Darrell Anderson Wins in Dominant Fashion in Abingdon, MD

17 June 2006 - Abingdon, MD - With the focus of many players already turned towards the looming PPA National Championship week in Augusta, GA, a small but competitive field gathered to contest the first of two 54-hole Virginia PPA Tour events on course # 1 in Abingdon, MD. 2005 Virginia State Champion Darrell Anderson took advantage of the beautiful weather and immaculate course conditions to post rounds of 24, 24, and 25 for a 54-hole total of 73 to cruise to a six-stroke victory. The win was Anderson's second of the 2006 Virginia PPA Tour season. 1991 Virginia State Champion Ed Grajewski continued his stellar 2006 season play, tying defending champion Vince Batten and 2006 North Carolina State Champion Brad Lebo for second place at 79. At 80, local standout Rusty Taylor rounded out the event's top five finishers.

Action commenced with Anderson seizing early command of the tournament with a brilliant opening-round 24. Tied for second position at 25 were Rusty Taylor and Richmond local icon Gilbert Sharpe. Grajewski's 26 gave him sole possession of fourth place. A fifth-place logjam at 27 included Batten, Lebo, Dave Taylor, and PPA Hall of Fame member Buddy Taylor.

With a second-round 24, Anderson widened his lead to two strokes at 48. Grajewski's 24 catapulted him into second place at 50. Batten and Sharpe shared third position at 52. Lurking in fifth place at 53 was Dave Taylor.

Anderson removed any drama from the tournament's outcome with a solid final-round 25, posting a 54-hole total of 73 for an easy six-stroke victory. The win was Anderson's second in his last three Virginia PPA Tour events and second of the 2006 season. A final-round 24 pole-vaulted Lebo into a tie for second place at 79 with Batten and Grajewski. Rusty Taylor's third-round 24 moved him into fifth place at 80. The cash line for the seven money spots awarded in the event fell at 81.

In the amateur division, APA veteran Malcolm Shumaker followed Anderson's theme of the day. Shumaker posted an impressive wire-to-wire win with consistent rounds of 25, 26, and 27 for a 54-hole total of 78 and a four-stroke victory over three-time defending champion Bonnie White, who finished alone in second place at 82. The triumph was Shumaker's first of the season on the Virginia Tour. Monroeville, PA local player John Tuite captured third place honors at 83. Richmond local veteran Chuck Cyr completed the day in fourth position at 85. Rounding out the top finishers and tied at 87 were world traveler Dennis Biesma and 2006 Palmetto Classic APA Champion Barry Moore.

After carding a spectacular first-round 25, Shumaker enjoyed a three-stroke 18-hole lead. Bunched in second place at 28 after the opening round were White, Cyr, Biesma, and Charlottesville representative Shane Shiflett.

With a middle-round 26, Shumaker extended his lead to four strokes at 51. White remained in contention, in second position at 55. Biesma took sole possession of third place at 56. Tied for fourth place at 57 were Cyr and Tuite.

With no players in the amateur field applying any significant final-round pressure, Shumaker coasted to an easy four-stroke victory with a third-round 27. Shumaker's 54-hole total of 78 gave him his first Virginia Tour victory of the 2006 season. White fell short in her bid to win her fourth consecutive title in Abingdon, MD, carding 82 to notch runner-up honors. Tuite jumped into third position at 83 by virtue of a third-round 26. Cyr finished in fourth place at 85. Tying for fifth place at 87, Biesma and Moore split the final amateur division expense reimbursement spot.

The Virginia PPA Tour returns to action on Sunday, June 18 at 10:00 a.m. with the contesting of the second of two weekend 54-hole events on course # 1 in Abingdon, MD.

Scores and Article provided by Brad Lebo and Rick Rybaczek.