Daryl Freeman Scores First Victory After 20+ Year Layoff from the PPA
1 April 2001 - Richmond, VA - Colder weather and the threat of showers greeted the players on Sunday, April 1st, in Richmond. With temperatures in the high 40's and the course already wet from rain on both Friday night and Saturday night, many players expected the winning score on Sunday to be higher. They would be wrong.The tournament began with cold weather but no rain. The low scoring that began on Saturday continued in the first round on Sunday with five players opening the tournament with rounds of 24, 12-under par. Another four players fired opening rounds of 25 to begin the tournament. The rain began falling at the end of the first round and continued to fall for the rest of the tournament. The average score for the professionals was 26.72 lower than the average score in any of three round from the tournament the day before. As the rain fell, the scores got higher. The average professional score in the second round increased by over a stroke to 27.80 and continue to increase with an average score in the third round of 27.88.
Daryl Freeman playing in the 2000 PPA National Championship in Fayetteville, N.C.
Brad Lebo and Mike Brown posted scores of 50, 22-under par, to take the lead after 36 holes of play. A group of players including Daryl Freeman, Rick Baird, and Kevin Garrett trailed by one shot entering the third and final round. Both Brown and Lebo could not sustain their play in the wet, final round conditions shooting final rounds of 32 and 28 respectively. Coming out of the group of players tied at 51, Daryl Freeman playing in one of the final group was putting together a weekend best round. Freeman's final round of 22, 14-under par, propelled him to a three round total of 73, 35-under par, and a four shot victory. Freeman's victory comes 24 years after his retirement from the game after the 1977 season. Freeman's return to the PPA began in 1998 when he spoke on behalf of Ken Boy who was inducted into the PPA Hall of Fame during the Week of the Nationals in Orlando, Florida. Freeman was inducted into the PPA Hall of Fame the following year at ceremonies held during the Week of the Nationals again held at the Orange Lake Resort in Orlando. However, in 1999 Freeman returned to the course in Orlando to compete in the 1999 PPA National Championship. Surprising many players in the field, Freeman play on the first day of the 1999 PPA National Championship placed him the final group on the second day of play. While Freeman's final four rounds of the 1999 PPA National Championship may not have been to his liking, Freeman's return to the game he played through the 1960's and most of the 1970's was apparent. Freeman continue his return to the PPA playing in the 2000 Nationals in Fayetteville, North Carolina and the 2000 Elton Davis Memorial in Burlington, North Carolina.
Perhaps best known for his dominating performance in the 1973 PPA National Championship where Freeman established the 144 hole scoring record, 193 - 95 under par, for the PPA that still stands some 28 year later. It now appears as though Freeman is ready to write a new chapter in his stellar playing career. Perhaps it will be necessary to update Freeman's Hall of Fame plaque in a few years with this current and future tournament victories?
Rick Baird who struggled in the Saturday tournament was able to put together three strong rounds of 24, 27, and 26 to finish alone in second with a total of 77, 31-under par. In a three way tie for third were Dave Taylor, Kevin Garrett, and Brad Lebo at 78. One stroke behind were Vince Batten, Bart Bason, and Bo Luthie tied for sixth at 79. Rounding out the money winners were Darrell Anderson in ninth at 80, Wesley Pollard in tenth at 81, and Mike Brown, Thomas Rawles, and Rusty Taylor tied for eleventh at 82.
The amateur division saw Malcolm Shumaker move out to lead after 36 holes at 50, one stroke ahead of Chuck Cyr. With the amateurs finishing later than the professionals and the course progressively getting more saturated with water, the conditions became more difficult. Shumaker could only manage a final round of 30 good for a tournament total of 80 but also good enough for a one stroke victory over Jonathan Moore who closed with a final round 26 but came up one stroke short at 81. In a tie for third at 83 were Liz Shumaker, Chuck Cyr, and Paul Lowery.
The Virginia State Tour returns to action on April 7th in Durham, North Carolina in a co-sponsored event with the North Carolina State Tour. The Virginia Tour also plays on Sunday, April 8th, in Raleigh, North Carolina. At the end of April, the Virginia Tour will contest its first major of 2001 in Charlottesville, Virginia where Rusty Taylor will be out to defend his 2000 Dogwood Festival Open title.
Scores provided by Ed Grajewski.
Professional Division of Richmond, VA Event (1 April 2001)
Round Virginia Prize Player 1 2 3 Total Points Money 1 Daryl Freeman 25 26 22 73 25.00 $200.00 2 Rick Baird 24 27 26 77 24.00 $110.00 3 Dave Taylor 24 27 27 78 22.00 $75.00 Kevin Garrett 24 27 27 78 22.00 $75.00 Brad Lebo 25 25 28 78 22.00 $75.00 6 Vince Batten 28 25 26 79 19.00 $46.66 Bart Bason 24 30 25 79 19.00 $46.66 Bo Luthie 27 25 27 79 19.00 $46.66 9 Darrell Anderson 26 29 25 80 17.00 $40.00 10 Wesley Pollard 27 26 28 81 16.00 $40.00 11 Mike Brown 25 25 32 82 14.00 $26.66 Thomas Rawles 24 29 27 82 14.00 $26.66 Rusty Taylor 29 27 26 82 14.00 $26.66 14 Buddy Taylor 29 28 26 83 12.00 15 Peter Neumann 25 31 28 84 9.50 Manfred Stewart 28 30 26 84 9.50 Gilbert Sharpe 27 27 30 84 9.50 Gary Hinshaw 28 26 30 84 9.50 Justin Taylor 28 30 27 85 6.50 20 Gary Moore 29 28 28 85 6.50 21 Gil Logan 30 28 29 87 4.50 Matt Summey 27 28 32 87 4.50 23 Ed Grajewski 30 29 30 89 3.00 24 Ken Cook 27 33 31 91 1.50 Wayne Cheatham 28 29 34 91 1.50
Amateur Division of Richmond, VA Event (1 April 2001)
Round Virginia Prize Player 1 2 3 Total Points Money 1 Malcolm Shumaker 24 26 30 80 20.00 $20.00 2 Jonathan Moore 28 27 26 81 19.00 $20.00 3 Liz Shumaker 25 27 31 83 17.00 $20.00 Chuck Cyr 23 28 32 83 17.00 $20.00 Paul Lowery 27 27 29 83 17.00 $20.00 6 Doug Gurney 27 27 30 84 15.00 7 Wayne Saunders 29 27 31 87 13.00 Russell Johnson 28 32 29 87 13.00 Tyler Proffitt 33 26 28 87 13.00 10 Bill Garrett 31 31 29 90 11.00 11 Amy Smith 28 26 37 91 10.00 12 Earl Davis 32 30 30 92 9.00 13 Steven Jones 29 33 32 94 7.50 Robert Chetister 28 32 34 94 7.50 15 Walter Kolb 34 31 35 100 6.00