Greg Newport Wins for Second Time in 2000 on NC Tour in Lumberton, NC
6 May 2000 - Lumberton, NC - With three players tied for the lead at 56, and one other player just one off the pace, Greg Newport broke open with a final round 28 to secure his second victory in the North Carolina tour. Newport became the first multi-winner of the NC tour with a final score of 84.
The reigning North Carolina Player of the Year, tied with Bart Bason and Robert Johnson with one round to play, was challenged down the stretch by Opie Roberts who grabbed the outright lead with nine holes to play. Newport and Johnson, who were paired together were battling one another, and after a slow start from Bason and a rough finish on the back nine for Roberts, Newport beat Johnson by one stroke and Bason by two.
For the first time this season, hot conditions with temperatures in the upper 80's and high humidity was the key for the event as last year fourteen players broke 90 for the tournament. On Saturday, just seven players broke 90 for the day.
The APA division only fielded six players for the tournament, but half of the field entered an 18-hole playoff determine the winner as Billy Caudle, Tommy Hutchinson, and Walter Kolb were all tied at 88 after 54-holes. Kolb made seven in a row on the back nine, and was leading by one to the other two players with two to play. Kolb attempted to lay up 17, but hit the block and had to take a bogey to force the playoff.
In the playoff, Caudle shot -7 to win by five over Hutchinson and Kolb. The win by Caudle was his second of the season, and second straight win.
Finishing out the top five in the Pro Division were Johnson at 85, Bason at 86, and Ray Guthrie and two-time defending champion Michael Hitt, both finishing at 88. Twelve spots were paid out in this event with the score 91 placing for a full share. The State Championship and Match Play spots went to Johnson for being the low non-qualifier.
Special thanks was also given to Alan Fowlkes, the owner of the Lumberton course, for once again hosting the event for the third consecutive year and for the cookout he provided after the tournament. The next tournament on the schedule is in White Lake on Sunday, May 7, at 10:00am.
Scores and tournament recap provided by Opie Roberts.
Professional Division of Lumberton, NC Event (6 May 2000)
Round Prize Player 1 2 3 Total Money 1 Greg Newport 26 30 28 84 $150.00 2 Robert Johnson 29 27 29 85 $110.00 3 Bart Bason 28 28 30 86 $90.00 4 Ray Guthrie 31 28 29 88 $78.00 Michael Hitt 32 30 26 88 $78.00 6 Rick Baird 30 28 31 89 $65.00 Opie Roberts 31 26 32 89 $65.00 8 Bill Kirby 28 31 31 90 $47.00 Brad Lebo 33 28 29 90 $47.00 Randy Reeves 28 31 31 90 $47.00 11 Todd Barfield 32 28 31 91 $40.00 Larry Simpson 31 31 29 91 $40.00 13 Bob Jackson 33 29 30 92 David McCaslin 31 31 30 92 Rusty Taylor 34 31 27 92 16 Mike Brown 29 32 32 93 Chris Bunting 31 32 30 93 18 Gary Hester 32 30 32 94 19 C. L. Jones 32 29 34 95 20 Edgar Hollifield 34 30 32 96 21 Rick Rybaczek 32 31 35 98 22 Rich Gillooly 33 33 33 99 Bob Haizlip 33 35 31 99 Barry Wyatt 32 33 34 99 25 Bill Walsh 37 32 33 102 Amateur Division of Lumberton, NC Event (6 May 2000)
Round Expense Player 1 2 3 Total Reimbursement 1 Billy Caudle ** 31 29 28 88 $20.00 2 Tommy Hutchinson 29 29 30 88 $10.00 3 Walter Kolb 28 32 28 88 $10.00 4 Steve Helton 30 33 31 94 5 Keith Waters 33 31 32 96 6
Jimmy Comer 30 36 32 98
** Won playoff over Tommy Hutchinson and Walter Kolb.
(Caudle 29, Hutchinson 34, Kolb 34)