Greg Newport

6 September 2009 - Martinez, GA - On a hot and sunny late summer day, the PPA Southern Putting Tour held its final regular-season tournament of the 2009 season, the 108-hole GA State Championship, on the Red Course at the beautiful Martinez, GA Putt-Putt Fun Center. In the 2008 GA State Championship conducted on the same course, an astounding seven professionals recorded a six-round total of 145 or better, with Jeff Carr winning the event by a single stroke while shattering the previous 108-hole PPA scoring record by three strokes with a winning score of 136. In stark contrast, only one player bettered a 108-hole total of 146 in 2009. But that one player did so in grand style, as reigning PPA Eastern Open Champion Greg Newport fired eye-popping rounds of 22, 23, 22, 23, 25 and 21 to tie Carr's 108-hole PPA scoring record of 136 and notch a ten-stroke triumph, his sixth of an impressive 2009 PPA campaign. With victory well in hand, Newport carded a perfect "9" on his final nine holes of the tournament to match Carr's record. In the process, Newport secured the 2009 Southern Putting Tour Player of the Year Award, which he earned in a tightly-contested, season-long battle with Carr, 2006 PPA National Champion Brad Lebo, 2006 GA State Champion Michael Hitt, and current VA Putting Classic Champion Tony Jackson.

In the dogfight for runner-up honors, Carr and 2005 PPA National Champion Jay Klapper each carded a final-round 23 to tie for second place at 146. At 147, two past GA State Champions, 2007 PPA Seniors National Champion Frank Warren and 1997 PPA National Champion Randy Reeves, shared fourth position. Warren posted a tournament-low round of 20 in the event's second round. The final of the twelve money spots awarded in the professional division in the tournament fell at a 108-hole score of 155.

Todd Trent

In the amateur division, always-dangerous 2008 NC APA State Champion Todd Trent also recorded an emphatic win. Trent fired rounds of 26, 24, 26, 23, 26, and 25 for a 108-hole total of 150 and a nine-shot victory, his second of the 2009 season. Trent narrowly missed tying the amateur division all-time 108-hole scoring record of 149, set by Ben Blake during the 2008 GA State Championship on the same course. At 159, 2007 NC APA State Champion Chris Alley finished in second place. 2006 GA APA State Champion Vanette Block completed the event in third position at 162 to wrap up her second consecutive Southern Putting Tour APA Player of the Year Award. A two-way, fourth-place tie at 165 included rising Martinez local player Art Koerber and former long-time PPA 54-hole scoring record holder Steve Lyon. The cutoff for the nine amateur division expense reimbursement spots distributed in the tournament came a six-round total of 170.

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23 August 2009 - High Point, NC - On course # 1 of the beautiful and historic High Point, NC Putt-Putt Fun Center, the Southern Putting Tour contested the 35th annual North Carolina State Championship. Significant late-afternoon rainfall on the previous day resulted in favorable damp conditions in the calmer morning session of the 108-hole marathon. Players battled rapidly-changing and more tedious conditions later in the day, however, as light afternoon winds and bright sunshine continued to gradually dry out the course's carpets.

Brad Lebo

Action began in the professional division with reigning PPA Eastern Open Champion Greg Newport, who won the previous day's 54-hole event, seizing a one-stroke opening-round lead over 2004 NC State Champion Gary English with a sizzling, tournament-low 21. With a second-round 25, English leapfrogged into the 36-hole lead at 47 and enjoyed a two-stroke cushion over High Point co-course record holder Randy Carter. English continued his steady and stellar play in the event's third round, firing another 25 to establish the lead at 72 at the tournament's midpoint. Newport rebounded from a second-round 30 with a third-round 23 to complete the morning session tied for second place with 2006 PPA National Champion Brad Lebo at a 54-hole total of 74. 2007 GA State Champion Frank Warren manufactured a third-round 23 to climb into fourth position at 75 with three rounds remaining.

