Greg Ward (PPA) and William Glisson (APA) Win South Carolina State Championship Titles (Rock Hill, SC

Greg Ward began play by firing a 24, but trailed by two shots to local favorite Tony Varnadore. Varnadore previously won this year in Rock Hill with a final round 20 that enabled him to a four-shot win. With his continuous torrid play in Rock Hill, he opened play with a 22 to lead by two on Ward. Varnadore backed up in the second round by firing a 28 to go in at 50 and then trailed by two himself to Ward. Ward used another 24 to go into the clubhouse at 48 and held a two-shot lead on Tony Varnadore, Michael Hitt, and Gary Hester.

As the third round was winding down, the field began to close in on the leader. Hitt and Hester fired third round 26's after Ward carded a 28 to go into the house all tied at 76. Robert Johnson closed the morning off with a 25 to create a four-way tie for the lead. Mike Brown fired the round's lowest score of 23 to go into a tie for fifth with Varnadore at 78. Three other players were in at 79, including Billy Caudle, Jay Klapper (1999 South Carolina State Champion), and Tommy Barbour.

With about half of the field still in the running to win the state championship, Hitt would make sure he would take the title himself. In the fourth round, he tied the day's lowest score of 22 to take the lead at 98 (only player under 100 after four rounds). Hitt would have a three-shot lead over Ward and Brown. Hitt maintained his lead after the fifth round, but was reduced to just two shots. Hitt's 27 gave him a score of 125 and led by two shots over Ward and Varnadore. Barbour came charging in the fourth and fifth rounds with rounds of 24 and 25 to move to within three shots of the lead.

As usual, the final round would produce drama. Ward and Varnadore moved past Hitt to finish 1-2 in the field after both fired final round 25's. Hitt fell through by firing a final round 31. Ward would take control and made the last three to win his fourth state title. Ward fired an afternoon score of 76 (tied with Varnadore for lowest afternoon score) and matched his morning score to end up at 152 and a two-shot victory over Varnadore. Ward also became the first person ever to win both the Player of the Year title and the State Championship in the same season.

Varnadore's second place finish was his highest in the state. He ended up with a score of 154. Hitt finished in third at 156, while Brown and Hester rounded out the top five at 157. Peter Neumann put together three 26's in the afternoon to take the sixth position at 158. Barbour's final round 31 dropped him to seventh in the championship at 159. Gary English was eighth at 160 after a final round 25. Johnson, one of the four halftime leaders, and Edgar Hollifield round out the top 10 with a tie for ninth finish at 161.

23 September 2001 - Rock Hill, SC - Another Georgian captured a state title in the APA Division on Sunday. William Glisson finally won his first ever state championship after a fifth round 25 broke a long-standing tie against APA Player of the Year winner Brian Hutchins. Glisson cruised to win by five shots with a final score of 162. Hutchins, who won eight tournaments, including all four events in Rock Hill, and 1999 State Champion, ended up in second at 167, while defending and three-time champion Tommy Hutchinson came in third at 170. Glisson ended a fabulous season with a National tournament victory in Burlington and a state championship in Rock Hill.

A banquet was held on Saturday night at Grid Iron Restaurant and Bar in Tega Cay. Awards were presented to all of the winners of this year's tournaments in the state of South Carolina as well as special awards presented. Gary English was the recipient of the Bob Jackson Sportsmanship Award and Steve Helton was the winner of the Most Improved Player Award for 2001. Also, the naming of the 2002 South Carolina Committee was announced at the banquet with Michael Hitt, Todd Fowler, Robert Johnson and Frank Warren returning. Tony Pack was named as the fifth member and newest member representing the Pro Division. Steve Helton will be serving as the APA representative for 2002. Special thanks was given out to Gary Weiler, owner and operator of the Rock Hill facility.

The South Carolina tour has concluded its play for the 2001 season. However, they will play one more event involving their players. Ten of the best players will vie for the annual Clayton Cup Championship that will be played on October 27 & 28 in Spartanburg.

