Virginia State Tour


Vince Batten 2008 PPA Virginia State Champion	*Conway Coffey* 2008 APA Virginia State Champion

VIRGINIA STATE PPA CHAMPIONS:
2008 - Vince Batten
2007 - Vince Batten
2006 - Daryl Freeman
2005 - Darrell Anderson
2004 - Matt Summey
2003 - Gilbert Sharpe
2002 - Greg Newport
2001 - Andy Coradini
2000 - Vince Batten
1999 - Randal Smith
1998 - Peter Neumann
1997 - Brad Lebo
1996 - Danny Dore
1995 - Danny Dore
1994 - Mike Brown
1993 - Dave Taylor
1992 - Gary Hinshaw
1991 - Ed Grajewski
1990 - Mike Brown
1989 - Buddy Taylor
1988 - Dave Taylor
1987 - Dean Dwiggins
1986 - Dave Taylor
1985 - Dane Jorgensen
1984 - Darrell Anderson
1983 - Scott Sekerke
1982 - Jimmy Bower
1981 - Dane Jorgensen
1980 - John Wilder

VIRGINIA STATE APA CHAMPIONS:
2008 - Conway Coffey
2007 - Conway Coffey
2006 - Chuck Dibbs
2005 - Chuck Dibbs
2004 - Ricky D. Schults
2003 - Bill Garrett
2002 - Paul Lowery
2001 - Steven Jones
2000 - Wayne Saunders
1999 - Malcolm Shumaker
1998 - Chuck Cyr
1997 - Rusty Taylor
1996 - Rusty Taylor
1995 - Tommy Sweeney
1994 - Rodney Ashley
1993 - Chuck Cyr
1992 -
1991 - Jay Wheeler
1990 - Jay Wheeler
1989 - Harold Burch
1988 - Don Shepherd
1987 - Don Shepherd
1986 -
1985 - Pat Brady
1984 -
1983 - Mike Matthews
1982 - Chuck Dibbs
1981 - Chuck Dibbs
1980 - Chuck Dibbs

VIRGINIA PPA PLAYER OF THE YEAR:
2008 - Brad Lebo
2007 - Brad Lebo
2006 - Vince Batten
2005 - Vince Batten
2004 - Brad Lebo
2003 - Mike Brown
2002 - Vince Batten
2001 - Mike Brown
2000 - Mike Brown
1999 - Mike Brown
1998 - Peter Neumann
1997 - Brad Lebo
1996 - Danny Dore
1995 - Danny Dore
1994 - Dave Taylor
1993 - Dave Taylor
1992 - Danny Dore
1991 - Vince Batten
1990 - Danny Dore
1989 - Danny Dore
1988 - Dave Taylor
1987 - Danny Dore
1986 - Dave Taylor

VIRGINIA PPA STROKE AVERAGE AWARD:
2008 - Brad Lebo
2007 - Brad Lebo
2006 - Vince Batten
2005 - Vince Batten
2004 - Brad Lebo
2003 - Mike Brown
2002 - Vince Batten
2001 - Vince Batten
2000 - Greg Newport
1999 - Mike Brown
1998 - Peter Neumann
1997 - Brad Lebo
1996 - Danny Dore
1995 - Mike Brown
1994 - Dave Taylor
1993 - Dave Taylor
1992 - Mike Brown
1991 - Vince Batten
1990 - Danny Dore
1989 - Danny Dore
1988 - Danny Dore
1987 - Danny Dore
1986 - Chuck Dibbs
1985 - Danny Dore

VIRGINIA OPEN CHAMPIONS:
2008 - Brad Lebo
2007 - Matt Summey
2006 - Greg Newport
2005 - Brad Lebo
2004 - Vince Batten
2003 - Greg Newport
2002 - Brad Lebo
2001 - Manfred Stewart
2000 - Bo Luthie
1999 - Mike Brown
1998 - Malcolm Shumaker
1997 - Chris Morrison
1996 - Danny Dore
1995 - Peter Neumann
1994 - Greg Newport
1993 - Mike Brown
1992 - Mike Brown
1991 - Jay Wheeler
1990 - Dennis Pasquantino
1989 - Danny Dore
1988 - Tom Spiker
1987 - Alan Quinnelly
1986 - Brian Roberts
1985 - Pat Brady