After an hour-long break for lunch and re-pairing of the tournament contestants by 54-hole standing, fourth-round play commenced. Lebo stormed out of the gate with a fourth-round 23 to grab a two-stroke 72-hole lead at 97. English carded 27 and held second place at 99, with Newport lurking in third position at 100. In the event's penultimate round, Lebo and Newport matched 26's to create a bit of separation between themselves and the rest of the field. Lebo entered the final round of play with a five-round total of 123, three strokes ahead of Newport. 2007 PPA National Champion Rick Baird used a fifth-round 24 to move into contention, in third place at 128. 1997 PPA National Champion Randy Reeves also shot 24 in the fifth round to head into the final round tied for fourth position at 129 with English, who carded 30 in the fifth round.

Predictably, the competition became heated between Lebo and Newport in the final round. Newport closed within one stroke of Lebo's lead after firing 10 on the outward nine holes. Newport deuced holes 11 and 12, however, and with aces on each of those holes, Lebo once again increased his lead to three strokes. With an ace on the 15th hole, Newport crept within two strokes of Lebo's lead with three holes remaining. Lebo fought back with clutch aces on the 16th and 17th holes, however, to assume a three-stroke advantage with one hole left to play. Lebo prudently laid up the uphill 18th hole right of the hole for a tap-in deuce and in the process secured his third career NC State Championship title and his fifth victory of the 2009 PPA season. Lebo's rounds of 24, 26, 24, 23, 26, and 25 gave him a 108-hole total of 148 and a three-stroke win. Newport earned runner-up honors at 151. Posting a timely final-round 23, 2003 PPA National Champion Robert Johnson pole-vaulted into third place at 153. English carded a sixth-round 25 to finish fourth at 154. Baird rounded out the event's top five finishers at 155. The final of the fourteen money spots awarded in the tournament fell at a 108-hole total of 162.

Vanette Block

In a tightly-contested amateur division battle, 2006 PPA Women's National Champion Vanette Block orchestrated a come-from-behind charge to catch 2008 Southern Open APA Champion Larry Hoover and capture her ninth Southern Putting Tour amateur division triumph of the 2009 season. Block followed morning rounds of 28, 26, and 29 with stellar afternoon rounds of 22, 25, and 24 for a 108-hole score of 154. Entering the sixth round, Block trailed by three strokes, but fired a perfect "9" on the front nine of the final round to overtake Hoover's lead en route to victory. Despite having sat atop the amateur division leaderboard after each of the first five rounds of the event, Hoover settled for a second-place finish at 156. Reigning Eastern Open APA Champion Larry Smith crafted a final-round 24 to leap into a tie for third position with 2001 PPA National Championship runner-up Ray Guthrie at 159. At 160, former PPA 54-hole scoring record holder Steve Lyon completed the event in fifth place. The cash line for the thirteen amateur division expense reimbursement spots distributed in the tournament came at a score of 167.

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9 August 2009 - Burlington, NC - The Southern Putting Tour ventured to the immaculately-maintained Burlington, NC Putt-Putt Fun Center to contest it second major medal-play championship of the season, the two-day, 144-hole 35th Annual Elton Davis Memorial Classic, amidst oppressive mid-summer heat and swirling, unpredictable winds. The brainchild of PPA Hall of Fame member Bill Kirby, the tournament was established in 1975 to honor the memory of Burlington native and PPA professional Bennie Elton Davis, who tragically passed away in 1974 at the age of 22, and is recognized as the Professional Putters Association's longest continuously-running medal-play event.

Brad Lebo

In a very tightly-contested professional division battle, thirteen players completed the first day of competition on course # 1 within five strokes of the 72-hole lead established at 103 by the quartet of recently-crowned PPA Eastern Open Champion Greg Newport, 1997 Palmetto Classic Champion Allen Wall, 2003 SC State Champion Tony Varnadore, and 2003 PPA National Champion Robert Johnson. First-day highlights included a remarkable run of 16 consecutive aces by reigning NC State Champion Ricky Schults, whose birdie string began the on 11th hole of the third round and ended on the 8th hole of the fourth round. In the process, Schults carded a third-round 21 to tie Johnson for low round of the opening day of competition.

