Randall Wins 1967 National Championship

"Mr. Runner-Up" Breaks Spell, Captures Nat'l Championship Crown

Greenville, SC - 2-3 July 1967 - Concentrated skill and experience gained from seven years of Putt-Putt tournament competition and a deep desire to discard the nickname "Mr. Runner-Up" (a title given him for his numerous second place finishes), Vance Randall of Asheville, NC, exploded with a 62-under-par 226, one stroke off the all-time record, to capture the 1967 National Championship title in Greenville, SC, July 2nd and 3rd.

Champion Randall and wife Mackie accept trophy and congratulations from America's Putting Queen, Nancy Gandee.

Randall, who over the past seven years has placed second in nine PPA tournaments including two past National Championship (1962 and 1963), proved his great putting capabilities to himself, his fellow pros, and to Mackie, his bride of three weeks. In the runner-up spot this year were Gil Caito of Indianapolis, IN, and Steve Gilbert of Statesville, NC, who both scored 228, two strokes out of first place.

Randall won $2,000 of the $10,000 purse. Second place was worth $1,150. Les Sedlak of Bedford, OH, Bob Williamson of Jacksonville, FL, and Ron DeHaas of Youngstown, OH, won $800 in a tie for fourth place.

The $2,000 won by Randall puts him in first place as leading money winner for the year with $2,900 and third in All-Time Money Winnings with $16,800.

Putting pros from eighteen states in America and two foreign countries gathered in the land of honeysuckles and magnolia blossoms, Greenville, SC, July 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, to compete in PPA's 1967 $10,000 National Championship.

Anxious Moments On The Road to The 1967 PPA National Championship

With only two holes to go, Vance Randall knew he needed an ace on this, the 16th hole to take the lead on this 142nd putting surface. The putt dropped and Randall went one up.

The holes were running out fast and Randall realized that if the Championship title were to be his, the putt on the 17th hole must be another ace. As champions go, so did the ball. It thundered to the bottom of the cup sending Randall two up.

As Randall made his way to the top of the 18th green, it's obvious he was thinking about the five he had taken on this hole the day before. Anxiety and concern are written on his face as he contemplates the best way to drop the deciding putt.

With the final putt resting safely in the bottom of the cup on the 18th hole, Randall's nervous tensions give way to a sigh of great relief. At this moment he knows he is no longer "Mr. Runner-Up" but National Champion of 1967!

Ricky Strickland of Macon, Georgia Takes National Amateur Honors

Greenville, SC - 2-3 July 1967 - One of the greatest "dreams come true" in anyone's life is to be crowned a champion and so it was with Ricky Strickland of Macon, GA. The 15-year-old amateur shot an amazing 231, 57 under par, to capture the Amateur National Championship crown from the field of 67 amateur competitors in Greenville, SC, July 2nd and 3rd.

Ricky Strickland, 1967 APA National Champion, gets a congratulatory kiss from America's Putting Queen, Nancy Gandee.

The 5'10", 115-lb. champ comes from a long line of putting greats. His father, Herman Strickland, is a charter member of the Professional Putters Association as is his brother, Carl, and both men have appeared on PPA's "Parade of Champions" TV Series (Carl Strickland appears in the 1967 series).

Rick's sister, Evelyn, shares the spotlight with her dad and brothers. She holds the Ladies National Championship title for 1964, and was presented a special Sportsmanship Award at the 1967 National Championship in July.

Ricky began his putting ten years ago at the age of 5 in Macon, GA, at the Putt-Putt Golf Course owned and operated by Roger Greene. He displays eleven amateur trophies in his home for local championship wins. His lowest score is a 24, and the most holes in one he has accumulated during any given round is 12.

When this brown-headed, green-eyed Norman Rockwell character was asked what his hobbies were he calmly replied, "I guess it's just Putt-Putt." When asked what his first thought was after capturing the title Ricky said, "I just couldn't believe that I could ever be a National Champion."

His scores and performance on the golf course prove he is definitely worthy of the title, and that he intends to uphold the family tradition in being one of the greatest Putt-Putters in the land.

