Tim Murphree Wins 2000 Texas State Championship

15 October 2000 - College Station, TX - The Texas State Putting Tour held its 2000 State Championship at the College Station Putt-Putt. Tim Murphree of Dallas, TX continued his match play dominance at the College Station course by adding a State Championship to his 1999 Double Elimination Match Play Runner-Up and the 2000 TPC Championship both held in College Station.

Mr. Murphree dominated play throughout his four matches with the closet being a 3 and 2 win over Randall Willett in the finals. This match was not as close as the score appeared as Tim held a 4 to 5 hole lead for most of the last 18 holes with Randy making it closer at the end. Second place went to long time pro Randall Willett who gave an excellent performance in defeating Lee Messinger, Tom Adair, and Rainey Statum to advance to the finals. Hall of Fame member Al Simpson looked to have a chance to play for the title after defeating the two time Texas State Champion Jeffrey Smith followed by 1998 champion Brice Bergesen but ran into Mr. Murphree in the semi-finals. Congratulations to Tim Murphree. Congratulations also go to Jeffrey Smith for taking 2000 Player of the Year honors by setting a new record on the Texas Tour with 7 event wins.

The Amateur division had one of the most exciting and heartbreaking finals match in recent history. Chris Breedlove had a four-hole lead with six holes to play. Jon Drexler won three of the next four holes to close to 1 down with 2 to go. On the 17th Jon putted first and over hit his putt, which came off the back rail and back down the slope in front of the hole. Jon then proceeded to make the difficult duce. Chris was now in a position to win the match with an ace. What looked to be a perfect putt lipped the cup and came back down the hill. Chris missed the duce putt making the match even with one to go. The 18th hole is a long hole with a small slope and two pipes behind the hole. Jon putted first just sliding by the right edge of the hole and going down the slope to the back rail almost directly behind the hole. Jon was able to make his duce. Chris hit another excellent putt that lightly lipped the right edge of the hole and went down the slope to the back rail with a 15-degree angle to the hole. Unfortunately Chris missed the duce putt giving Jon the title.

Jon Drexler had a stated goal of winning both Player of Year and State Championship at the beginning of the year. After a solid start, Jon changed putters and went into an extended slump allowing James Kile to take a large lead in the Player of Year points. Going into the state Jon had to have James lose in his first match and get to the final match to catch him. Jon selected directly into James for both players first match and proceeded to defeat him handily and then go on and win state. Congratulations to Jon on his great win and us pro players look forward to putting him in place when he moves up next year.

Tournament recap and match results courtesy of Lee Messinger.

2000 PPA Texas State Championship
(15 October 2000 - College Station, TX)

1st Round 2nd Round 3rd Round 4th Round Semi-Finals Finals Winner
$50 $70 $100 $170 $240 $395 $770
David Lynch
 
  David Lynch
(1 Up)
 
 
   
Steve Armstrong  
 
  Rainey Statum
2 and 1
 
 
   
Don Parker    
     
  Rainey Statum
1 SD
 
   
   
   
  Rainey Statum  
Rainey Statum Rainey Statum
7 and 6
 
Don McCracken  
  Randall Willett
4 and 3
 
   
Joel Baker    
     
  Tom Adair
2 and 1
   
     
Tom Adair      
Tom Adair
3 and 2
     
       
Pat King      
  Randall Willett
2 and 1
 
   
   
   
Lee Messinger    
     
  Randall Willett
2 and 1
 
   
   
   
  Randall Willett  
Randall Willett Randall Willett
5 and 4
 
Bryan Wolley   Tim Murphree
3 and 2
 
 
 
Brice Bergesen  
   
  Brice Bergesen
1 Up
 
   
   
     
Randy Wimpy    
   
  Al Simpson
2 and 1
 
   
   
     
Jeffrey Smith      
       
  Al Simpson
4 and 3
   
     
Al Simpson      
Al Simpson
1 Up
   
     
Chris Wiggins    
  Tim Murphree
5 and 4
 
 
 
Bill Florian  
   
  Greg Roberts
2 and 1
 
   
Steve Wood    
Greg Roberts
1 Up
   
     
Greg Roberts    
  Tim Murphree
4 and 2
 
 
 
Tim Murphree  
   
  Tim Murphree
8 and 7
 
 
 
Chris Conradi

2000 APA Texas State Championship
(15 October 2000 - College Station, TX)

1st Round 2nd Round 3rd Round 4th Round Semi-Finals Finals Winner
James Kile
 
  Jon Drexler
7 and 6
 
 
   
Jon Drexler  
 
  Jon Drexler
1 Up
 
 
   
  Ken Beck    
Ken Beck Ken Beck
3 and 2
     
Mark Hudgins   Ken Beck
4 and 2
 
   
Danny Hoel    
Danny Hoel
2 and 1
 
   
David Kingman Adam Sahmel
1 Up
 
Adam Sahmel  
  Jon Drexler
4 SD
 
   
Steve Tanton    
     
  Steve Tanton
3 and 2
   
     
     
       
David Blaylock      
     
  Bruce Jean
2 Up
 
   
   
Doug Austin    
  Doug Austin
2 and 1
   
Trevor Lewin      
  Bruce Jean
5 and 4
 
   
   
   
Bruce Jean  
 
  Jon Drexler
1 Up
 
 
 
Wade Sahmel  
   
  Wade Sahmel
6 and 5
 
   
   
Neal Armstrong      
  Tom King
1 Up
   
Tom King    
  Gary Plain
3 SD
 
   
   
     
Gary Plain      
       
  Gary Plain
2 and 1
   
     
     
Rob Martin    
   
Rob Martin Rob Martin
1 Up
   
Alan Sahmel   Tim Murphree
5 and 4
 
 
 
Dwain Willett  
   
  Dwain Willett
3 and 2
 
   
   
Greg Cole    
   
Greg Cole Greg Cole
1 Up (WD)
   
Aaron Armstrong   Chris Breedlove
4 and 3
 
 
 
  Chris Breedlove  
Chris Breedlove Chris Breedlove
1 Up
   
Jeremy Tutle   Chris Breedlove
4 and 3
 
 
 
Steve Willman
 
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