On the second day of action on course # 2, current GA State Champion Jeff Carr bolted out of the starting gate with rounds of 22 and 23 to pole-vault out of an 11th-place tie after the first day into sole possession of the lead at 153 after six rounds. 2000 SC State Champion Randal Smith used a fifth-round 22, which matched Carr for low round of the day, to leapfrog into a second-place tie with Wall at 154 after 108 holes. In all, nine contestants hovered within five strokes of Carr's lead with two rounds remaining.

Despite recording his only bogey of the tournament on the fourth hole of the penultimate round, 2006 PPA National Champion Brad Lebo fired a seventh-round 24 to climb to the top of the leaderboard at 179 with one round remaining. Carr, who carded a seventh-round 27, Wall, and Smith lurked one stroke behind Lebo at 180. Newport and 2007 PPA National Champion Rick Baird each matched Lebo's seventh-round 24 to remain in contention at 181 and 182, respectively.

Struggling mightily in the enigmatic and violent final-round winds, Lebo scrambled to post a pedestrian 13 on the outward nine of the eighth round. After failing to ace the first three holes of the inward nine, Lebo rallied to ace the next four holes. Playing in the group ahead of Lebo, Carr meanwhile manufactured a solid final-round 26 to establish the 144-hole clubhouse lead at 206. With the opportunity to win the tournament in regulation by acing one of the final two holes, Lebo failed to convert either ace effort. With an eighth-round 27, Lebo tied Carr at 206. An 18-hole playoff would determine a winner. Newport and Wall fired 27 and 28, respectively, in the last round and shared third place honors at 208. A two-way, fifth-place tie at 209 included Baird and Varnadore. The cash line for the twelve money spots awarded in the professional division fell at a total of 214.

In the ensuing 18-hole playoff, Lebo and Carr each aced holes 2, 4, 5, and 6 to begin the round and stepped to the 8th tee tied at four under par. Lebo's ace on the 8th hole went unanswered, and after each player birdied the tedious 9th hole, Lebo entered the final nine holes leading Carr by a tally of 12-13. After Lebo left his ace effort on the 10th hole several rolls short for the second-consecutive round, Carr aced the hole to square the match. Lebo fought back with a hole-in-one on the 11th hole to retake a one-stroke lead. After the duo exchanged aces on holes 12, 14, 15, and 16, Lebo left his ace attempt on the 17th hole slightly short of the cup. Carr's tee shot narrowly missed the hole and his ball drifted to the back rail. Carr missed his sharply-breaking deuce putt to the right of the hole and tapped in for an untimely bogey. With honors on the final hole of the playoff and a two-stroke advantage, Lebo needed only a deuce to secure victory. Lebo hit his ace putt firmly up the upwardly-sloping fairway and converted the resulting straightforward deuce putt to shoot 25 in the playoff and capture his first career Elton Davis Memorial Classic title and his fourth win of the 2009 PPA season.

Vanette Block

In the amateur division, defending champion and local area player Vanette Block used a spectacular sixth-round 22 to overtake first-day leader Johnny Brown and cruise to her eighth amateur division triumph of the 2009 season. Brown set the amateur division pace on the first day of play on course # 1 with a 72-hole total of 105 to build a three-stroke lead over Block and Burlington local player Lance Perdue. Brown opened the second day of action on course # 2 with 29 to maintain the lead by two strokes over Mark Lawson and three strokes over Block. Block changed the tone of the tournament with her sixth-round 22, however, establishing a two-shot lead over Brown which she would not relinquish. Brown faltered in the seventh round, carding 32 to drop six strokes behind Block with one round remaining. Block fired a serviceable final-round 27 to secure the win with a 144-hole score of 214. At 219, Brown settled for runner-up honors. With a stellar final-round 25, Lawson jumped into third place at 220. Two-time NC APA State Champion Billy Caudle completed the event in fourth position at 221. A fifth-place tie at 226 included 2002 NC PPA State Champion Ray Guthrie and Perdue. The tenth and final amateur division expense reimbursement spot came at a total of 238.

