Winston-Salem, N.C. - 27 May 1973 - A world-record 19 .... 17
aces and one par ... was scored by professional putter Clayton Turner of
Burlington, N.C., in a $1,300 qualifying tournament for the World
Putting Championship at Winston-Salem's Putt-Putt course.
"Just think, that is the first 19 in 20 years and in more than
five-hundred million round of Putt-Putt," said Wilbur Hildebrand,
the local course owner. "Do you think we will have to wait another
20 years before another 19 ... or perfect 18 ... is scored?"
It's almost unbelievable, but the expected long wait was less than
two hours ... because Jimmy Harritos of Fayetteville, N.C., shot a
record-tying 19 in his third and final round of the 54-hole tournament.
Harritos, who works for the Putt-Putt organization as a member of its
art department in addition to putting on the pro circuit, was ready for
somebody to pinch him after his feat.
"Somebody pinch me and tell me that I'm not dreaming," said
Harritos. "This is Putt-Putt's 20th anniversary and we have never
had a 19 before today. But ... all of a sudden ... there are two 19's
scored less than two hours apart. People who play Putt-Putt all over the
world will never believe what has happened here today."
Turner, who started his round at the 12th hole, had played 16 holes
before news reached the clubhouse that he was 15 under par. (He missed
an ace the "easy" first hole.)
Owner Hildebrand promptly grabbed a microphone and announced,
"Clayton Turner is now 15 under par for 16 holes. If he aces the
10th and 11th holes, eh will set a new world record of 19."
It appeared that every putter on the three courses stopped what they
were doing and headed for the 10th hole on the No. 1 course where Turner
was playing.
The noise and excitement didn't seem to bother the 28-year-old
Burlington pro who is self-employed as a builder of textile machinery
equipment. He calmly made his ace and got a rousing ovation. After a
wait of less than 30 seconds, he stepped up to the 11th tee and hurriedly
hit the ball some 25 feet into the cup.
"I was really nervous on the 10th tee," said Turner later.
"Wilbur' announcement on the loud speaker didn't help, but the 10th
hole is one of the hardest holes on the whole course (54 holes) to ace.
I knew my work was cut out for me and I was really nervous. But when I
aced that hole, I had all the confidence I needed."
Turner started playing Putt-Putt in 1962 ... and he joined the
Professional Putters Association three year ago. His best tournament
round previously was a 23, scored at Chamblee, Georgia, last year.
"My big goal is to win the World Putting Championship (at Tulsa,
Oklahoma in August)," he said. "I could do plenty of things
that I have always wanted to do with that $50,000 first prize."'
Harritos, who is one of the big-name pro putters because he won the
televised Parade of Champions in 1969, started on the first hole and
made twelve straight aces.
"I made a mental mistake on the 13th hole," he said.
"In fact, I started thinking about the 13th hole while I was
playing the 11th. That was a big mistake ... because you should never
think of holes ahead of you in putting. I putted poorly on the 13th and
ended up with a two. I got my string going again though and when I aced
the 17th, I felt that I could score a 19, too. All I wanted to do on the
18th was to get the ball up the incline. The ball went up the hill
beautifully and ... plop! ... landed in the bottom of the cup."
Few people saw Harritos finish his record-tying round. "No, I
wasn't trying to keep it a secret," said Jimmy, grinning. "My
two playing partners knew about it, but they didn't tell anyone. I am
glad that Wilbur (Hildebrand) didn't know that I was 16 under after 17
holes. He might have announced it .. and there might have been some
extra pressure." Harritos shot a 20 at Jacksonville, Florida in
1968.
"Sure I thought somebody would shoot a 19 eventually," he
said. "But I never thought two guys would do it the same day and I
would be one of the guys. Pinch me, I still think I'm dreaming."
Tournament recap and scores from the
Putt-Putt World, August 1973.
$1,300 World Putting Championship
Qualifier
(Winston-Salem, North Carolina - 27 May 1973)