|
Ray
Browning Wins
1975 National Championship
By: Bill
Kirby, The Fayetteville Times
22 June 1975 - Columbus, OH (PPA Course) - Ray Browning, in the summer of 1967,
participated in his first competitive tournament in his hometown of
Cleveland, Ohio. He lost to the eventual winner - an 11-year-old fifth
grade student - by 22 strokes.
Today, Browning reigns as the National Champion of the Professional
Putters Association succeeding two-time champion Robert Smith who
defended his title for only nine holes of the 144-hole event held here
June 21 and 22, 1975.
The 26-year-old Certified Public Accountant, overcame a three stroke
deficit in the final round and edged Eddie Turner, Orlando, FL, by a
single shot for the most prestigious in the 22-year old sport.
Browning, now a resident of Euclid, Ohio, fashioned a 197, 91-under
par narrowly missing the national record for eight rounds of competition
by four strokes.
Daryl
Freeman of Bristol, Tennessee, the
1973
National Champion, set the record with his triumph in Tulsa,
Oklahoma.
The victory was worth $2,000 to Browning bolstering his lifetime earnings
to just under $14,400 after six years on the PPA summer circuit. Turner, the
leader entering the final round, collected $1,250. Charles Connor, Jr.,
Asheville, NC, Steve Lyon, Greensboro, NC, and Mark Grothier, Haughton, LA,
tied for third at 203. Each won $816.16.
Browning, Turner, Connor, Lyon, and Grothier all qualified for the 1976
World Putting Championship along with the remaining top ten finishers;
Gary
English, Orlando, FL, Jimmy Harritos, Dothan, AL, Rob Ludgin, Indianapolis,
IN, Gerald Knott, Dallas, TX, and Joe Marazzito, Orlando, FL.
Browning and Turner shared the first-day lead after five rounds with
identical 122's, 58-under par. Turner pulled away in the first of Sunday's
final three rounds with an opening 26, 10-under par while Browning could do no
better than 31.
"I thought after the 31 that it was all over," said Browning,
"but I was still clinging to the hope that there might be a slim chance
of catching Turner. We played the sixth round on Course No. 2 and most of the
holes play well. When I missed simple holes like Nos. 9, 10 and 11 it shook my
confidence."
Turner's five stroke lead was cut to three after the seventh round
when Browning fired a 22 with holes-in-one on Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,
9, 10, 12, 13, 15, 16 and 17. Browning, a fourth place finisher in the
1970 and 1974 National Championships, knocked in seven of his first nine
holes drawing event with Turner at the turn of the final round. Aces at
Nos. 10 and 11 gave the 6-foot-4, 260-pound Browning a two-stroke
advantage. Turned, gambling at the treacherous 14th, trimmed the margin
to one with an ace but Browning rammed in holes-in-one on Nos. 15, 16,
and 17 protecting his lead. Turner, a member of the Pros Players
Committee, matched Browning's effort.
Browning stood at the final hole 91-under; Turner - at the same hole
- 90-under.
Browning, playing safe, left his 30-foot ace attempt five-feet short,
settled for par and left Turner with a final opportunity to salvage a
tie. Turner's last grasp at the national title ended when his putt slid
by one inch to the left of the cup at the elevated green.
"Of course I was aware that I could lock it up with a
hole-in-one on the 18th," Browning stated. "I didn't want to
get into any trouble though, so I lagged my first shot as close to the
hole as possible. When Turner came up to the hole I just turned my back
and decided not to watch. The way the spectators were hollering when he
putted made me think there was going to be a playoff. I'm glad we didn't
have to play any more," Browning chuckled, "because my playoff
record isn't too good."
"Luckily," said Browning, "I did what I was supposed
to do to win but I feel for Eddie. I've been close before and lost so I
know what he must have felt. He played super and I'm sorry to see
someone like him lose but he'll be back."
"When I first began playing this game, I thought it was for
kids. Now I'm convinced it's a game of precision and skill. After that
kid beat me by 22 strokes when I played in my first tournament, I've
been striving for something like this. People in Euclid have been just
great since I won. Especially my co-workers. They always knew I played
the game seriously. Now, they're beginning to take it seriously."
"My personal goal is to do well in the World Putting
Championship next year and try to repeat as the National Champion. I won
$2,000 in the World Championship this year but I never was really
satisfied with my play. The $2,000 I got from the World will go toward
paying some bills and the rest I'll spend on things around the house and
plans for a vacation."
Only five of the previous 13 living former National Champions
competed in the $10,000 event staged at the Professional Putters
Association Georgesville Road layout. They were: Daryl Freeman (1973),
Bob Williamson (1964), Vance Randall (1967 and 1969), Tony Cross (1970),
and Robert Smith (1972 and 1974). Freeman and Smith led the contingent
at 77-under par tying for 12th place.
Smith, Dallas, Texas, was banished from play after completing only
nine holes. He arrived 12 minutes tardy for his scheduled tee time
Saturday. After consultation and recommendation from Pro Player
Committee members, PPA President David Lloyd informed Smith of his
disqualification.
"It hurt Robert very much," Lloyd later stated, "but
it was the only fair thing to do. He told me three days before the
tournament that he wanted to be the first man to win the National
Championship three times. He did, however, accept the decision
gratefully and we allowed him to compete although he was ineligible for
the title or the prize money. He never said anything against the ruling
and we're naturally quite proud to have that kind of man in our
organization.
Browning, who recorded no bogeys during the duration of the event,
foresees no major changes in his game for the remainder of the season.
"There really won't be a momentum carryover just because I've
won the Nationals. I'll practice about the same amount of time as usual,
working or regular shots and hitting about 100 practice balls on the
really difficult holes. There's going to be some added pressure of being
the National Champion. I'm sure the rest of the players will be out to
beat me, but that's what the game's all about." |