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Walt Kizzie
Wins the
2005 APA National Championship
27-28 July 2005 - Louisville, KY
- The 46th Annual National APA Championship got underway this
week, bringing the nation's top amateur putters to Louisville for
144 hole medal play competition. Last year's event saw 37 APA
members from around the country gather for two days of grueling
competition in Richmond, and this year's event was just as exciting,
with a field of 42 competing for the sport's most prestigious
amateur title.
Walt Kizzie of Pittsburg, PA left the Louisville Putt-Putt
Course Wednesday with a four round total 114, 13 strokes behind
Ricky Schults, the Defending 2004 National Champion who had
dominated the first day of competition and was at the top of the
leader board. Going into Thursday's final four rounds, Kizzie had
his work cut out for him - and work he did. A very determined Kizzie
put together rounds of 25-28-24-28 for a Day Two total 105 and an
eight round total 219, defeating the Defending Champion by one
stroke to win the 2005 APA National Championship.
As Defending Champion, Schults was first on the tee Wednesday
morning as the competition got underway on Course #3. 2005 APA World
Match Play Champion Anthony Russell, shooting in the same group with
Schults was first in the clubhouse with the early lead at 11 under
par, and Schults trailed Russell by one stroke. That 11 under par
lead would be matched as the next group completed by Frankie Peters,
and later by Terry Sanner, Barb Mingo and Bill Petrie. Only Dennis
Biesma of Marion, VA would top that score, posting an opening round
12 under par to top the leader board.
As the APA field moved over to the tougher Course #1 for round 2,
overall scores in the field would be much higher. Schults made all
the right adjustments as the carpets heated and posted the low score
for the round at 11 under par for a two round total 51 and began his
run at the top of the leader board. With all of the opening round
leaders other than Schults having problems in the second round, a
new group of five putters emerged and trailed Schults at 55. The
group included 2003 National Champion Bonnie White, Ryan Carter, Amy
Smith, David Chisum and Larry Smith.
The third round moved back to Course #3. Again Schults posted the
low score for the round at 12 under par, giving him a three round
total 75 and a 7 stroke lead over Chisum and Mickey DeLucca, both
tied at 82. A group of six were two more strokes back at 84,
including Kizzie, Peters, Carter, Amy Smith, Larry Smith and Jeff
Carr.
The first day final round changed courses one final time to
Course #1, and Schults continued his smooth play, firing his final
round for the day at 10 under par and a total for the day at 101. In
the Cinderella story of the day, young Ryan Carter from Lynchburg,
VA, who competed in the JPA National Championship over the weekend
and only started practicing this course on Tuesday, was the closest
competitor, shooting rounds of 27-28-29-25 for a day one total 109.
1998 National Champion Jeff Brown followed Carter at 111, tied with
two time ProPutters.com Classic Champion Jeff Carr.
Larry Smith ended the first day of competition at 112, and Zach
Smith, Jason VanBuskirk, Amy Smith and David Chisum were at 113.
Tied at 114 was 2003 National Champion Bonnie White, Anthony
Russell, Mickey DeLucca - and Walt Kizzie.
The APA field woke up Thursday morning to much cooler conditions,
and a much different set of playing conditions. After an early
morning practice session to adjust their shots for the different
carpet and rail conditions, the APA field went to the tee in inverse
order on Course #3.
Schults struggled in Round 5, only posting 5 under par for the
round, giving the field a chance to chip away at the lead. Schults
was at to top of the leader board after 5 rounds at 132, and Larry
Smith and Phil Kosobucki had closed the gap and were only 6 strokes
back at 138. VanBuskirk and Kizzie had great Day 2 opening rounds at
10 and 11 under par respectively, and were tied 7 strokes behind the
leader at 139. Carter began the second day with a tough first round,
slipping back in the field and was in after five rounds at 140, and
Brown, Carr and White were tied at 141.
