Joel Baker
Wins in Arlington, TX
- Lee Messinger Earns PPA World Match Play
Spot -
24 March 2002 -
Arlington, TX - The Texas Putting Tour held
its fourth event of the year at the Arlington-Division course.
Andy Gaiser,
in his first year as a professional, took the opening round lead by one
stroke over
Lee Messinger with an 8-under 28. Andy held on to his one stroke
lead after the second round but second place was now held by
Joel Baker
and it looked to be a two man battle for the title as Joel, in second
place, was 4 strokes clear of the rest of the field.
In a second battle behind the leaders the first World Spot was up for
grabs with four of the six players attempting tied going to the last
round. Lee Messinger playing in the first group really put on the jets
with a 12-under 24 to put him in good position to take the World spot
and force both Joel and Andy to have solid last rounds. Wade Sahmel
looked like he might push Lee for the World spot after a 7 under 11 on
the front 9 but was unable to finish only shooting a 3 under on the last
9. Andy and Joel, meanwhile, where still locked in a battle for the
title. Both players finished with solid last rounds and ended up tied at
21 under 87 at the end of regulation play. Lee's 12 under 24, the lowest
round of the day, last round gave him the World Spot and tied him with
Andy and Joel to force a three way playoff.
Lee fell out of contention early in the playoff and Joel had the the
victory in hand by the time the players reached the 15th hole. With the
victory Joel Baker earned his first Texas State spot this year. Andy was
able to continue his strong play into match-play and also get a spot.
The third spot went to
Jeffrey Smith.
In the amateur division
Steve Tanton
and Dave
Blalock battled to end but Steve was able to pull out the four
stroke victory to take his second title of the year and another State
Spot. Additional spots went to Doug Austin and Trevor Lewin.
Article and scores
provided by Lee Messinger.
Professional Division of
Arlington, TX Event (24 March 2002)
|
|
Round |
|
Prize |
|
Player |
1 |
2 |
3 |
Total |
Money |
|
1 |
Joel Baker* |
30 |
29 |
28 |
87 |
$150.00 |
| 2 |
Andy Gaiser* |
28 |
30 |
29 |
87 |
$75.00 |
| |
Lee Messinger |
29 |
34 |
24 |
87 |
$75.00 |
| 4 |
Wade Sahmel |
33 |
30 |
26 |
89 |
$40.00 |
| 5 |
Cliff Matthews |
31 |
32 |
27 |
90 |
$25.00 |
| |
Randy Wimpy |
30 |
29 |
31 |
90 |
$25.00 |
| 7 |
Jeffrey Smith* |
32 |
31 |
29 |
92 |
|
| |
Steve Armstrong |
33 |
32 |
27 |
92 |
|
| 9 |
Chris Conradi |
33 |
34 |
32 |
99 |
|
| |
Mike Huckaby |
31 |
35 |
33 |
99 |
|
| 11 |
Mark O'Guinn |
37 |
29 |
34 |
100 |
|
| 12 |
Don McCracken |
38 |
28 |
36 |
102 |
|
| 13 |
David Lynch |
34 |
34 |
37 |
105 |
|