26 August 2001 - Spartanburg, SC - He just keeps on dominating no matter where he plays, especially if it is in Spartanburg. Greg Ward, who has won about every major title you can think of, added his first ever South Carolina APA Match Play Championship to his collection this past Sunday on Course 2 in Spartanburg. Ward has collected five previous major titles on the South Carolina tour, including three state championships and the 1996 and 1998 Carolina's Open titles. Ward would win his early round matches and came within one match of going into the championship round undefeated. After winning over Frank Warren and Gary Hester, he continued defeating some of the tour's toughest players as he defeated local favorite Todd Fowler and then finished off Rick Baird before facing Mike Flavin in the finals of the winner's bracket for the right to go to the championship round.Greg Ward Wins South Carolina Match-Play Championship
Greg Ward playing in the 2000 PPA National Championship.Mike Flavin received a first-round bye, but then ran into defending champion Randy Reeves and knocked him off. Flavin would then cruise through Edgar Hollifield and Tony Varnadore before his match with Ward and advance to the championship round. He would have to wait a while as the loser's bracket had to determine an opponent for Flavin.
Todd Fowler playing in the 2000 PPA National Championship.Ward only had one match to play and it was against Varnadore. Ward would go on to face Flavin in the championship round. In the first of a possible two matches, Flavin had the chance to win it all with the 36th and final hole to play. Ward aced it to force the second match, with both players receiving one loss in the double-elimination format. In the second match, Ward defeated Flavin in convincing fashion by a 7 & 6 count. Ward won $250 for the win, while Flavin took home $130 for second.
Tommy Hutchinson, 2001 APA South Carolina Match-Play Champion.Tommy Hutchinson grabbed his first ever APA title in the Match Play Championship by running the table. Hutchinson had the good fortune of receiving a first-round bye and faced off against Richard Griffin in the second round. After defeating Griffin, he cruised through against Adam Smith and Steve Helton and awaited for his opponent in the championship match.
That opponent would be Brian Hutchins, who did not have the fortune of receiving a first-round bye, but won matches over J. L. Coffey and Chris Hudson before losing to Helton in the semi-finals in the winner's bracket. After dropping down to the loser's bracket, Hutchins then faced and defeated Griffin and Todd Trent, and then avenged his defeat against Helton in the finals of the loser's bracket for the right to face Hutchinson.
Hutchinson would go on to win that match and collected his fourth career major championship in South Carolina, collecting three state championships to his purse.
The South Carolina tour will return to action this coming weekend, September 1st and 2nd, as they will head back to Rock Hill. They will join forces with the North Carolina tour for the third time this season as they will play on Course 1. The action gets underway at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday.
Tournament recap provided by Opie Roberts and scores provided by Rick Rybaczek..
South Carolina 2001 Match-Play Championship
(Spartanburg, SC - 26 August 2001)Professional Winners Bracket - 36 Hole Matches
Professional Consolation Bracket - 18 Hole Matches
Professional Championship Round
AMATEUR DIVISION
APA Winner's Bracket - 36 Hole Matches
APA Consolation Bracket - 18 Hole Matches
APA Championship Round
