A 21-year old broadcasting major, Haggerty recorded scores of 21-31-23-29-22-28-24-26 - 204, a tournament record 84-under par for this, the second oldest tournament in Professional Putters Association history.

"I wanted to defend my title so badly and win at home," said Haggerty, whose late charge provided the game's finest player the past two years with a one-stroke victory over Steve Lyon of Greensboro, NC.

"I didn't know I had it until Steve missed at the last hole," said Haggerty, who watched his longtime rival leave a 30-foot hole-in-one attempt three inches to the left of the cup at the finishing hole.

First-day leader Evelyn Florin of Fayetteville, GA and Jay Strutton of Orlando, FL shared third - both at 206.

A professional since 1977, Haggerty also advanced from 17th to 14th on the all-time PPA money list with $28,291.66 surpassing Gary Love and Lyn. Lyon moved to 15th.

Haggerty, who is touring the US this summer on a PPA exhibition tour, now joins all-time great Rick Smith of Indianapolis, IN as the only back-to-back winner of the Southern Open. Smith won in both 1968 and 1969.

The victory was worth $1,500 to Haggerty, now a winner of 10 career triumphs, four of them major events - the 1980 "Super Putter Television Series", the 1980 US Match Play Championship, and the two Southern Opens.

In the amateur division, first-day leader Greg Ward of Cleveland, TN ran away from the field in the final rounds posting a 24-28-28-30-22-23-24-26 - 205 total and a 13-stroke victory. Two players tied for second, David McCaslin of Memphis, TN and Mark Eastridge of Eden, NC.