Ward Captures the $10,000 Eastern Open Lynchburg, VA - 18-19 July 1998 - PPA National Touring Pro Greg Ward of Loganville, Ga., captured the title after an eight round total of 210, 78 under par, Sunday, at the 1998 Professional Putters Association $10,000 Eastern Open in Lynchburg, Va.
The 36 year old salesman, sponsored by Moss Distributors, edged out his "neighbor", Andy Coradini, also of Loganville, Ga. by one stroke. Ward and Coradini battled through the last four rounds with Coradini firing 29, 27, 26, 27 and Ward answering him back with 27, 26, 27, 26. Coradini, 1993 PPA National Champion, finished in second place with a two day total of 211, 77 under par. "I knew that Andy and I were leading the field, and it brought the whole competition to a new level," said Ward. "We weren't more than two strokes away the entire tournament. If I let my guard down, it could have been him. I was fortunate, but I also made a few great shots." National Touring Pro Kevin Lacey of Cincinnati, Ohio and winner of the $10,000 Southern Open moved into third position with a two day total of 215, 73 under par. Lacey, who shot a nearly perfect round of 19 at the Southern Open, shot rounds of 27, 28, 26, 26. In the APA Division, Saturday's leader Kevin Garrett of Richmond, Va., fell by twelve strokes to Jim Cruse of Baltimore, Ohio. Cruse shot impressive rounds of 23, 26, 24, 25 for a two day total of 213, 75 under par. Garrett shot rounds of 26, 30, 27, 30 for a two day total of 225, 63 under par. |