Ray Guthrie Posts Third Career
PPA Win in Lumberton
Ray Guthrie
Three time PPA winner in Lumberton, N.C.17 April 2004 - Lumberton, N.C. - It has happened for the third time in the last five attempts he has played in Lumberton. Ray Guthrie posted a decisive win to collect his first win of the season and his third career win at the unique Lumberton course on Saturday under extremely warm conditions for the middle of April.
The two previous wins Guthrie amassed were on the South Carolina tour in a weekend sweep back in 2002. This weekend, the North Carolina was hosting the event with the South Carolina tour joining in on the festivities at Allen Fowlkes' course. It would be Guthrie, who drew last in the 27 player field on Saturday, that would be the one coming out on top, thanks in part to an opening round lead with a 26 and a final round 25 to come from behind to win.
Guthrie's 26 in the opening round gave him a one-shot on Bob Jackson, who fired an impressive 27 to start his day. Two-time former winner Michael Hitt was mired in a third place deadlock with Rick Rybaczek and Greg Ward as they recorded opening 28's to start out two back of Guthrie.
New leadership was set in the round as a couple of 26's from Daryl Freeman and Greg Newport vaulted the two into a share of the lead at 55. Guthrie shot an average round of 30 to drop a shot off the lead in third with Brad Lebo at 56. Newport and Freeman could not hang on for a shot at the win. For Newport, he was going for his second career win in Lumberton, while Freeman was gunning for his third win of the season in North Carolina play.
Neither could charge in and Guthrie exploded in the final round by firing a closing round 25 for the best round of the day. It was enough to post a three-shot win with a final score of 81. Freeman finished in second at 84, and third went to Vince Batten at 85 after closing the tournament with a pair of 27's. Each of Guthrie's wins in Lumberton has been by at least three strokes.
Also winning in dominant fashion in the APA Division was Jeff Carr. Carr fired rounds all in the 20's and was the only player who broke 30 in the first round as it sent him to his first win of the season in the amateur group. Carr won by five strokes over a trio of players and shot 85 for efforts. Second belonged to Chris Alley, Brian Hutchins, and Ricky D. Schults, all finishing at 90. There were 15 amateurs competing in Lumberton.
Rounding out the top five in the Pro Division were a quartet of players at 86, including Newport, Lebo, Hitt, and Robert Johnson. The North Carolina tour was in charge of the event and used their money breakdown to pay out the prizes. The cash line was at 89 for a four-for-three split. The last amateur cash spot was at 91. Guthrie received the medal spots for both the North and South Carolina State Championship and the North Carolina Match Play, one in which he will defend in September in Burlington.
Tournament recap and scores provided by Opie Roberts.
Professional Division of the Lumberton, N.C. Event - 17 April 2004
Round Prize Player 1 2 3 Total Money 1 Ray Guthrie
26 30 25 81 $ 150.00 2 Daryl Freeman 29 26 29 84 $ 110.00 3 Vince Batten 31 27 27 85 $ 90.00 4 Michael Hitt 28 29 29 86 $ 73.00 Robert Johnson 32 26 28 86 $ 73.00 Brad Lebo 29 27 30 86 $ 73.00 Greg Newport 29 26 31 86 $ 73.00 8 Tony Jackson 30 29 28 87 $ 52.00 Allen Wall 32 27 28 87 $ 52.00 Greg Ward 28 32 27 87 $ 52.00 11 Rick Baird 30 28 31 89 $ 30.00 Chris Bunting 30 30 29 89 $ 30.00 Bob Haizlip 31 29 29 89 $ 30.00 Bill Kirby 31 30 28 89 $ 30.00 15 Darrell Britt 32 29 29 90 Jay Klapper 28 31 31 90 Rick Rybaczek 28 31 31 90 18 Rick Culverhouse 32 29 30 91 Andy Coradini 32 30 29 91 Gary Moore 35 27 29 91 Tony Varnadore 34 28 29 91 22 Bob Jackson 27 33 32 92 23 Gary English 35 33 26 94 Manfred Stewart 29 30 35 94 Frank Warren 30 31 33 94 26 Randy Carter 36 31 32 99 Opie Roberts 30 35 34 99 Amateur Division of the Lumberton, N.C. Event - 17 April 2004
Round Expense Player 1 2 3 Total Reimbursement 1 Jeff Carr
27 29 29 85 $ 10.00 2 Chris Alley 31 30 29 90 $ 10.00 Brian Hutchins 32 30 28 90 $ 10.00 Ricky D. Schults 30 32 28 90 $ 10.00 5 Keith Waters 26 28 27 91 $ 10.00 6 Dennis Biesma 31 29 33 93 7 Walter Kolb 32 32 31 93 Todd Trent 32 33 30 95 9 Mark Lawson 33 32 32 97 10 Steve Helton 35 33 30 98 Larry Hoover 35 31 32 98 12 Linwood Moist 31 34 35 100 Adam Smith 36 31 33 100 14 Chuck Nance 37 34 40 111 15 Darren Harvey 35 44 37 116
