Greg Newport Wins in Anderson, South Carolina for Second Win of 2001
31 March 2001 - Anderson, SC - Greg Newport continued his early season dominance with a season opening victory on the South Carolina tour in Anderson on Saturday morning. Just three days after becoming a father for the first time, Newport did not let the outcome affect him as he posted yet another sizeable victory.
Greg Newport playing in the 2000 PPA National Championship in Fayetteville, NC
Just two weeks ago, Newport cruised to win the first event on North Carolina's tour by four shots in High Point. This time, he did it again only to have done so in Anderson. Newport trailed first round leader Andy Coradini by one shot and maintained his shooting pace. Coradini was in at 28 before stumbling in the final two rounds to knock him out of the top five.
Newport put together two more solid rounds of 29 and 30 and coasted to win for the third time in two years on the difficult Anderson facility. All of his wins have come on the first half of the twin-bill. With the win, Newport joined Mike Brown as the only two players in the last two seasons to win two state openers in the same year.
With the transition of 2000 APA Player of the Year Jonathan Reid to the Pro Division, this year's APA race is determined to be a challenge. One of the tour's dominant players, Chris Hudson, winner of six consecutive tournaments in 2000, and missed out the Player of the Year by several points to Reid, was out to make an early statement. Hudson trailed second round leader Russell Sigmon, Jr. by two shots heading into the final round. With Sigmon in the clubhouse at 97, Hudson had four holes left to play needing only one ace to win.
After paring 15, Hudson missed his tee shot on the treacherous hole 16 and went to the back rail, but made the very difficult deuce to remain tied. He takes his tee shot on 17 and lags the hill leaving him with a 8 foot deuce putt from a rough angle. Hudson somehow made that putt, too, and headed to 18 needing to make it to win. He made it dead center to win by one shot over Sigmon, playing in his first ever South Carolina tour event. Hudson finished with three consecutive rounds of 32 apiece to finish at 96. Sigmon shot 97 to finish second, while Robbie Norby, a local APA player in his first SC tournament, finished in third at 106.
Despite windy conditions which later turned to brief sprinkles, there were 33 professionals and 16 amateurs in Anderson, which was a good turnout to start the South Carolina season. Despite the early 10:00am start, the tournament lasted over 4 1/2 hours to complete.
Newport finished the morning session in the Pro Division with a final score of 88 while Jimmy Mott ended up second at 92. Tony Varnadore placed third with a 94, and Dan Anders and Robert Johnson rounded out the top five at 95.
There were 16 money spots available in this tournament and the cash line sat at 99 for a full share. For the first time ever in South Carolina, the APA received expense reimbursement and the top three scores received their reimbursement.
Newport took the State Qualifying spot and turned down his Match Play spot, which can be offered to him later this year. Varnadore was the first available to accept the Match Play, which is to be determined in Spartanburg in late August.
The next tournament is later this Saturday in Anderson. Then, the tour resumes play once again in Anderson on Saturday, April 21, at 12:00pm on Course 2, and on Sunday, April 22, at 9:00am for the Carolinas' Open.
Recap and Scores provided by Opie Roberts
Professional Division of Anderson, SC Event (31 March 2001)
Round Prize Player 1 2 3 Total Money 1
Greg Newport 29
29
30
88
$130.00
2
Jimmy Mott 29
33
30
92
$85.00
3
Tony Varnadore 32
30
32
94
$70.00
4
Dan Anders 31
29
35
95
$60.00
Robert Johnson 31
33
31
95
$60.00
6
Darrell Britt 33
29
35
97
$53.00
Andy Coradini 28
34
35
97
$53.00
Mike Fowler 34
32
31
97
$53.00
Frank Warren 30
36
31
97
$53.00
10
Michael Hitt 35
32
31
98
$40.00
Bob Jackson 34
35
29
98
$40.00
Rick Rybaczek 30
31
37
98
$40.00
Greg Ward 33
33
32
98
$40.00
14
Edgar Hollifield 32
34
33
99
$35.00
Tony Pack 35
31
33
99
$35.00
Jonathan Reid 30
35
34
99
$35.00
17
Robby Bryant 33
36
31
100
Lewis Burton 37
35
28
100
Kevin Chambers 30
37
33
100
Gary Hester 34
35
31
100
21
Todd Fowler 37
31
33
101
Tony Jackson 32
35
34
101
Vance Randall 33
37
31
101
24
Mike Flavin 32
37
34
102
Opie Roberts 34
39
30
103
26
Billy Caudle 35
36
33
104
Allen Wall 34
36
34
104
28
Ray Guthrie 37
35
33
105
29
Brian Martin 30
34
42
106
Randy Reeves 38
36
32
106
Randal Smith 40
36
30
106
32
Tommy Barbour 31
35
41
107
33
Nick Gill 39
37
34
110
Amateur Division of Anderson, SC Event (31 March 2001)
Round Prize Player 1 2 3 Total Money 1
Chris Hudson 32
32
32
96
$10.00
2
Russell Sigmon, Jr. 32
30
35
97
$10.00
3
Robbie Norby 38
37
31
106
$5.00
4
Tommy Hutchinson 41
33
33
107
5
Jimmy Comer 34
34
40
108
Adam Smith 32
36
40
108
7
Keith Waters 38
36
36
110
8
Todd Trent 31
44
36
111
9
Steve Helton 33
38
41
112
10
Brian Hutchins 36
34
36
116
11
Darren Harvey 39
41
44
119
12
Betty Helton 45
41
36
124
Linwood Moist 43
40
41
124
14
Chance Mathews 50
40
45
135
15
Keith Bergman 52
45
45
142
16
Robin Trent 46
52
47
145