Dennis Biesma Shoots 70 for Two-Stroke Victory in Richmond, VA
6 April 2008 - Richmond, VA - The Virginia PPA Tour contested
the second of two weekend 54-hole events on storied course # 3
at the Richmond, VA Putt-Putt Fun Center. The steady rain
showers and cool temperatures which greeted players at the
mid-morning tee-off time continued for the duration of the
tournament. The challenging conditions were no match for the
putting prowess of rookie sensation
Dennis
Biesma, however, as he crafted brilliant rounds of 22, 21,
and 27 for a 54-hole total of 70 and a wire-to-wire victory.
The win was Biesma's second in just six starts as a
professional. 2007 PPA Tournament Players Champion
Vince Batten
captured runner-up honors at 72. A star-studded tie for third
place at 73 included 2007 PPA National Champion
Rick Baird
and PPA Hall of Fame legend
Daryl
Freeman. The trio of 2006 PPA National Champion and
defending champion
Brad Lebo,
reigning ProPutters.com Classic Champion
Greg Newport,
and two-time PPA Seniors National Champion
Bill Baus
shared fifth position at 75.
Action began with Biesma surging to the top of the opening-round
leader board with a scorching first-round 22. Lurking just a
stroke behind the lead at 23 were Richmond, VA local twin towers
Batten and 2004 PPA World Match Play Champion
Darrell
Anderson. Hovering in a fourth-place tie at 24 were Baird
and Lebo.
Biesma continued his spectacular performance in the second round
of play, posting a tournament-low round of 21 for a 36-hole
score of 43 and a four-stroke lead. Baird pole-vaulted into
second position at 47 by virtue of a stellar second-round 23.
At 48, Batten stood in third place. Lebo remained in fourth
position at 49. A fifth-place tie at 50 included Freeman and
Baus, who soared up the leader board with a second-round 23.
Tour rookie Biesma displayed
the savvy of a grizzled veteran in the event's final round.
Playing in the day's first pairing, Batten posted a final-round
24 to seize the clubhouse lead at 72. Biesma's torrid scoring
pace cooled in the final round, but he maintained his composure
and managed a steady third-round 27, enough for a 54-hole total
of 70 and a two-stroke victory. Batten settled for runner-up
honors at 72. Freeman carded a third-round 23 to leapfrog into
a third-place tie with Baird at 73. Firing a sizzling
final-round 22, Newport stormed into a fifth-place tie at 75
with Lebo and Baus. The cash line for the eleven money spots
awarded in the event fell at 79.
In the amateur division, 2007 Virginia Tour APA Player of the
Year
Conway Coffey coasted to a wire-to-wire four-stroke
victory. Playing in his first event of the 2008 season,
Coffey percolated rounds of 24, 28, and 25 for a 54-hole total
of 77. Defending amateur champion
Malcolm Shumaker and 2004 JPA National Champion
John
Petrie each posted a final-round 24 to charge into a tie
for second position at 81. At 83, Tidewater area amateur
division legends
Mike
Matthews and
Chuck
Dibbs completed the tournament in a fifth-place tie.
Play commenced in the amateur division with Coffey darting to
the front of the pack with a
first-round 24. 2003 APA National Champion
Bonnie
White posted 25 for sole possession of second place. At 26,
Shumaker held third position. A tie for fourth place at 27
included John Petrie and immaculately-attired Richmond, VA Polar
Bear League stalwart
James
Walker.
Despite a pedestrian second-round 28, Coffey increased his lead
to two strokes after 36 holes with a score of 52. None of the
amateur division contenders were able to take advantage of the
opening provided by Coffey, as only
Calvin
Owens, who fired 25, bettered Coffey's second-round score.
White maintained second position at 54. At 56, Walker stood in
third place. Bunched in a fourth-place tie at 57 were Shumaker,
John Petrie, and Bill Petrie.
Amateur division scoring improved dramatically in the
tournament's final round. Coffey brewed up a third-round 25 to
separate from the field and notch a four-stroke victory with a
54-hole total of 77. Shumaker and John Petrie each shot a
final-round 24 to surge into a second-place tie at 81. Mike
Matthews and Dibbs carded 24 and 25, respectively, in the final
round to soar into a tie for fourth position at 83 and split the
final amateur division expense reimbursement spot.
The Virginia PPA Tour thanks course manager and host
professional Gary Hinshaw, his wife Patsy, and the course staff
for their hospitality and efforts in coordinating and hosting
this weekend's events at the immaculately-maintained Richmond,
VA Putt-Putt Fun Center. The next events on the Virginia PPA
Tour will be held in Newport News, VA on April 12 and 13. The
54-hole events will begin at noon on Saturday, April, 12 and 10
a.m. on Sunday, April 13.
Article provided by Brad Lebo |
Professional Division
(Richmond, VA - Course # 3 - 6 April 2008)
Round Virginia Prize Player 1 2 3 Total Points Money 1 Biesma, Dennis 22 21 27 70 25.00 $ 175.00 2 Batten, Vince 23 25 24 72 24.00 $ 130.00 3 Baird, Rick 24 23 26 73 22.50 $ 97.50 Freeman, Daryl 26 24 23 73 22.50 $ 97.50 5 Lebo, Brad 24 25 26 75 20.00 $ 71.67 Newport, Greg 26 27 22 75 20.00 $ 71.67 Baus, Bill 27 23 25 75 20.00 $ 71.67 8 Watson, Gary 27 24 26 77 18.00 $ 60.00 9 O'Brien, Tom 27 26 25 78 16.50 $ 52.50 Rybaczek, Rick 27 25 26 78 16.50 $ 52.50 11 White, James 25 27 27 79 15.00 $ 50.00 12 Anderson, Darrell 23 31 26 80 13.50 Grajewski, Ed 27 27 26 80 13.50 14 Hinshaw, Gary 27 25 30 82 12.00 15 Schooler, Ken 27 30 26 83 11.00 16 Summey, Matt 29 28 27 84 9.50 Rawles, Thomas 29 27 28 84 9.50 18 Sharpe, Gilbert 30 29 26 85 7.00 Stewart, Manfred 30 28 27 85 7.00 Drexler, Jonathan 26 30 29 85 7.00 Amateur Division
(Richmond, VA - Course # 3 - 6 April 2008)
Round Virginia Expense Player 1 2 3 Total Points Money 1 Coffey, Conway 24 28 25 77 20.00 $ 30.00 2 Shumaker, Malcolm 26 31 24 81 17.50 $ 22.50 Petrie, John 27 30 24 81 17.50 $ 22.50 4 Matthews, Mike 30 29 24 83 15.50 $ 12.50 Dibbs, Chuck 30 28 25 83 15.50 $ 12.50 6 Walker, James 27 29 28 84 13.50 White, Bonnie 25 29 30 84 13.50 8 Kizzie, Walt 32 29 26 87 12.00 9 Petrie, Bill 28 29 31 88 10.50 Owens, Calvin 33 25 30 88 10.50 11 Vick, Gerald 30 29 30 89 9.00 12 Smith, Amy 31 28 31 90 8.00 13 Mathews, Don 31 31 30 92 7.00 14 Matthews, Chris 38 31 32 101 6.00