Schults held on in the sixth round as action moved back to Course
#1, posting 7 under par for the round and still topping the leader
board at 161. Smith matched Schults' 7 under par and was still 6
strokes behind the leader, but VanBuskirk and Kizzie continued to
chip away, posting a 7th round 8 under par and was tied with Smith
at 167.
Moving back to Course #3, Schults began to get back in form in
Round 7, posting 8 under par for the round, and going into the final
round he was still at the top of the leader board at 189. That round
was huge for Kizzie however, posting 12 under par with a 7 round
total 191. Kizzie had all but erased the huge deficit he faced at
the beginning of the day and was now in contention for a final round
title run. Also in contention was VanBuskirk, who posted a 7th round
10 under par and trailed the leader by only 4 strokes at 193. Tied
at 195 was Kosobucki, Carr and Larry Smith, all with legitimate
shots at the title.
Schults began the final round on Course #1 strong, acing the
first two holes, but Kizzie and VanBuskirk both missed the second
hole, extending Schults lead by a stroke. The struggle for Schults
was not over however, and he began a string of misses, not acing
another hole until Hole 9. Both Kizzie and VanBuskirk continued
their consistent play for the day, both getting their totals even
with Schults after 7 holes. VanBuskirk would go up one stroke on
Hole 8, but gave it back on the next hole. After the front 9 of the
final round, Schults and VanBuskirk were even, with Kizzie only a
stroke back. Smith continued to chip away at the leaders, and by the
end of the front nine was only 4 strokes behind Schults.
The back nine continued to prove difficult for Schults, and again
his putts just missed the cup, leaving him with another string of
deuce putts and again opening the door for the contenders. An ace by
Kizzie on Hole 11 brought him to even with the leaders. An
unanswered ace by VanBuskirk on Hole 12 put him ahead by a stroke,
and another by Kizzie tied him with VanBuskirk one stroke ahead of
Schults.
Schults aced Hole 14, and all three were tied going into the
final 4 holes. The trio took par on the difficult Hole 15, and a
missed tee shot from VanBuskirk dropped him a stroke behind Kizzie
and Schults who both aced the hole.
Kizzie's tee shot on Hole 17 went right to the bottom of the cup,
and he moved on to the final hole. With a smooth deliberate stroke,
his final tee shot went just right of the cup but came to rest a few
inches away, leaving an easy tap in for a final deuce, and 8 under
par final round for a two day total 219.
As Kizzie waited for Schults to finish his final stretch, the
crowd watched as VanBuskirk's balls continued to just miss the cup.
With a final deuce putt on Hole 18, VanBuskirk finished with a final
round 8 under par for a two day total 221, two strokes behind
Kizzie.
In the last group to finish, Schults tee shot on Hole 17 went
right of the cup, leaving a tap in deuce. Needing a final
hole-in-one on Hole 18 to tie Kizzie and force a playoff, Schults
watched as his tee shot missed the cup. Schults made the deuce putt,
but would fall one stroke short of his National Title defense.
This is the first National Title for Kizzie. Kizzie's career
resume includes wins in three consecutive years on his home course
in Monroeville, PA and the 2003 Great Lakes Tour Championship.
Schults finished second at 220, and Jason VanBuskirk was third at
221. Larry Smith fell off the pace in the final backstretch, but
held on to fourth place at 223. 2003 National Champion Bonnie White
made a final round charge posting 11 under par for the round and
finished with a two day total 224 and a fifth place finish.
Jeff Carr finished sixth at 225, and Phil Kosobucki was a stroke
back in 7th place at 226. Tied for the 8th spot was 1998 National
Champion Jeff Brown and David Chisum. 2002 World Match Play Champion
Zach Smith finished in 10th place and took the final expense
reimbursement slot at 229.
The 2005 APA National Championship Trophy was awarded to Kizzie
by PPA Commissioner Joe Aboid in a short award ceremony immediately
following the match. Joined by his wife. Kizzie thanked Louisville
Putt-Putt Course owners Tim and Susan
Greenert for hosting the National Championship this week, as well as
those that helped him throughout the week.
Tournament
summary courtesy of AmPutters.com.
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