Robert Johnson Wins
2003 PPA National Championship

Robert Johnson 2003 PPA National Champion

31 July - 2 August 2003 - Lubbock, TX - Robert Johnson completed an unforgettable week in Lubbock, Texas with his win in the 2003 PPA National Championship. Johnson opened the week with a win in the 2003 PPA Senior National Championship, successfully defending the title he won in Martinez, Georgia in 2002. Two days later he came up one match short of winning the 2003 PPA World Match Play Championship losing in the finals to Jim Heikkinen. In the 2003 PPA National Championship, Johnson lead after 144 holes of play at 195, 93 under par.

Johnson nearest pursuer entering the final day of play was a familiar one. Greg Ward who won the 2001 PPA National Championship and finished second in the 2002 PPA National Championship was again in position for a run at this most prestigious PPA title. Ward trailed Johnson by four strokes with four rounds to play.

Johnson opened the third day with a 10 under par round of 26 that expanded his lead to six strokes over Ray Guthrie and seven strokes over Greg Ward and Charlie Greenwalt. The tenth round saw Johnson's lead cut to two strokes as he fired a round of 27. Charlie Greenwalt's opening rounds of 23 and 22 had cut what was a ten stroke deficit down to two strokes with just 36 holes to play. Greg Ward who trailed Johnson by four strokes now trailed by five and was tied with Cliff Matthews, 2002 PPA National Champions, in third place with two rounds to play.

Johnson put his first two rounds of the final day behind him and fired a round of 25, 11 under par, to open up a lead of four strokes over Greg Ward and Charlie Greenwalt entering the final round. With only 18 holes left to play, Johnson lead at 273 with Greg Ward and Charlie Greenwalt were tied for second at 277, Ray Guthrie was in fourth at 279 and Ron Frederick was in fifth at 280.

The final round saw Ron Frederick who trailed by seven strokes entering the final round shoot a 21, 15 under par, with Greg Ward in the final round group nearly matching that score with a 22 of his own. Robert Johnson who lead entering the final round would not be shaken as he fired a final round 23 of his own to post a three stroke victory over Greg Ward who closed with rounds of 24 and 22. Ron Frederick who closed the event with rounds of 24 and 21 tied Charlie Greenwalt for third with Ray Guthrie alone in fifth.