Bob Jackson

In a ceremony conducted prior to tee off on Sunday, Bill Kirby presented veteran PPA professional Bob Jackson with the annual Elton Davis Memorial Dedication Award, which each season is bestowed upon a tour player or PPA supporter to honor their dedication to and love for the sport. A well-respected educator by profession, Jackson was instrumental in establishing the long-running South Carolina State Tour and has been an ardent supporter of the game for many years. Jackson's unparalleled career-long exemplary sportsmanship led to an annual tour sportsmanship award being named in his honor.

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2 August 2009 - Winston-Salem, NC - On an overcast morning and amidst intermittent light rain showers, the Southern Putting Tour contested the second of two weekend 54-hole tournaments on the Nature Course at the Winston-Salem, NC Adventure Landing facility. Conventional wisdom dictated that the damp carpets would have led to favorable scoring conditions; however, general field scoring actually rose from that recorded in the previous day's event.

Daryl Freeman

PPA Hall of Fame legend Daryl Freeman bolted out of the starting gate with a brilliant, tournament-low opening-round 23 and played steadily thereafter to notch a one-stroke, wire-to-wire victory. Freeman fired rounds of 23, 26, and 29 for a 54-hole total of 78 to earn his second win of the 2009 PPA season. Defending champion Jeff Carr orchestrated a valiant title defense, completing a stellar weekend performance by carding 79 to capture runner-up honors. At 81, reigning PPA Eastern Open Champion Greg Newport and current NC State Champion Ricky Schults shared third place. PPA Hall of Fame member Bill Kirby completed the tournament in fifth position at 82. The money line for the ten cash spots allocated in the event fell at a score of 86.

Vanette Block

In the amateur division, defending champion Vanette Block drew upon her extensive local course experience to adapt to the rainy conditions and complete a weekend amateur division sweep. Block posted rounds of 29, 25, and 27 for a 54-hole score of 81 to garner her seventh Southern Putting Tour amateur division triumph of 2009. The victory did not come without challenge, however, as reigning Southern Putting Tour APA Champion Ben Blake pushed Block to the tournament's end. Blake shot 82 to finish in second place. At 84, APA veteran Keith Waters completed the event in third position. First-round leader Johnny Brown and Mark Lawson, who rebounded admirably from a substandard outing in the previous day's tournament, tied for fourth place at 86. The last of the nine amateur division expense reimbursement spots awarded in the tournament came at a score of 89.

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1 August 2009 - Winston-Salem, NC - The Southern Putting Tour held the first of two weekend 54-hole tournaments on the Nature Course at the sprawling Adventure Landing facility in Winston-Salem, NC. Tricky, swirling winds and baking sunshine combined to yield challenging playing conditions which resulted in a wide variance of field scoring in both divisions of competition.

Jeff Carr

In refreshing contrast to current societal standards, hard work and diligence actually were rewarded in the event's professional division. Reigning GA State Champion Jeff Carr's meticulous and extensive pre-tournament preparation paid big dividends as he earned his second consecutive Southern Putting Tour victory and third win of the 2009 PPA season. In the process, Carr pole-vaulted into the thick of the 2009 Southern Putting Tour Player of the Year race. Carr fired steady, solid rounds of 24, 26, and 25 for a 54-hole total of 75 and a one-stroke victory. Second-round leader Greg Newport, who posted a tournament-low middle-round 23, shot 28 in the final round to fall into second place at 76. 2006 GA State Champion Michael Hitt continued his stellar 2009 campaign, finishing third at 78. At 81, 2007 PPA National Champion Rick Baird completed the tournament in fourth position. 2007 GA State Champion Frank Warren aced the final four holes of the event to finish joint fifth at 83 with 1995 PPA National Champion Bill Kirby. The final of the eleven money spots awarded in the tournament fell at a 54-hole score of 85.

