Neil Connor Rallies to Mid-Winter Open Title
Ft. Lauderdale, FL - February 6-7, 1965 - Slow starting Neil Connor, of Greenville, SC.
poured it on in the final rounds to overtake his brother John to cop first place money of
$1,000 in this $5,000 PPA event. His 16 under par 128 was 10 strokes off the pace of
brother John, who finished the first day's rounds with a 26 under par 118. The Connors
exchanged "hot streak" days as John showed his stuff the first day, but lost the
spotlight to brother Neil the second day.
During the first day of competition, the bulk of the scores were as "gloomy"
as the weather itself. Many of the 78 seasoned putters found the going rough as tropical
breezes and scattered rains lashed the fairways.
Uncooperative weather prevailed again during the second day and the four final rounds.
The starting tee-off time was set back 40 minutes as heavy rains drenched the newly-built
54 hole Putt-Putt course. Once the weather cleared, the 61 surviving putters took off
after the first place money. Such well known names as Tracy Moore, Ken Boy, Pat Youmans,
Chuck Schafer, Sam Schafer, Gene McDonald, and Ray Rayfield, along with John and Neil
Connor, continuously exchanged the lead as this pack became closer and closer together on
the scoreboard.
Proving he was still the champ that he has always been, the 5 foot 9 inch 22 year old
Connor (Neil) showed he was going to be tough by firing a 33 on his first round and a 30
on his second. Not satisfying a few of his fellow pros that he was destined to win, Neil
then backed up the first two scores with a tremendous finish, firing 29, 28 for a two day
total of 248 - 40 under par. Neil's stroke average for the 2 day tournament was 31 strokes
per 18 holes.
Battling for sole ownership of second place was Ray Rayfield of Birmingham, AL and Ken
Boy of Bristol, TN. The holes ran out with both men having a 38 under par 250, each taking
home $650 for second place. John Connor ran into considerable trouble on his second day,
and fell by the wayside, winding up in 11th place, with $175, far below his what seemed
obvious $1,000 first place prize.
Local course owner Ed Haddad of Cleveland, OH proved an excellent host as he extended
not only a courteous welcome to all who were there, but unveiled what is believed to be
the finest, most beautiful putting course ever built. An open invitation is extended to
all PPA Pros and friends of Putt-Putt Golf Courses to drop by 2451 N. Federal Highway in
Ft. Lauderdale, FL and gaze ... and play on this lavish installation. |
Professional Division of the 1965 Mid-Winter Open (Ft.
Lauderdale, FL)
| Place |
Player |
City |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
Total |
Cash |
| 1 |
Neil Connor |
Greenville, SC |
35 |
30 |
35 |
28 |
33 |
30 |
29 |
28 |
248 |
$1,000.00 |
| 2 |
Ken Boy |
Bristol, TN |
39 |
29 |
27 |
30 |
29 |
30 |
32 |
34 |
250 |
$650.00 |
|
Ray Rayfield |
Birmingham, AL |
30 |
33 |
33 |
30 |
28 |
29 |
36 |
31 |
250 |
$650.00 |
| 4 |
Chuck Schafer |
Augusta, GA |
31 |
35 |
30 |
30 |
34 |
