Robert Johnson Fires 67 to Win
Spartanburg Open29 July 2001 - Spartanburg, S.C. - Many records in PPA history and on the South Carolina tour were either tied or broken this past Sunday in Spartanburg. Known for very low scoring from Saturday, the field produced many more low scores and a new 54-hole score in South Carolina history had eclipsed. The winning score was within one shot of the all-time record of 66. Allen Wall would have the first opportunity to set a record. He opened the tournament with a 20, which set the new course record on Course 3. Wall held a two-shot lead over Greg Ward. Robert Johnson, who lost in a playoff on Saturday, entered the second round in the third position with a 23.
Robert Johnson playing in the 2000 PPA National Championship.
As the second round was completed, another record was tied. This time, Wall became the fifth player to finish 36 holes with a score of 43. Wall grabbed a four-shot lead on Johnson and Vance Randall, but could not hold in the final round.
Johnson would fire a final round 20 to tie the new Course 3 record and also shatter the previous three-round record set in 1998 and also on Saturday. The previous record of 72 was reduced by five shots as Johnson would card rounds of 23, 24, and 20 to walk away with the new South Carolina tour record score of 67. His score missed the all-time 54 hole record set by Steve Lyon in 1977 by one shot.
Brian Hutchins grabbed his fifth win in the APA Division as he grabbed a one-shot victory over William Glisson and Keith Waters. Hutchins was tied with Richard Griffin at 49 before breaking it open with a final round 27, but was enough to win by one shot.
In the end, Hutchins wound up winning with a final count of 76, with Glisson and Waters finishing second at 77.
Wall fired a final round 29 to wind up in second at 72, while Randall came in third at 73. Rick Rybaczek wound up fourth for the Pros at 75, and four players ended up tied for fifth at 76, including Kevin Chambers, Michael Hitt, Jay Klapper, and Greg Ward.
For the second straight day, there were 11 spots paid out in the Pro Division as the score of 79 received a two-way split for the final spot. The APA's cash line sat at 77.
Wall took the State Qualifying and Match Play spots from this tournament, while Jay Klapper got the two-day qualifying spot from this tournament.
The South Carolina tour returns to action on Saturday, August 25, in Spartanburg on Course 2. The action gets underway starting at 12:00pm. The tour then will have its Match Play on Sunday, August 26 in Spartanburg.
Recap and Scores provided by Opie Roberts.
Professional Division of Spartanburg, S.C. Event (29 July 2001)
Round S.C. Prize Player 1 2 3 Total Points Money 1
Johnson, Robert
23
24
20
67
30.00
120.00
2
Wall, Allen
20
23
29
72
29.00
80.00
3
Randall, Vance
26
21
26
73
28.00
70.00
4
Rybaczek, Rick
27
24
24
75
27.00
65.00
5
Ward, Greg
22
26
28
76
24.50
49.00
Hitt, Michael
28
24
24
76
24.50
49.00
Klapper, Jay
24
26
26
76
24.50
49.00
Chambers, Kevin
25
23
28
76
24.50
49.00
9
Britt, Darrell
24
28
26
78
21.50
38.00
English, Gary
27
26
25
78
21.50
38.00
11
Coradini, Andy
25
29
25
79
19.50
18.00
Caudle, Billy
28
25
26
79
19.50
18.00
13
Fowler, Todd
25
28
27
80
18.00
14
Jackson, Tony
26
27
28
81
17.00
15
Varnadore, Tony
27
27
28
82
15.50
Anders, Dan
27
28
27
82
15.50
17
Pack, Tony
24
31
28
83
13.00
Guthrie, Ray
28
26
29
83
13.00
Reid, Jonathan
27
25
31
83
13.00
20
Gill, Nick
26
30
28
84
11.00
21
Martin, Brian
33
24
28
85
10.00
22
Warren, Frank
33
26
28
87
9.00
Amateur Division of Spartanburg, S.C. Event (29 July 2001)
Round S.C. Prize Player 1 2 3 Total Points Money 1
Hutchins, Brian
24
25
27
76
15.00
10.00
2
Glisson, William
29
21
27
77
13.50
8.00
Waters, Keith
27
24
26
77
13.50
8.00
4
Helton, Steve
26
27
27
80
11.50
Griffin, Richard
24
25
31
80
11.50
6
Hutchinson, Tommy
28
27
27
82
9.50
Coffey, JL
25
28
29
82
9.50
8
Trent, Todd
29
26
29
84
8.00
9
Helton, Betty
26
30
31
87
7.00
10
Benton, Ryon
33
33
29
95
6.00
11
Moist, Linwood
31
34
31
96
5.00
12
Walters, Billy
33
32
39
104
4.00
13
Waldrop, Robbie
39
32
40
111
3.00