Vanette Block

In the amateur division, local area player Vanette Block overpowered an otherwise underprepared amateur field, successfully defending her Winston-Salem title and confidently marching to her sixth Southern Putting Tour amateur division triumph of 2009. Block carded rounds of 29, 26, and 26 for a 54-hole score of 81 and a two-stroke win. Wilson, NC putting icon Johnny Brown sat atop the amateur leaderboard at 53 with one round remaining, but after recording a final-round 30 settled for runner-up honors at 83. A two-way, third-place tie at 85 included reigning Southern Putting Tour APA Champion Ben Blake and recently-crowned Eastern Open APA Champion Larry Smith. At 86, High Point, NC's David Myers rounded out the tournament's top five amateur finishers. The last of the twelve amateur division expense reimbursement spots distributed in the event came at a total of 91.

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5 July 2009 - Gastonia, NC - The Southern Putting Tour contested the second of two weekend 54-hole events on course # 3 at the Gastonia, NC Adventure Landing facility under overcast skies and amidst intermittent light rain. A small but dedicated band of fifteen professional and twenty amateur putting warriors took advantage of the relatively benign course conditions to produce field scoring that was significantly lower than that of the previous day's event.

Jeff Carr

Reigning GA State Champion Jeff Carr continued his recent stellar play, posting rounds of 23, 28, and 25 for a 54-hole total of 76. The turning point of Carr's roller coaster tournament occurred near the midpoint of the event. After taking the first-round lead, Carr stepped to the eighth tee of the second round at even-par for the round. He rallied to ace eight of the final eleven holes of that round, however, to soar back to within one stroke of the 36-hole lead, held by 2008 NC State Champion Ricky Schults at 50. Playing ahead of many of the other contenders, Carr made an educated guess and laid up the final hole of the event for a tap-in deuce to establish the clubhouse lead at 76. Carr's instincts proved to be correct, as his efforts were enough to earn a one-stroke victory, his second of the 2009 PPA season. It was deja vu for 2007 PPA National Champion Rick Baird, as for the second consecutive day he broke out of the pack to fire a brilliant closing-round 23. Baird matched Schults and 2006 GA State Champion Michael Hitt at 77 to share runner-up honors. A fifth-place tie at 78 included defending champion Dennis Biesma and local standout Allen Wall. The final of the seven money spots awarded in the event fell at a 54-hole total of 81.

Mark Lawson

In the amateur division, Asheboro, NC's Mark Lawson used a middle-round 24 to seize the 36-hole lead at 50. Lawson held on with a third-round 27 for a 54-hole score of 77 to notch his first triumph of the 2009 season. 1998 NC APA State Champion Billy Caudle posted a division-low 23 in the second round en route to a second-place finish at 78. At 79, 2007 NC APA State Champion Chris Alley completed the event in third position. First-round leader Todd Trent finished fourth at 81. Art Koerber rebounded valiantly from a last-place finish in the previous day's outing, shooting 82 to round out the tournament's top five amateur finishers. The cutoff line for the ten amateur division expense reimbursement spots allocated in the event came at a score of 86.

Former PPA standout and Charlotte area resident Gary Benfield completed a weekend sweep of the novice division. Benfield and novice division runner-up Brandon Hitt, who was playing in his first career PPA tournament, dazzled the gallery when they each aced the very challenging uphill 18th hole on their final hole of the event.

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Dennis Biesma

4 July 2009 - Gastonia, NC - On a sunny and oppressively hot summer afternoon, the Southern Putting Tour held the first of two weekend 54-hole events on the challenging and fickle course # 3 layout at the Gastonia, NC Adventure Landing facility. Reigning Dogwood Open Champion Dennis Biesma celebrated the Fourth of July holiday by launching some first-round fireworks as he exploded for an opening-round 22 en route to a wire-to-wire, three-stroke victory. Biesma followed with rounds of 25 and 29 for a 54-hole total of 76 to earn his third win of the 2009 PPA season. With a brilliant closing-round 23, 2007 PPA National Champion Rick Baird pole-vaulted into a second-place tie at 79 with local pre-tournament favorite Allen Wall. At 80, 2007 Elton Davis Memorial Champion and newlywed Tony Jackson completed the event in fourth position. 2006 PPA National Champion Brad Lebo recorded a final-round 26 to climb into a fifth-place finish at 81. The cash line for the nine money spots allocated in the professional division in the tournament fell at a score of 85.