Professional Division of the 2001 South Carolina State Championship
(Rock Hill, SC Event - 23 September 2001)

			Round							Prize
	Player	Hometown	1	2	3	4	5	6	Total	Money
1	Greg Ward	Loganville, GA	24	24	28	25	26	25	152	$ 650.00
2	Tony Varnadore	Rock Hill, SC	22	28	28	26	25	25	154	$ 475.00
3	Michael Hitt	Greensboro, NC	25	25	26	22	27	31	156	$ 450.00
4	Mike Brown	Springfield, PA	29	26	23	25	26	28	157	$ 413.00
	Gary Hester	Thomasville, NC	25	25	26	25	29	27	157	$ 413.00
6	Peter Neumann	Blacksburg, VA	27	24	29	26	26	26	158	$ 375.00
7	Tommy Barbour	Graham, NC	25	27	27	24	25	31	159	$ 350.00
8	Gary English	Buford, GA	28	25	27	28	27	25	160	$ 325.00
9	Edgar Hollifield	Bostic, NC	28	27	25	30	27	24	161	$ 288.00
	Robert Johnson	Lake Wylie, SC	27	24	25	27	27	31	161	$ 288.00
11	Opie Roberts	Eden, NC	30	25	29	29	25	26	164	$ 238.00
	Rick Rybaczek	Greensboro, NC	26	28	29	28	28	25	164	$ 238.00
13	Rick Baird	Pineville, NC	28	26	31	27	25	28	165	$ 185.00
	Andy Coradini	Loganville, GA	31	24	30	29	26	25	165	$ 185.00
	Ray Guthrie	Walnut Cove, NC	31	28	28	25	30	23	165	$ 185.00
16	Lewis Burton	Lawrenceville, GA	29	29	26	28	25	29	166	$ 150.00
	Billy Caudle	Harrisburg, NC	24	27	28	33	24	30	166	$ 150.00
	Nick Gill	Rock Hill, SC	26	29	28	27	29	27	166	$ 150.00
19	Greg Newport	Liberty, NC	31	29	28	27	27	25	167	$ 140.00
20	Mike Flavin	Martinez, GA	29	27	28	29	30	25	168	$ 130.00
21	Jay Klapper	Loganville, GA	26	27	26	28	33	29	169	$ 125.00
22	Randy Reeves	Montgomery, AL	30	28	26	30	24	32	170	$ 118.00
	Randal Smith	Eden, NC	31	26	28	29	27	29	170	$ 118.00
24	Jimmy Mott	Charlotte, NC	29	30	27	27	29	29	171	$ 105.00
	Allen Wall	Shelby, NC	27	29	26	28	28	33	171	$ 105.00
	Frank Warren	Augusta, GA	31	33	30	25	27	25	171	$ 105.00
27	Darrell Britt	Loganville, GA	28	31	27	33	27	27	173	$ 95.00
28	Todd Barfield	Highlands, NJ	30	27	26	32	30	29	174	$ 93.00
	Gary Benfield	Monroe, NC	29	29	30	30	25	31	174	$ 93.00
30	Tony Jackson	Spartanburg, SC	31	27	31	31	28	27	175	$ 90.00
31	Todd Fowler	Duncan, SC	28	27	31	30	29	31	176	$ 85.00
32	Brad Lebo	Shippensburg, PA	29	28	31	29	28	32	177	$ 80.00
33	Jonathan Reid	Inman, SC	27	26	30	30	34	31	178	$ 80.00
34	Kevin Chambers	Fort Mill, SC	32	30	30	31	26	31	180	$ 80.00
35	Bob Jackson	Spartanburg, SC	29	31	30	31	30	31	182	$ 78.00
	Brian Martin	Greenville, SC	31	30	28	34	27	32	182	$ 78.00
37	Tony Pack	Lyman, SC	29	28	32	30	32	32	183	$ 75.00
38	Gary Moore	Mechanicsville, VA	32	30	31	30	31	30	184	$ 75.00
39	Robert Ward	High Point, NC	33	33	31	28	32	34	191	$ 75.00