Gary Reed Leads a Lubbock Sweep in Lawton, OK

5 June 2005 - Lawton, OK - It was a good day in Lawton to play Putt Putt. After raining, hailing and some tornadoes in the area the night before, the Lawton course was still in good shape for putting. This is due to the Jack Malone and his employees. They keep the Lawton courses in good shape for their clients. The carpets were damp, but were playing very well.

In the PPA division, James Taylor of Lubbock, TX jumped into a quick lead. James aced the first eight holes and just missed a perfect nine by missing the ninth hole with a putt that was online but just two inches short. James cooled down on the back nine by firing two bogies and only three aces. James managed to limp in with the lead, three strokes ahead of the pack and a low round of 27.

The second round found many shifts in position but the big movements were by 2002 and 2004 PPA National Champion Cliff Matthews and Gary Reed, also from Lubbock, who both shot a 28 to move into a three way tie with James Taylor at fifty-eight. In the last round James Taylor, maybe still having rookie year jitters, found the course rough going while it was Gary Reed who turned on the burners shooting a 27 and capturing the win with an 85.

Gary has proved time and time again that no lead is safe with his low last rounds. He has won plenty of tournaments on his last round putting. His most recent win in Longview on the Texas Tour was also won on the last round. Cliff Matthews came in second with an 88 and Jeff Smith shot a 27 on his final round to find himself in third with an 89 and the final crumb. Gary Reed got a state spot for the medal win and in match play Lee Messenger defeated Cliff Matthews for a spot while Mike Chisum defeated James Taylor for the final state spot.

In the APA, the story was similar the that of the professional division. Jimmy Van Buskirk shot opening rounds of 29, tied only by his son Jason VanBuskirk, and 28 in the second to be in the lead alone with a 57. He was four strokes ahead of his son who was in at Jimmy also found the course rough when the third round came along and fell from the lead. Donnie Halpain, also of Lubbock, found his opening and pulled ahead of Jimmy, Jason and David Chisum. Donnie shot a final round of 31 to win with a 93. David and Jason were tied for second with 95s. David won the three hole playoff for the hardware. Donnie won a state spot in medal play. In match play Danny Hoel and Scott Schuler won state spots.

Scores and Article provided by Jimmy Van Buskirk and James Taylor.