Johnny Brown

In a tightly-contested amateur division battle, Wilson, NC's Downtown Johnny Brown manufactured a clutch final-round 25 to notch a come-from-behind, one-stroke victory. Brown carded rounds of 26, 27, and 25 for a 54-hole score of 78 to capture his third triumph of the 2009 season. Despite charging into the clubhouse with an impressive third-round 24, newly-crowned Eastern Open APA Champion Larry Smith had to settle for runner-up honors at 79. With a stellar final-round 25, current NC APA State Champion Todd Trent leapfrogged into third place at 82. Second-round leader Vanette Block suffered a closing-round 32 to tumble into a fourth-place tie with Lynn Self at 84. The final of the eleven amateur division expense reimbursement spots distributed in the event came at a total of 86.

PPA legend and local resident Gary Benfield came out of retirement from the sport and with virtually no pre-tournament preparation posted a superb three-round total of 82 to secure a novice division victory.

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Greg Ward

14 June 2009 - Martinez, GA - Another hot, sunny morning provided the backdrop for the final of three weekend 54-hole Southern Putting Tour events on the Blue Course at the Martinez, GA Putt-Putt Fun Center. 2001 PPA National Champion Greg Ward and 2007 PPA Senior National Champion Frank Warren matched rounds of 27, 25, and 24 to complete regulation play tied with a 54-hole score of 76. The duo would head to an 18-hole playoff to determine a victor. Reigning GA State Champion Jeff Carr charged into the clubhouse with a final-round 23 to tie for third place at 78 with two-time PPA National Doubles Champion Rick Rybaczek, who notched his second consecutive third-place finish on tour. PPA Hall of Fame legend Daryl Freeman continued his stellar weekend performance, opening the event with a tournament-low round of 22 and holding on to share fifth place with 2006 GA State Champion Michael Hitt at 79. The final of the twelve cash spots distributed to the professional field fell at a score of 83.

Ward and Warren each recorded a score of 14 on the outward nine holes of the 18-hole playoff. Ward took command of the playoff after the turn, however, as Warren deuced the first six holes of the inward nine. Ward recorded four aces in that same stretch and opened up a four-stroke lead with three holes remaining. After each player aced the 16th hole, Ward prudently laid up the treacherous 17th hole for a tap-in deuce to secure the win. Ward ultimately defeated Warren by a playoff tally of 27-30 to earn his second victory of the 2009 PPA season.

Johnny Brown

In amateur division action, Wilson, NC standout Johnny Brown and 2006 PPA Women's National Champion Vanette Block completed two rounds of play deadlocked at a score of 53, three strokes clear of the rest of the amateur field. Despite a final-round 30, Brown was able to cling to a one-stroke victory with a 54-hole total of 83. In the process, Brown earned his second victory of the 2009 season. Block suffered a third-round 31 to drop into a second-place tie with defending champion Ben Blake at 84. At 85, reigning North Carolina APA State Champion Todd Trent completed the day in fourth position. 2002 North Carolina State Champion Ray Guthrie rounded out the top five amateur division finishers, in fifth place at 87. The last of the ten amateur division expense reimbursement spots awarded in the tournament came at a total of 91 for the third consecutive event.

