Greg Ward Named
1998 PPA Player of the Year
For the third time in his career, Greg Ward claimed the PPA Player of the Year Title for the Professional Putters Association. Ward added the 1998 title to his trophy case to cap off a memorable PPA season. Along with consistent rounds in all 1998 National events, Ward also claimed the top prize in both the $10,000 Eastern Open Championship and the $2,000 Orange Lake Open.
Ward joins former PPA National Champion and Hall of Fame members who have previously earned the Player of the Year Title. "Greg was the dominant player on tour this year," says Dan Anders, Pro Players Committee Chairman.
In every event, Ward was the favorite. "With the year that Greg had it was a surprise when he did not win a tournament that he played in this year," commented Rick Baird.
Certainly, the highlight of his 1998 putting season was winning the two national events, but there were other outstanding accomplishments. Greg was almost half of the events on the South Carolina State tour in dominating fashion. He claimed two of the three Virginia State tour events in which he played and won the 1998 Carolinas' Open by 16 strokes.
Outside of State and National competition, Greg continued his winning year. Ward shot 66 for his last three rounds in the Lawrenceville, Georgia City Championship. This scores tied a world record by Steve Lyons at a 54-hole National event in Charlotte, North Carolina. Greg made 16 of his last 18 holes to shoot a 19, winning by one stroke. Greg needed that effort because his last three round score of 66 was matched by Randy Orr.
If there were disappointments in his spectacular year (Ward did not win the National Championship and failed to make the ESPN television matches at Orange Lake Resort and Country Club), then winners need to aspire to greater things. Greater things are waiting for Greg Ward in 1999. Congratulations for a spectacular year.