Dan Anders Knocks Off Robert Johnson in Playoff to Open North Carolina 2002 Season
Dan Anders playing at the Orange Lake Resort & Country Club in Florida.23 March 2002 - Asheboro, NC - Two final rounds of 24 and 23 and an ace on 18 in the playoff was enough to get Dan Anders in the winner's circle to begin the 2002 season on the North Carolina Tour. Anders made up a five-shot deficit after the opening round before making a nice run in the final two rounds and held off Robert Johnson in the playoff to win his first event on the North Carolina program since 1976 in Wilmington.
Chilly and brisk conditions were the key performances in play on Saturday. Lows that morning were in the mid-20's before it finally warmed up to near 50 during play. However, winds gusting around 20 m.p.h. during the day made temperatures feel like it was in the upper 30's.
Johnson, who was fresh off a season opening victory last week in Rock Hill on the South Carolina program, showed very little signs of rust from the weekend before. Opening the front nine with a 10, Johnson grabbed an early three-shot lead over five other players by posting a 24. Then, he remained in control when he posted a 27 to only lead by two shots over a charging Anders. Johnson began the final round with a score of 51, while Anders' 24 put him at 53 and four other players were three back, including defending champion Vince Batten, at 54.
Anders continued his impressive run to a strong finish. After firing a 23 to go in the house at 76, Johnson had to make three of the last four to win outright. Johnson ran into a major trade-off down the stretch. He missed the easy hole 15 by pushing the ball to the right side of the ring, but got redemption as he made a very difficult hole 17 off the hill front door. On 18, his ball cleared onto the table, but lipped out for his shot at victory.
It went to a playoff between Anders and Johnson. Things started off slowly for both players. Anders grabbed a two-shot lead on the front, but only fired a 15 on the opening nine. His lead grew to three shots after 13 holes, but made it a contest when he four-tapped hole 14 to make it a one-shot game and the playoff more interesting. In the final four holes, both Johnson and Anders traded scores hole for hole. On 18, Johnson had honors trailing by one and made the hole. Anders returned the favor by making it and thus giving him his first win on the circuit for the 2002 season. It was also his first PPA win since the 1998 South Carolina State Championship. The final tally was 30-31 in favor of Anders.
No playoff was needed for the amateurs as local favorite Bear Landin won for the only the second time as an amateur. Landin posted a four-shot victory over Kenny Goin by firing rounds of 28, 31, and 27 and won with a score of 86. Goin ended up in second at 90, while Ben Blake, Steve Helton, and Russell Sigmon, Jr. all finished in a three-way tie for third at 91.
With his win, Anders accepted all of the spots given out on Saturday. Those spots were the North Carolina State Championship to be played in High Point in October, the North Carolina Match Play to be contested in Lumberton in September, and the first North Carolina World Match Play spot that will be used at the Nationals Week in Augusta.
Other players who finished well on Saturday include Opie Roberts, who placed third by himself at 82, followed by Batten, Billy Caudle, and 2001 North Carolina State Champion Andy Coradini finishing tied for fourth at 84.
There were 33 professionals and only nine amateurs competing on Saturday. There were 16 money spots for the Pros and three paid out for the amateurs. The cash line for the Pro Division was at 88 and it was a full share. The score of 91 was split by the threesome for the amateurs.
The NCPPA will conclude its opening weekend in Asheboro on Sunday, March 24, at 10:00am with Anders teeing off first.
Scores and tournament recap provided by Opie Roberts.
Professional Division of Asheboro, NC Event (23 March 2002)
Round Prize NC Tour Player 1 2 3 Total Money Points 1 Dan Anders ** 29 24 23 76 $150.00 40.00 2 Robert Johnson 24 27 25 76 $110.00 34.00 3 Opie Roberts 27 27 28 82 $90.00 33.00 4 Vince Batten 27 27 30 84 $75.00 31.00 Billy Caudle 27 27 30 84 $75.00 31.00 Andy Coradini 28 27 29 84 $75.00 31.00 7 Rick Baird 30 27 28 85 $58.00 27.50 Mike Griffin 31 25 29 85 $58.00 27.50 Gary Hester 27 27 31 85 $58.00 27.50 Rick Rybaczek 28 34 23 85 $58.00 27.50 11 Lee Witcofski 28 30 28 86 $45.00 25.00 12 Brad Lebo 31 29 27 87 $43.00 23.50 Robert Ward 29 29 29 87 $43.00 23.50 14 Jimmy Comer 31 27 30 88 $40.00 21.00 Ray Guthrie 28 32 28 88 $40.00 21.00 Peter Neumann 27 32 29 88 $40.00 21.00 17 Tommy Barbour 30 28 31 89 18.00 Greg Newport 32 32 25 89 18.00 Randal Smith 29 31 29 89 18.00 20 Bill Kirby 30 29 31 90 16.00 21 Michael Cardwell 31 30 31 92 15.00 22 Bob Haizlip 30 32 31 93 12.50 Gary Moore 32 29 32 93 12.50 Thomas Rawles 30 31 32 93 12.50 Buddy Taylor 31 30 32 93 12.50 26 Darrell Britt 29 33 32 94 10.00 27 Glenwood Arrington 31 32 32 95 9.00 28 Rusty Taylor 32 32 31 95 8.00 29 Tony Varnadore 32 33 31 96 7.00 30 Randy Carter 36 30 31 97 6.00 31 Gilbert Sharpe 32 34 32 98 5.00 32 Don Thompson 34 32 33 99 5.00 33 Chris Bunting 33 35 32 100 5.00 ** Won in playoff over Robert Johnson 30-31.
Amateur Division of Asheboro, NC Event (23 March 2002)
Round Expense NC Tour Player 1 2 3 Total Reimbursement Points 1 Bear Landin 28 31 27 86 $15.00 23.00 2 Kenny Goin 29 32 29 90 $10.00 19.00 3 Ben Blake 29 34 28 91 $2.00 17.00 Steve Helton 30 28 33 91 $2.00 17.00 Russell Sigmon, Jr. 33 30 28 91 $2.00 17.00 6 Keith Waters 35 34 27 96 15.00 7 David Gregor 34 32 31 97 14.00 8 Tommy Hutchinson 35 33 31 99 13.00 9 Walter Kolb 36 35 38 109 12.00