29 |
28 |
34 |
251 |
$425.00 |
|
Vance Randall |
Asheville, NC |
32 |
31 |
33 |
33 |
28 |
30 |
32 |
32 |
251 |
$425.00 |
| 6 |
Roy Collinsworth |
Macon, GA |
33 |
30 |
34 |
32 |
35 |
27 |
31 |
30 |
252 |
$312.50 |
|
John Peck |
Columbus, OH |
31 |
32 |
33 |
33 |
34 |
31 |
31 |
27 |
252 |
$312.50 |
| 8 |
Harold Hardester |
Orlando, FL |
30 |
34 |
35 |
31 |
28 |
28 |
31 |
40 |
257 |
$250.00 |
| 9 |
Gene McDonald |
Savannah, GA |
32 |
29 |
27 |
37 |
39 |
32 |
29 |
33 |
258 |
$225.00 |
| 10 |
Bob Williamson |
Jacksonville, FL |
31 |
30 |
33 |
31 |
33 |
35 |
30 |
36 |
259 |
$200.00 |
| 11 |
John Connor |
Greenville, SC |
33 |
30 |
29 |
26 |
34 |
36 |
33 |
39 |
260 |
$175.00 |
| 12 |
Fritts Schafer |
Jacksonville, FL |
29 |
30 |
35 |
36 |
35 |
31 |
30 |
35 |
261 |
$150.00 |
| 13 |
Chuk Zamecnik |
Columbus, GA |
33 |
32 |
41 |
35 |
30 |
28 |
30 |
34 |
263 |
$75.00 |
|
Ron Nixon |
Columbus, GA |
32 |
35 |
34 |
35 |
30 |
32 |
29 |
36 |
263 |
$75.00 |
|
Dwayne Mitchell |
Columbia, TN |
37 |
31 |
32 |
34 |
31 |
30 |
34 |
34 |
263 |
$75.00 |
Non-money winners in Professional Field of the 1965
Mid-Winter Open (Ft. Lauderdale, FL)
| Pete Reed |
Atlanta, GA |
264 |
| Gene Von Waldner |
Savannah, GA |
264 |
| Herman Strickland |
Macon, GA |
264 |
| James Welkner |
Margate, FL |
264 |
| Fred Scott |
Bristol, VA |
265 |
| Earl Fritts |
Savannah, GA |
265 |
| Condy Roberson |
Savannah, GA |
265 |
| Tracy Moore |
Augusta, GA |
265 |
| Sam Schafer |
Augusta, GA |
266 |
| Roger Moore |
Atlanta, GA |
267 |
| Pat Youmans |
Savannah, GA |
267 |
| Troy Givens |
Louisville, KY |
268 |
| Dale Brady |
Durham, NC |
270 |
| Carl Strickland |
Macon, GA |
270 |
| Herschell Connell |
Jacksonville, FL |
270 |
| Ed Bozzacco |
Alliance, OH |
272 |
| Richard Benton |
Hialeah, FL |
273 |
| Charles Heiss |
Baltimore, MD |
274 |
| Eddie Myers |
Savannah, GA |
274 |
| William Dewey |
New Whitehead, IN |
274 |
| Hoyt Sanders |
Jacksonville, FL |
274 |
| George Tate |
Springfield, IL |
274 |
| Bob Agree |
Jacksonville, FL |
275 |
| Belton Hollums |
Atlanta, GA |
275 |
| Lee Weldy |
Savannah, GA |
275 |
| Glenn Garvin |
Pensacola, FL |
276 |
| Russell Maddox |
Montgomery, AL |
276 |
| Jim Miller |
Jacksonville, FL |
277 |
| Jim Black |
Charlotte, NC |
277 |
| Tom Harsch |
Burlington, IA |
277 |
| David Williams |
Kingsport, TN |
278 |
| Jim Harritos |
Atlanta, GA |
279 |
| Bob O'Steen |
Jacksonville, FL |
279 |
| Gilbert Skillman |
Hialeah, FL |
279 |
| Dick McGill |
Newton, NC |
279 |
| LeRoy Cooper |
East Point, GA |
280 |
| Tom Teddy |
Memphis, TN |
283 |
| Clyde Berry |
Hialeah, FL |
284 |
| Clinton Kennedy |
Wilmington, DE |
284 |
| Wiley McMahan |
Miami, FL |
284 |
| Jim Garrison |
Indianapolis, IN |
284 |
| Jerry Moeller |
Memphis, TN |
284 |
| Daniel Hiers |
Jacksonville, FL |
284 |
| Howard O'Steen |
Jacksonville, FL |
285 |
| George Cabecca |
Hialeah, FL |
287 |
| Charles Hoffner |
Ft. Lauderdale, FL |
294 |
Remainder of Field Cut After the First Day in Professional
Field of the 1965 Mid-Winter Open (Ft. Lauderdale, FL)
|