MARYLAND OPEN/DOGWOOD FESTIVAL OPEN CHAMPIONS:
2008 - Brad Lebo
2007 - Daryl Freeman
2006 - Vince Batten
2005 - Mike Brown
2004 - Brad Lebo
2003 - Greg Newport
2002 - Vince Batten
2001 - Vince Batten
2000 - Rusty Taylor
1999 - Gilbert Sharpe
1998 - Peter Neumann
1997 - Brad Lebo
1996 - Jim Christina
1995 - Danny Dore
1994 - Dave Taylor
1993 - Jim Christina
1992 - Danny Dore
1991 - Jim Christina
1990 - Vince Batten
1989 - Dave Taylor
1988 - Tim Camden
1987 - Vince Batten
1986 - Chuck Dibbs

FALL PUTTING CLASSIC/VIRGINIA PUTTING CLASSIC CHAMPIONS:
2009 - Tony Jackson
2008 - Brad Lebo
2007 - Tom O'Brien
2006 - Dave Taylor
2005 - Vince Batten
2004 - Mike Brown
2003 - Dave Taylor
2002 - Mike Brown
2001 - Mike Brown/Kevin Garrett
2000 - Dave Taylor
1999 - Kevin Garrett
1998 - Dave Taylor
1997 - Mike Damsky
1996 - Holden Knight
1995 - Dave Taylor
1994 - Brad Lebo
1993 - Buddy Taylor
1992 - Danny Dore
1991 - Mike Brown
1990 - Mike Brown
1989 - Buddy Taylor
1988 - Scott Anderson
1987 - Buddy Taylor
1986 - Danny Dore
1985 - Brian McMahon
1984 - Jimmy Bower

VIRGINIA TOUR HISTORY:

2008 VIRGINIA TOUR:
2008 Tour Schedule
2008 Tour Letter (PDF file)
2008 Tour Prize Money (PDF File)
2008 Tour Statistics

2007 VIRGINIA TOUR:
2007 Tour Schedule
2007 Tour Letter
2007 Tour Prize Money (PDF File)
2007 Professional Division
2007 Amateur Division

2006 VIRGINIA TOUR:
2006 Tour Schedule
2006 Tour Letter
2006 Tour Prize Money
2006 Professional Division
2006 Amateur Division

2005 VIRGINIA TOUR:
2005 Tour Schedule
2005 Tour Letter
2005 Tour Prize Money
2005 Professional Division
2005 Amateur Division

2004 VIRGINIA TOUR:
2004 Tour Schedule
2004 Tour Letter
2004 Tour Prize Money
2004 Professional Division
2004 Amateur Division

2003 VIRGINIA TOUR:
2003 Tour Schedule
2003 Tour Letter
2003 Professional Division Statistics
2003 Amateur Division Statistics

2002 VIRGINIA TOUR:
2002 Tour Schedule
2002 Tour Letter
2002 Professional Division Statistics
2002 Amateur Division Statistics

2001 VIRGINIA TOUR:
2001 Tour Schedule
2001 Tour Letter
2001 Professional Division Statistics
2001 Amateur Division Statistics

2000 VIRGINIA TOUR:
2000 Tour Results
2000 Tour Letter
2000 Professional Division Statistics
2000 Amateur Division Statistics

