Tony Jackson Wins in a Playoff Over Rick Baird in Spartanburg
25 August - Spartanburg, S.C. - Tony Jackson won his second tournament of the season in Spartanburg and again in a playoff. Last month, he won on the second hole in sudden death over Robert Johnson for his first win in six seasons. On Saturday, he tangled with Rick Baird for first on Course 2 in Spartanburg after both competitors fired a three-round score of 80. Both players fired final round 25's to force the playoff for first place.
Tony Jackson at the Martinez, Georgia Putt-Putt Course.
Jackson would get off to a good start after opening with a 25 to tie Robert Johnson, who won the last event in Spartanburg with an incredible score of 67. After the second round, Johnson would hold on to a one-stroke lead at 53. Johnson would fire a 28 to lead by one over Vance Randall, and a slew of players were two back at 55, including Baird and Jackson.
Baird and Jackson would turn it up in the final round to finish at 80 and headed to another 18-hole playoff, the fifth of the season on the tour. Jackson jumped to an early two-stroke lead after acing the first two holes. Baird would tie it up after seven holes and both players were 4-under after nine. Both players kept it close as Baird led by one after hole 11, but Jackson tied it back up after he made 12.
The turning point happened in the playoff after Jackson missed 13. Baird played the front door shot and lipped out, got to the hill and tried to go back in, but caught the left lip going down. Later on, Jackson aced 16, then Baird lagged it to trail Jackson by one. Jackson would close the playoff with an ace on 18 to win for the second time this season. Baird would have to settle for second.
For the sixth time this season, Brian Hutchins won the APA Division in South Carolina after he carded rounds of 28, 25, and 25 to win by three shots over Chris Hudson. Hutchins trailed by two shots to first round leaders Hudson and William Glisson before turning it on in the final two rounds. Hutchins would post a pair of 25's to win by three and win with the day's low score of 78. Hudson was second at 81, while Richard Griffin finished in third at 86.
Hutchins re-took the lead in the close South Carolina Player of the Year by three points over Tommy Hutchinson with just two tournaments remain for the APA Division. The points title will be determined a week from Sunday in Rock Hill.
2001 National Champion Greg Ward finished in third at 81, while Vance Randall and Johnson tied for fourth at 82. In this tournament, there were 26 participants in the Pro Division and 12 for the APA.
There were 13 spots paid out in the tournament as the score of 86 was full share. The score of 86 also was the APA spot as they paid out three spots in it. Edgar Hollifield took the state qualifying and Match Play spots from this tournament.
The South Carolina tour will return to action on Sunday, August 26, at 10:00am on Course 2 for the Match Play Championship. Randy Reeves is the defending champion.
Recap and Scores provided by Opie Roberts.
Professional Division of Spartanburg, S.C. Event (25 August 2001)
Round Prize Player 1 2 3 Total Money 1
Tony Jackson ** 25
28
25
80
$120.00
2
Rick Baird 27
28
25
80
$80.00
3
Greg Ward 28
27
26
81
$65.00
4
Robert Johnson 25
28
29
82
$58.00
Vance Randall 27
27
28
82
$58.00
6
Todd Fowler 28
28
27
83
$48.00
Edgar Hollifield 27
28
28
83
$48.00
8
Michael Hitt 27
28
29
84
$40.00
Randy Reeves 27
30
28
85
$40.00
Jonathan Reid 28
28
29
85
$40.00
11
Ray Guthrie 28
27
31
86
$35.00
Tony Varnadore 29
28
26
86
$35.00
Frank Warren 26
32
28
86
$35.00
14
Gary Benfield 30
28
29
87
Andy Coradini 27
30
30
87
Gary English 29
29
29
87
17
Mike Flavin 31
28
29
88
18
Darrell Britt 28
30
31
89
Rick Rybaczek 29
34
26
89
Allen Wall 27
31
31
89
21
Tony Pack 33
29
28
90
22
Bob Jackson 32
29
31
91
23
Billy Caudle 32
28
32
92
24
Tommy Barbour 30
30
33
93
Opie Roberts 30
33
30
93
26
Bobby Kirby 32
32
33
97
** Won playoff for first (Jackson 28, Baird 30)
Amateur Division of Spartanburg, S.C. Event (25 August 2001)
Round Expense Player 1 2 3 Total Reimbursement 1
Brian Hutchins 28
25
25
78
$10.00
2
Chris Hudson 26
28
27
81
$10.00
3
Richard Griffin 33
26
27
86
$5.00
4
J. L. Coffey 28
31
29
88
William Glisson 26
32
30
88
6
Tommy Hutchinson 30
29
30
89
7
Adam Smith 31
30
31
92
8
Steve Helton 33
29
35
97
9
Todd Trent 33
36
29
98
10
Betty Helton 34
36
33
103
11
Linwood Moist 35
36
33
104
12
Darren Harvey 33
41
36
110