1967 National Championship leaders at the end of the first day (Connor, Heiss, Strickland, and Rayfield).

Professional Division of the $10,000 1967 PPA National Championship

Round Prize
Player City 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Total Money
1 Vance Randall Asheville, NC 27 31 28 29 29 32 27 23 226 $ 2,000.00
2 Gil Caito Indianapolis, IN 29 30 32 28 23 29 29 28 2238 $ 1,150.00
Steve Gilbert Statesville, NC 25 31 30 28 29 32 28 25 228 $ 1,150.00
4 Bob Williamson Jacksonville, FL 28 30 27 30 29 33 26 26 229 $ 800.00
Ron DeHaas Youngstown, OH 28 30 29 29 33 27 28 25 229 $ 800.00
Les Sedlak Cleveland, OH 27 31 27 30 28 27 29 30 229 $ 800.00
7 Herman Strickland Macon, GA 29 30 27 28 28 28 31 29 230 $ 512.50
Bob Poltis Cleveland, OH 31 32 29 25 26 27 32 28 230 $ 512.50
9 John Connor Greenville, SC 27 29 30 27 29 33 28 28 231 $ 350.00
10 Neil Connor Greenville, SC 32 28 30 29 26 28 32 27 232 $ 262.50
Ray Rayfield Birmingham, AL 27 28 27 31 30 28 32 29 232 $ 262.50
Stan Wagnor Bristol, VA 29 30 28 29 28 28 33 27 232 $ 262.50
Lenny Marlo Indianapolis, IN 31 30 31 30 27 31 23 29 232 $ 262.50
14 Ricky Smith Indianapolis, IN 30 30 26 28 34 30 29 29 233 $ 150.00
Dick Florin Akron, OH 33 33 29 27 29 27 28 27 233 $ 150.00
Jim Garrison Indianapolis, IN 27 32 31 26 31 32 28 26 233 $ 150.00
Fred Scott Bristol, VA 28 32 32 29 28 26 32 26 233 $ 150.00
Cliff Moose Gastonia, NC 28 30 29 28 29 32 25 32 233 $ 150.00
19 Ken Boy Bristol, TN 29 31 29 30 27 29 27 32 234 $ 13.22
Gene McDonald Savannah, GA 30 31 24 34 26 27 30 32 234 $ 13.22
Wilbur Hildebrand High Point, NC 27 33 28 28 29 31 30 28 234 $ 13.22
John Snyder Cleveland, OH 33 32 27 28 29 29 28 28 234 $ 13.22
William Hammock Macon, GA 29 33 28 29 29 29 28 29 234 $ 13.22
Nick Long Burlington, IA 30 32 29 28 26 33 28 28 234 $ 13.22
Stu Willis Cincinnati, OH 30 29 30 29 32 30 27 27 234 $ 13.22
Jim Harritos Atlanta, GA 29 31 29 28 27 31 30 29 234 $ 13.22
Carl Strickland Atlanta, GA 26 30 31 26 31 29 29 32 234 $ 13.22
28 Paul Garrison Indianapolis, IN 28 31 27 28 29 32 28 33 235
Bob Marcellino Washington, DC 29 27 30 34 26 30 30 29 235
30 John Roessner Indianapolis, IN 28 30 28 30 29 30 33 28 236
Joe Woods Savannah, GA 32 30 29 30 29 29 31 27 236
32 Lee Weldy Savannah, GA 26 31 32 27 29 31 34 27 237
William Cox Phenix City, AL 33 33 26 32 28 29 30 26 237
Chris Cross Cleveland, OH 30 27 34 31 28 31 31 25 237
Mike Hendrixson Greenville, SC 31 32 31 27 30 29 32 25 237
36 John Thoburn Cleveland, OH 35 30 30 27 27 29 31 29 238
Chuck Schafer Augusta, GA 31 30 29 31 28 31 30 28 238
Willie Edwards Raleigh, NC 32 31 31 29 29 32 27 27 238
John Weaver Greenville, SC 31 32 31 29 30 30 27 28 238
40 Lehman Key Lake Charles, LA 29 33 26 29 29 29 36 28 239
Charles Hayes Winston-Salem, NC 28 30 29 30 32 31 32 27 239
Ted Brown High Point, NC 27 29 33 31 27 32 31 29 239
Joe Fraser Shelby, NC 27 31 30 29 26 31 34 31 239
Wayne Tinsley Greenville, SC 33 29 26 29 26 38 29 29 239
45 Ken Miller Birmingham, AL 31 33 29 30 31 29 29 28 240
Warren Morris Orlando, FL 30 30 27 31 31 32 30 29 240
Larry Peters Atlanta, GA 30 28 27 31 26 32 31 35 240
Wesley Edens Orlando, FL 33 31 28 32 27 29 30 30 240
Buddy Garren Greenville, SC 33 35 27 29 28 33 31 24 240
50 Earl Fritts Savannah, GA 31 32 31 24 29 36 28 29 241
J. C. Younce Columbus, GA 31 33 30 31 29 30 28 29 241
Don Posey Greenville, SC 33 29 30 30 31 31 30 27 241
Ed Palmer Kettering, OH 30 32 28 31 30 31 32 27 241
John Thomas Columbia, TN 31 30 34 30 28 28 31 29 241
Dewayne Mitchell Knoxville, TN 31 33 29 28 36 31 29 24 241
