Cliff Matthews Wins Second PPA Crown Cliff Matthews, 2004 PPA National Champion, aces 7th hole in the final round of the 2004 PPA National Championship. 24 July 2004 - Richmond, VA - Cliff Matthews of Arlington, Texas, overcame a 2-stroke deficit early in the final round Saturday to win the $25,000 PPA National Championship, his second national championship in three years. Matthews finished with a 281 total, for a record-setting 151 under par for 12 rounds, in winning by 1-stroke over John Bambling of Pittsburgh, Pa. Hans Oloffson of Stockholm, Sweden, was third at 285. Matthews recorded scores of 22, 23, 21, 21, 25, 23, 24, 23, 26, 24, 23 and 26. Par is 36. Bambling posted scores of 24, 23, 23, 27, 23, 23, 21, 23, 23, 23, 23 and 26. Oloffson had rounds of 25, 23, 22, 26, 23, 24, 22, 24, 26, 22, 23 and 23.  I didnt think I was ever going to shake John Bambling, said Matthews, who entered the days final four rounds over the par 36 Putt-Putt Golf & Games on Midlothian Turnpike course with a 5-stroke lead over Bambling. He kept coming back and getting ahead. Hes go up by one, then I would tie him and I would go up by one. Matthews earned $3,000 for the victory.  Bambling won $2,000. Oloffson won $1,600. Bambling surged to a 2-stroke lead six holes into the final round before Matthews drew even with holes-in-one on the eighth and ninth holes. He took the lead outright with a hole-in-one at the 11th hole, where Bambling suffered a bogey 3. Bambling trimmed the deficit to 2 strokes with a hole-in-one at the 13th (see photo below left) before Matthews aced the 16th hole (see photo below right) to put the championship out of reach. John Bambling, runner-up in the 2004 PPA National Championship, aces the 13th hole in the final round to cut Matthews lead to two strokes. It was just a wonderful tournament for me, said Matthews, who won his first PPA National Champions in 2002 in Augusta, Ga. He now owns four of the sports major titles, including the 2001 PPA National Invitational and the 1998 PPA Western Open. He becomes only the sixth man in the history of the Professional Putters Association to win two national championship titles. The others are Vance Randall of Asheville, NC (1967 and 1969), Robert Smith of Dallas, TX (1972 and 1974), Lewis Burton of Loganville, Ga., (1998 and 1989), the late Ray Browning of Cleveland, Ohio (1975 and 1980) and Alan Quinnelly of Atlanta, Ga., who won the title in 1985, 1991 and 2000. I congratulate Cliff on his victory, said Bambling, a perennial runner-up who was second in the 2004 PPA World Match Play Championship and second in the 1980 PPA Northern Open, both at this site. This has been one of the greatest tournaments in my life. Hopefully, there is next year and I can learn to make a deuce putt when I need it. Greg Ward, the 2001 PPA National Champion from Loganville, Ga., finished fourth at 289 and earned $1,300. Rick Culverhouse of Chapin, SC, was fifth at 292, winning $1,100. Roger Beckerman, the 1984 PPA National Champion from South Euclid, Ohio, was sixth at 293, winning $1,000. Robb Titchell of Columbus, Ohio, shared seventh at 295 along with Randy Orr of Lawrenceville, Ga., both earning $875. Rounding out the top 10 were Rick Baird of Pineville, NC and Dave Taylor of Pasadena, Md., both at 295, each winning $775. Cliff Matthews aces the 16th hole in the final round of the 2004 PPA National Championship to seal his victory. Vince Batten led hometown favorites, finishing in a tie for 21st at 303. He won $320. The 2005 PPA National Championship is scheduled for July at the Putt-Putt Golf & Games in Louisville, Ky., PPA Commissioner Joe Aboid announced. We look forward to next year, Aboid said, but right now we are sharing in Cliff Matthews victory. His play was spectacular. Our entire field was spectacular, including the performance of Hans Oloffson from Sweden. He really impressed our PPA membership with his uncanny speed and accuracy. We look forward to having Hans and his Swedish contingent back as well as other foreign players. The Professional Putters Association was founded in 1959 by the late Don Clayton of Fayetteville, NC The organization has awarded more than $1.4 million in PPA sanctioned events since that time.

Leaders of 2004 PPA National Championship by Round

1st Round Leaders	Kevin Lacey	21 (15 under par)
2nd Round Leaders	Cliff Matthews	45 (27 under par)
3rd Round Leaders	Cliff Matthews	66 (42 under par)
4th Round Leader	Cliff Matthews	87 (57 under par)
5th Round Leader	Cliff Matthews	112 (68 under par)
6th Round Leaders	Cliff Matthews	135 (81 under par)
7th Round Leader	Cliff Matthews	159 (93 under par)
8th Round Leader	Cliff Matthews	182 (106 under par)
9th Round Leader	Cliff Matthews	208 (116 under par)
10th Round Leader	Cliff Matthews	232 (128 under par)
11th Round Leaders	Cliff Matthews	255 (141 under par)

Scoreboard from the 2004 PPA National Championship
(Richmond, VA - 22-24 July 2004)

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