Darrell Anderson Opens 2007 Season on Virginia State Tour with Three Stroke Victory

31 March 2007 - Richmond, VA - The Virginia PPA Tour began its 2007 schedule by contesting the first of three weekend events on historic and picturesque course # 3 in Richmond, VA. New carpet had been placed on the course just two weeks earlier, but the players adapted quickly and general field scoring was surprisingly low. 2004 PPA World Match Play Champion Darrell Anderson capitalized on his extensive and meticulous pre-tournament preparation by firing consistent rounds of 25, 23, and 24 for a 54-hole total of 72 and a three-stroke victory. A late clubhouse charge by 2006 PPA National Champion and defending champion Brad Lebo fell short, as he finished in second place at 75. 2004 VA State Champion Matt Summey completed the day in third place at 76. 2004 PPA National Doubles Champion Rick Rybaczek posted 77 to finish in fourth position. Rounding out the event's top five finishers at 79 was PPA Hall of Fame legend Daryl Freeman.

Action commenced with Summey seizing the first-round lead with a brilliant opening-round 22, which eventually would tie Rybaczek for low professional round of the tournament. Tied for second place at 24 were Lebo and pre-tournament favorite Vince Batten. Anderson and two-time Virginia Open Champion Manfred Stewart hovered another stroke back, tied for fourth position at 25.

Anderson pole-vaulted into the second-round lead with a sizzling middle-round 23. Rybaczek aced thirteen consecutive holes in the second round en route to a 22 and moved into sole possession of second place at 49. Deadlocked in third position at 51 were Lebo and Summey. Batten and Stewart shared fifth position at 52.

Anderson continued his stellar play in the final round, carding 24. Anderson's 54-hole total of 72 gave him a comfortable three-stroke win and his first victory of the young 2007 PPA season. Lebo aced 12 of his final 15 holes to post a final-round 24, but had to settle for a runner-up finish at 75. Summey's third-round 25 kept him in third position at 76. Rybaczek cooled off to a final-round 28, but was able to cling to a fourth-place finish at 77. Rounding out the event's top five finishers at 79 was Freeman. The cash line for the ten professional division money spots awarded in the tournament fell at 85.

In the amateur division, 2006 Virginia Putting Classic APA Champion Dennis Biesma dominated the field with rounds of 22, 28, and 22 for a 54-hole total of 72 and an eye-opening wire-to-wire ten-stroke victory. Fashionably-clad local standout James Walker finished a distant second at 82. 2006 Dogwood Open APA Champion Conway Coffey brewed up an 83 to complete the event alone in third position. Two-time defending VA State APA Champion Chuck Dibbs carded 84 for a fourth-place finish. At 85, 2006 Virginia Open APA Champion Barry Moore rounded out the top five amateur finishers.

Biesma took early and permanent command of the tournament with a spectacular first-round 22. Coffey stood in second place after an opening-round 27. Dibbs and 2005 APA National Champion Walt Kizzie shared third position at 28. A fifth-place logjam at 29 included Mike Matthews, Amy Smith, and Bill Petrie.

The situation became a bit more interesting in the amateur division after the second round of play. Biesma posted a middle-round 28 to remain atop the leader board with a 36-hole score of 50. Coffey moved into realistic contention by virtue of a solid second-round 25, putting him in second position at 52. Kizzie stood alone in third place at 55. Matthews held fourth place at 57. A fifth-place tie at 58 included Walker and Dibbs.

Biesma eliminated any drama from the outcome in the amateur division by posting his second 22 of the event in the final round. Biesma's 54-hole total of 72 gave him a stunning ten-stroke victory and his first win of the 2007 season. Walker charged into second place at 82 with a sparkling final-round 24. Coffey struggled a bit in the final round, firing 31, but held on to third position at 83. Dibbs completed the event in fourth place at 84. With a third-round 25, Moore leapfrogged into fifth position at 85. Kizzie and 2003 APA National Champion Bonnie White finished in a tie for sixth place at 88 and split the final amateur expense reimbursement spot.

During a brief pre-tournament ceremony, Virginia PPA Tour chairman and host professional Gary Hinshaw presented several awards for the 2006 Virginia PPA Tour season. In the professional division, Vince Batten received the 2006 VA PPA Player of the Year and Low Stroke Average Awards, marking the second consecutive season in which Batten won those awards. Conway Coffey received the 2006 amateur division Player of the Year and Low Stroke Average Awards. Awarded by a vote of their peers on the Virginia PPA Tour, much-deserved 2006 Sportsmanship Awards were presented to professional Ed Grajewski and amateur Randy Baldwin.

The Virginia PPA Tour will return to action with another 54-hole event on course # 3 in Richmond, VA beginning at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 31, 2007.

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