In the amateur division Tom Kehl of Cleveland, Ohio, stole the show with a 60 under par 372 for the three-day's competition. Although after the first day's rounds he was was holding a very weak four-stroke lead, he shifted into high gear and was able to maintain a comfortable lead throughout the remainder of the tournament. He ended with a score of 372, 12 strokes over his nearest competitor, Jimmy Davis of Atlanta. Davis claimed second place honors with a 48 under par 384.

Former National Amateur Champion Tom Gehling of Cincinnati, Ohio, found the going somewhat rough on his final day and had to settle for a mediocre 9th place.

Evelyn Strickland First Lady Champ

The Ladies Professional Putters Association (LPPA) made its debut with 23 putters clashing for this newborn title and the $500 first place prize. Eighteen-year-old Evelyn Strickland of Macon, GA, found herself with a comfortable 11 stroke lead at the half-way mark with a 13 under par 95. Her nearest competitor was Lillian Duncan of Greenville, SC, who finished the 54-hole day with a two under par 106.

One stroke further back in third place with a 107 was Anna Barry from Long Island, NY. Although she didn't appear to be a serious threat at the time, Mrs. Barry had a very optimistic view of the entire situation. The final 54 holes witnessed Miss Strickland struggling with a 35-35-36 for a six round total of 201. Making a tremendous move was Anna Barry with a 32-33-29 good enough to tie front runner Evelyn Strickland forcing a playoff.

The two female putting wizards approached hole number one for what was to be a sudden-death playoff. Mrs. Barry stroked the ball on a perfect line down the fairway. It approached the cup and inched its way towards what appeared to be a sure victory. For some reason the ball stopped a fraction of an inch from the cup. She two-putted and waited for her opponent.

Evelyn stroked her ball with equal determination and wasted no time in dumping an ace. This broke the tie and gave Evelyn Strickland the first LPPA National Championship title and a $500 first place reward. Anna Barry had to settle for second place and $350.

BULLETIN

On July 5, Donna Axum, Miss America of 1964, drew the winning name for the first vacation fun festival trip. He is, Jimmy Bearden, R.F.D. #1, Buckhead, Georgia.

All scores and text were taken from the Professional Putters Association Newsletter (Volume 5, Number 1 - July 5, 1964)