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Andy Coradini

13 June 2009 - Under sunny late afternoon skies, the Southern Putting Tour held the second of three weekend 54-hole events on the Blue Course at the Martinez, GA Putt-Putt Fun Center. 1993 PPA National Champion Andy Coradini took an early commanding three-shot lead by firing a blistering opening-round 20, tying the existing single-round course record shared by Frank Warren and Rick Baird. Coradini recorded a second-round 25 to maintain a two-shot lead after 36 holes over playing partner and PPA Hall of Fame legend Daryl Freeman, who moved into serious contention with a middle-round 23. Still leading Freeman by several strokes upon reaching the event's penultimate hole and with the tournament title seemingly in hand, Coradini took a major risk in an effort to break the existing 54-hole course record. Coradini bravely charged his ace effort on the dangerous 17th hole and missed, setting up a lengthy deuce putt from the back rail. The gamble was not costly, however, as Coradini successfully negotiated the difficult par-saving putt on the 17th hole and subsequently aced the 18th hole to establish a new 54-hole course record at 71. The victory was Coradini's first of his abbreviated 2009 PPA playing schedule. Freeman matched Coradini's final-round 26 to earn runner-up honors at 73. After posting an even-par 18 on his second nine holes of the tournament, 2008 Southern Putting Tour Match Play Champion Rick Rybaczek rebounded impressively, carving out a three-round score of 75 to complete the event in third place. Martinez, GA local standout Stan Seethoff made a late clubhouse run to fire a final-round 24 and finish in fourth position at 78. A fifth-place tie at 79 included 2004 North Carolina State Champion Gary English and 2006 GA State Champion Michael Hitt. The last of the thirteen money spots allocated in the tournament fell at a 54-hole total of 82.

Ben Blake

In the amateur division, reigning Southern Putting Tour APA Champion Ben Blake and Asheboro, NC's Mark Lawson separated from the rest of the amateur field, matching rounds of 26, 29, and 27 to end regulation play deadlocked at a 54-hole score of 82. A winner would be determined in an 18-hole playoff. Competing in her first weekend of events in 2009, former PPA Women's National Champion Paula Gay carded a stellar third-round 26 to pole-vault into a tie for third place at 85 with 2002 North Carolina State Champion Ray Guthrie. Sharing fifth position at 86 were defending champion Chris Alley and reigning North Carolina APA State Champion Todd Trent. The final of the thirteen amateur division expense reimbursement spots awarded in the event came at a score of 91.

In the ensuing 18-hole amateur division playoff, Blake took a two-stroke lead at the end of the outward nine holes, leading Lawson by a tally of 14-16. Still trailing Blake by two strokes, Lawson stepped to the 17th tee with honors. After missing his ace, Lawson's challenging deuce attempt failed to find the bottom of the cup. With his ball still in play after four strokes, Lawson conceded the playoff win to Blake, who captured his second title of the 2009 season.

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13 June 2009 - Martinez, GA - Course owner and host PPA professional Mark Ross graciously welcomed the Southern Putting Tour to the Blue Course at the beautiful Martinez, GA Putt-Putt Fun Center to contest the first of three weekend 54-hole tournaments. The baking sunshine of an oppressively hot and humid late spring day led to significant fluffing of the course's carpet fibers and a resulting wide variance in field scoring in the tricky conditions.

Frank Warren

Mired in a sixth-place logjam at 52 upon entering the final round of the event, 2007 PPA Senior National Champion and Martinez putting legend Frank Warren staged an inspired clubhouse charge to soar to the top of the final leaderboard. Making timely use of his home course prowess, Warren posted a brilliant closing-round 22 for a 54-hole total of 74 and a one-stroke victory, his first of the 2009 PPA season. 2007 Elton Davis Memorial Champion Tony Jackson carded solid and consistent rounds of 25, 25, and 25 to tie reigning Dogwood Open Champion Dennis Biesma for runner-up honors at 75. Second-round leader Andy Coradini, who recorded a tournament-low middle-round 21, shot a disappointing final-round 30 and settled for a fourth-place finish at 76. At 77, 1973 PPA National Champion Daryl Freeman completed the event in fifth position. Another pair of past PPA National Champions, Brad Lebo and Robert Johnson, shared sixth place at 78. The final of the thirteen cash spots awarded in the tournament fell at a score of 81.

