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Mike Baldoza Wins His Second Texas State Championship in East Texas
24 September 2006 - Texas, TX - The last time state was in Tyler, TX PPA Hall of Fame member Mark Portugal won his 4th Texas State Championship. This year it would be former world champion Mike Baldoza. Mike won his first State Championship in 2003 at the Longview Putt-Putt. While both courses are in east Texas they couldnt be more different. Longview is one of the longest courses on Tour and Tyler is by far the shortest. To get to the finals Mike defeated Steve Tanton in comeback fashion after being four down with 10 to play. He kept rolling right through the 2006 Player of the Year Wade Sahmel, easily advancing with a 5 and 4 victory. Baldoza received his stiffest test from Joel Baker. Baker, who had played to the brink of elimination in his first two matches, again went extra holes before Baldoza would take a spot in the finals on the 37th hole of the match. Baldoza would face Joel Woodall in the finals. After an easy win against Steve Armstrong in his first match he got through about the toughest test there is on the Texas Tour when he faced two of the most successful players on tour in recent years. Woodall was pushed to extra holes by Rainey Statum, the all-time Texas Tour winner. His reward: facing 2002 National Champion Cliff Matthews in the semi-finals. The two tough matches took its toll on Woodall and he was not able to continue his level of play in the finals where Mike won 8 and 7 to capture his second Texas State Championship. Article and scores provided by Lee Messinger and Steve Tanton. |
2006 PPA Texas State Championship
(Tyler, TX - Course # 1 - 24 September 2006)
Wade Sahmel Sahmel Rainey Statum Byron Kirby 2up Mike Baldoza Statum Bergesen 8w7 8w7 Lee Messinger Brice Bergesen 37 Holes Baldoza Woodall 5w4 38 Holes Joel Woodall Mike Baldoza Woodall Baldoza 7w6 Steve Armstrong Steve Tanton 1up Baldoza Woodall James Taylor 37 Holes 2w1 Baker Cliff Matthews Joel Baker 1up Matthews Baker 2w1 Danny Tatum Jeffrey Smith 5w4 Matthews Gary Reed Tom Adair Kirby 2w1 Kirby 37 holes Reed Byron Kirby 1up Kirby 8w7 Chris Conradi 1up Simpson Tom Adair 7w6 Al Simpson 2006 PPA Texas State Championship Prize Money
Mike Baldoza $740.00 Joel Woodall $540.00 Joel Baker $380.00 Rainey Statum $380.00 Wade Sahmel $300.00 Byron Kirby $200.00 Cliff Matthews $300.00 Gary Reed $300.00 Steve Tanton $240.00 James Taylor $240.00 Jeffrey Smith $240.00 Brice Bergesen $200.00 Al Simpson $140.00 Danny Tatum $240.00 Steve Armstrong $240.00 Tom Adair $140.00
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Local APA Rookie, John Berger,
Takes 24 September 2006 - Texas, TX - John Berger of Tyler, Texas would accomplish a feat few, if any, players have managed. He would win a state championship in his first year on tour. He played well throughout the day advancing to the finals. There he would face a seasoned veteran in Danny Hoel. The match would be tight throughout with the lead moving back and forth over the course of the match. Neither player was able to forge a significant lead. As the match came to end Berger held a slim lead and was able to hang on for a 2 with 1 win. Rhet Wylie and Trevor Lewin were the semi-finalist. Article and scores provided by Lee Messinger and Steve Tanton. |
2006 APA Texas
State
Championship
(Tyler, TX - Course # 1 - 24 September 2006)
| Donald Halpain | |||||||||||
| John Berger | |||||||||||
| Ken Stanfill | 2w1 | Wylie | |||||||||
| Blalock | 3w2 | Rhet Wylie | |||||||||
| Dave Blalock | 37 Holes | ||||||||||