56 Web Digenova Midvale, OH 32 33 33 28 30 27 28 31 242
Fritz Schafer Charlotte, NC 32 32 32 29 27 32 28 30 242
58 Jim Norton Cleveland, OH 33 31 32 30 28 29 32 28 243
Lloyd Joyce High Point, NC 33 30 27 29 33 32 28 31 243
Buddy Taylor Baltimore, MD 30 31 30 31 30 30 28 33 243
Don Wright Goldsboro, NC 32 33 30 31 31 29 30 27 243
Michael Gerrity Goldsboro, NC 34 32 28 32 29 31 29 28 243
Roger Moore Atlanta, GA 35 32 32 31 28 31 29 25 243
64 Terry Laskey Dayton, OH 34 32 29 31 30 29 26 33 244
Charles Painter Oak Ridge, TN 32 28 31 30 30 32 31 30 244
David Ashworth Greenville, SC 26 32 29 28 30 32 34 33 244
67 Gary Love Euclid, OH 32 30 25 29 34 32 34 29 245
Aubrey Smith Memphis, TN 35 34 27 33 28 30 33 25 245
69 Pieter van Heerden Capetown, SA 29 31 31 32 36 32 29 26 246
Greg Straver Prentiss, MS 32 28 27 36 30 29 36 28 246
Bob Jackson Indianapolis, IN 33 30 32 29 25 31 36 30 246
Bill Sellers Burlington, NC 29 31 34 34 27 32 27 32 246
Gen Von Walder Savannah, GA 30 34 33 31 29 34 28 27 246
74 Richard Buchan Henderson, NC 34 28 34 26 32 32 29 32 247
Frank Collins Jefferson City, TN 28 38 29 30 27 33 32 30 247
Dale Clem Kettering, OH 30 33 30 31 30 28 37 28 247
Mike Chuk Charleston, SC 29 29 35 30 26 34 29 35 247
Joe Gordon Shreveport, LA 31 34 34 38 27 32 31 30 247
79 Bob Kirby Slater, SC 30 32 35 34 31 28 30 28 248
Woodson Cullick Baltimore, MD 30 34 34 28 30 31 28 33 248
Charles Connor, Jr. Greenville, SC 27 30 28 35 35 30 32 31 248
Ken Banks  Goldsboro, NC 32 33 33 30 28 35 30 27 248
Ken Hines Greenville, SC 32 36 32 25 33 31 31 28 248
Faye Duncan Greenville, SC 31 28 29 34 28 34 30 34 248
Jim Riley Memphis, TN 29 32 32 30 28 33 34 30 248
Jim Barker Savannah, GA 29 30 29 28 34 32 31 35 248
87 Eddie Stanbury Capetown, SA 30 33 29 30 27 37 34 29 249
Dick Carr Columbus, OH 30 31 31 31 29 32 29 36 249
Bob King Greenville, SC 29 31 33 29 27 30 32 38 249
90 Evelyn Strickland Macon, GA 32 34 27 33 35 30 28 31 250
Harry Gonsoulin New Orleans, LA 29 32 32 28 34 33 30 32 250
Hunkey Holder Greenville, OH 32 30 29 35 30 30 35 29 250
David Williams Kingsport, TN 30 32 27 30 32 33 32 34 250
94 Howell Smith Atlanta, GA 35 30 33 33 28 31 29 32 251
Bill Pollard Charleston, SC 32 32 32 31 33 28 33 30 251
Don Bricker Livonia, MI 30 30 33 31 30 35 29 33 251
Robin Warton Birmingham, AL 28 39 31 34 31 32 26 30 251
98 Bruce Porter Akron, OH 30 33 30 32 34 34 31 29 253
99 Lillian Duncan Greenville, SC 32 31 29 33 34 34 27 34 254
100 Bob O'Steen Jacksonville, FL 32 31 29 33 37 34 33 26 255
Marion Marcellino Washington, DC 30 31 33 34 31 34 33 29 255
102 Lamar Brown East Point, GA 31 31 34 31 27 38 31 33 256
Billye Brazelton Huntsville, AL 29 36 32 31 32 35 33 28 256
Terry Hudson Greenville, SC 31 36 32 28 31 33 30 35 256
105 Don Fisher Petersburg, VA 30 35 35 27 31 29 32 38 257
106 David Warrington Jacksonville, FL 34 32 34 31 32 34 30 32 258
107 Larry Mozingo Goldsboro, NC 28 34 34 29 33 34 38 29 259
108 Dock Harris Shreveport, LA 37 31 36 28 33 32 33 31 261
Wade Hamilton Smithfield, NC 32 30 30 35 36 32 34 32 261
110 Paul Messer Houston, TX 32 35 35 36 27 36 29 32 262
111 James Kelley Youngstown, OH 31 30 32 29 36 38 33 34 263
112 Howard O'Steen Jacksonville, FL 34 35 33 36 32 33 30 33 265
113 Bob Lora St. Louis, MO 33 36 35 34 35 35 31 27 266
Jim Lefkowitz Cleveland, OH 33 37 32 30 32 33 34 35 266
Paul Fairfax Charleston, SC 35 31 40 32 29 38 30 33 268

All score, statistics, photos, and descriptions taken from the Putt-Putt World, August, 1967.

 
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