Chris Alley

In the amateur division, 2007 North Carolina APA State Champion Chris Alley manufactured steady rounds of 25, 27, and 26 for a 54-hole total of 78 and a two-shot, wire-to-wire triumph, his first of the 2009 season. Completing the event in second position at 80, High Point, NC's David Myers notched his best career amateur division finish. Martinez, GA local stalwart and first-round co-leader Art Koerber earned a third-place finish at 82. A fourth-place tie at 83 included reigning ProPutters.com Classic APA Champion Larry Smith and 2006 PPA Women's National Champion Vanette Block. Thirteen amateur division expense reimbursement spots were allocated in the event, the last of which came at a total of 91.

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31 May 2009 - The Southern Putting Tour gathered to contest the 54-hole Wayne Hancock Memorial Tournament on course # 1 at the High Point, NC Putt-Putt Fun Center. The annual event honors the memory of long-time and beloved amateur player Wayne Hancock. Hancock's lengthy and stellar amateur playing career and unmatched sportsmanship were recognized through pre-tournament tributes delivered by several of his playing contemporaries.

Greg Newport

An unexpected early morning rain shower progressed into baking sunshine by the scheduled tee-off time. The resulting rapidly-changing course conditions and challenging winds which prevailed throughout the tournament proved no match for two-time PPA ProPutters.com Classic Champion Greg Newport, 2007 PPA National Champion Rick Baird, and 2006 GA State Champion Michael Hitt. The trio completed regulation play deadlocked at a 54-hole total of 76. A victor would be determined in an 18-hole playoff. 2003 SC State Champion Tony Varnadore celebrated his birthday by tying second-round leader Tony Jackson for fourth place at 77. At 78, 2007 GA State Champion Frank Warren finished two strokes out of the playoff, alone in sixth position. The winners of the previous day's two tournaments, defending champion Brad Lebo and 2007 PPA Tournament Players Champion Vince Batten, shared seventh place at 79. The final of the thirteen money spots allotted in the tournament fell at a total of 83.

In the ensuing 18-hole playoff, Newport leaped out to the early lead with aces on each of the first four holes. Hitt and Baird courageously forged onward, however, respectively acing the final six and four holes of the outward nine. By the turn, Hitt had maneuvered into a one-stroke lead at 11, with Newport at 12 and Baird at 14. With consecutive aces on holes 10, 11, and 12, Newport grabbed a share of Hitt's lead. Hitt aced the fickle 13th hole to regain the lead by a stroke. Seemingly poised to wrap both hands around his first Hancock trophy, Hitt found trouble on the next three holes. Hitt's bogey-par-par stretch from holes 14-16 opened the door for Newport, who called upon his limitless local course knowledge to play the same stretch par-birdie-birdie and take a two-stroke advantage over Hitt. After Newport and Hitt each aced the 17th hole, Newport played the 18th hole conservatively for a deuce to secure a two-stroke playoff victory with a playoff score of 24. The win was Newport's third of the 2009 PPA season. Remarkably, Baird's runner-up finish was his second-consecutive and fifteenth-career second place finish in state tour events on the High Point, NC layout.

Keith Waters

For the third consecutive tournament in the amateur division, a High Point local amateur stalwart earned a victory. With a stellar second-round 24, 1993 North Carolina APA State Champion Keith Waters seized a two-stroke 36-hole lead at 50. Waters held on to post a 54-hole total of 79, enough for a one-stroke triumph, Waters' first of the 2009 season. Two other members of the High Point local amateur contingent, reigning Southern Putting Tour APA Champion Ben Blake and former PPA professional Lance Perdue tied for second place at 80. 2003 APA National Champion Bonnie White charged into the clubhouse with a final-round 25 to finish in fourth position at 81. Completing the event in fifth place at 82, Steve Lyon recorded his second-consecutive top-five finish. The last of the sixteen amateur division expense reimbursement spots awarded in the event came at a 54-hole score of 87.