Vince Batten Defeats Bill Baus in Playoff

30 September 2006 - Charlottesville, VA - The Virginia PPA Tour began its final weekend of the 2006 season with a 54-hole morning tournament on the picturesque but challenging course # 2 in Charlottesville, VA. On this day, 2006 Dogwood Open Champion Vince Batten and two-time PPA Senior National Champion Bill Baus possessed the deepest wells of patience on the fickle and unpredictable carpets, as the duo tied at the end of 54 holes of regulation play at 83. Batten dramatically aced his final two holes against Baus in the ensuing 18-hole playoff to win the playoff by a stroke, 29-30, and earn his fourth victory of the 2006 PPA season. A three-way tie for third place at 85 included 2005 VA State Champion Darrell Anderson, 2000 Dogwood Open Champion Rusty Taylor, and 2003 VA State Champion Gilbert Sharpe.

Action commenced with the trio of Batten, Anderson, and 2006 VA Putting Classic Champion Dave Taylor moving to the top of the first-round leader board at 26. An opening-round 27 put 2006 PPA National Champion Brad Lebo in fourth position. Sharing fifth place at 28 were Sharpe and two-time VA Open Champion Manfred Stewart.

Batten carded another brilliant 26 in the event's second round and took sole possession of the 36-hole lead at 52. Dave Taylor continued his consistent play, firing 27 and assuming second position at 53. Rusty Taylor surged into third place at 55 by virtue of a middle-round 26. A fourth-place logjam at 56 included Anderson, Sharpe, Lebo, and Baus, who fired a spectacular tournament-low 23 in the second round to move into contention.

Baus continued his stellar play in the third round, posting 27 to establish the 54-hole clubhouse lead at 83. Batten's torrid pace cooled a bit in the final round as he fired 31 to tie Baus. The tournament's victor would be decided in an 18-hole playoff. Anderson, Rusty Taylor, and Sharpe shared third-place honors at 85. The cash line for the nine money spots awarded in the event fell at 87.

In the 18-hole playoff, Baus rebounded from a second-hole double bogey to take a one-stroke lead with two holes remaining. With honors, Baus only managed a deuce on the 17th hole. Batten took advantage of the opening, as he aced the 17th hole and then followed with an ace on the difficult 18th hole. Baus' ace effort to force sudden death was unsuccessful, giving Batten a hard-earned playoff victory, 29-30. The win was Batten's fourth of the 2006 PPA season.

In the amateur division of play, 2006 Dogwood Open APA Champion Conway Coffey was attempting to win his fifth-consecutive VA Tour APA event. Having won 17 national and state APA events in 2006 leading into this tournament, however, 2006 APA World Match Play Champion Jeff Carr was up to the challenge. Carr fired consistent rounds of 26, 29, and 28 for a 54-hole total of 83 and a three-stroke wire-to-wire victory over 2006 VA Open APA Champion Barry Moore, who finished alone in second position at 86. Coffey's effort was a valiant one, as he brewed up a third-place finish at 87. The recently red-hot 2006 VA Putting Classic APA Champion Dennis Biesma posted 89 to earn fourth-place honors. At 90, 1983 VA APA State Champion Mike Matthews rounded out the event's top five amateur finishers.

Play began in the amateur division with Carr seizing the opening-round lead at 26. After posting a solid 27, amateur elder statesman Walter Kolb lurked in second place, just a stroke off of Carr's lead. Matthews was alone in third position at 28. Bunched in fourth place at 29 were Coffey, Biesma, and 2006 PPA Women's National Champion Vanette Block.

Carr's second-round 29 enabled him to maintain the 36-hole lead at 55. Moore soared into second place at 56 with a middle-round 26. Coffey hovered another stroke off of the lead, in third position at 57. Biesma matched his first-round 29 to remain in fourth place at 58. Matthews completed the tidy progression of second-round totals, as he dropped into fifth position at 59.

With a third-round 28, Carr became the only amateur contestant to better 30 in all three rounds of the event. Carr coasted to a three-stroke wire-to-wire victory with a 54-hole total of 83. With the win, Carr notched his 18th overall amateur title of the 2006 season. Moore finished alone in second place at 86. Coffey earned third-place honors at 87. At 89, Biesma finished in fourth position. Matthews completed the day in fifth place at 90 and in the process captured the event's final amateur expense reimbursement spot.

In Old Dominion Cup competition in the amateur division, the team of Biesma and Moore carded a 54-hole total of 83 to seize yet another victory in the season-long series. The Tidewater tandem of Matthews and 2005 VA State Champion Chuck Dibbs finished in second place at 86. The Lynchburg squad of Coffey and Randy Baldwin completed the day in third position at 87.

After a break of about an hour following the day's first tournament, the Virginia PPA Tour returns to action with a second 54-hole event to be held on course # 2 in Charlottesville, VA on Saturday, September 30.

Scores and Article provided by Brad Lebo, Rick Rybaczek and AmPutters.com.