1999 VIRGINIA TOUR:
1999 Tour Results
1999 Pro & Amateur Division Statistics

1998 VIRGINIA TOUR:
1998 Tour Leading Money Winners

1997 VIRGINIA TOUR:
1997 Tour Leading Money Winners

1996 VIRGINIA TOUR:
1996 Tour Results
1996 Tour Leading Money Winners

1995 VIRGINIA TOUR:
1995 Tour Leading Money Winners

1994 VIRGINIA TOUR:
1994 Tour Leading Money Winners

1993 VIRGINIA TOUR:
1993 Tour Leading Money Winners

1992 VIRGINIA TOUR:
1992 Tour Leading Money Winners

1991 VIRGINIA TOUR:
1991 Tour Leading Money Winners

1990 VIRGINIA TOUR:
1990 Tour Leading Money Winners

1989 VIRGINIA TOUR:
1989 Tour Leading Money Winners

1988 VIRGINIA TOUR:
1988 Tour Leading Money Winners

1987 VIRGINIA TOUR:
1987 Tour Leading Money Winners

1986 VIRGINIA TOUR:
1986 Tour Leading Money Winners

1985 VIRGINIA TOUR:
1985 Tour Leading Money Winners

1984 VIRGINIA TOUR:
1984 Tour Leading Money Winners

Virginia Tour History:
Virginia State Tour Career Money Winnings Leaders (1984-2008)
(Compiled by Dave Taylor in PDF file format)

PPA Virginia State Tour News:

Tony Jackson Charges To Victory in Richmond, VA With Final-Round 22

17 May 2009 - Richmond, VA - On a rainy and windy morning, the Virginia Tour gathered to contest the final of three 54-hole weekend events on course # 3 at the Richmond, VA Putt-Putt Fun Center. Designated by the tour as an annual Memorial Tournament, the event served to recognize the lives and playing careers of Virginia Tour competitors who have passed away. This season's emphasis was placed on honoring the memory of former Richmond, VA amateur standout Barry Moore, who played his final season as a professional before suddenly and tragically passing away in August 2008. A U.S. Navy veteran and owner of a successful computer software consulting company, Moore was a dedicated and popular tour stalwart whose career highlights included amateur division titles in the 2007 Elton Davis Memorial, 2006 Virginia Open, and 2006 Palmetto Classic. As well, Moore established and operated a thorough internet website for several seasons which was dedicated solely to reporting on nationwide amateur division tournament results and related amateur division topics.

Tony Jackson

An old adage states that great things often come in small packages. That certainly has been the case regarding the 2009 PPA season results of reigning VA Putting Classic Champion Tony Jackson, arguably the sport's hottest player residing outside the borders of Alabama. After posting pedestrian opening rounds of 27 and 26 in the challenging playing conditions, Jackson staged an inspired final-round clubhouse charge. A spectacular third-round 22 propelled Jackson to a 54-hole total of 75 and a one-stroke victory, his second of the 2009 PPA season. Two-time PPA ProPutters.com Classic Champion Greg Newport polished off a brilliant weekend performance to share second place at 76 with 2006 PPA National Champion Brad Lebo, who carded roller coaster rounds of 23, 30, and 23 to complete the dubious trifecta of missing a playoff by one stroke in each of the weekend's three tournaments. Second-round leader Rick Rybaczek recorded a third-round 27 to precipitate into a four-way fourth-place tie at 77 with two-time Virginia Open Champion Manfred Stewart, reigning NC State Champion Ricky Schults, and 1991 VA State Champion Ed Grajewski. The cash line for the twelve money spots awarded in the event fell at 81.

Malcolm Shumaker

In the amateur division, 1999 VA APA State Champion Malcolm Shumaker followed up a sizzling, tournament-low first-round 21 with rounds of 30 and 25 to post a 54-hole score of 76 and tie 1983 VA APA State Champion Mike Matthews at the end of regulation play. The two grizzled amateur veterans would meet in an 18-hole playoff to determine a winner. At 79, 2003 APA National Champion Bonnie White notched third-place honors. Two-time APA National Champion Clayton Craft, Esq., who in the previous day's two events won and lost in a playoff, and Bill Petrie matched final-round 23's to join defending champion Marty Handschuh in a tie for fourth position at 80. That trio captured the tournament's final amateur division expense reimbursement spots.

In the ensuing 18-hole amateur division playoff, Shumaker established a one-stroke lead at the turn with an outward nine score of 12. Shumaker increased his advantage to three strokes after acing the 14th hole and coasted to the finish line to defeat Matthews, 26-28. The triumph was Shumaker's second of the 2009 season.

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Dennis Biesma Earns Playoff Win Over Greg Newport in Richmond, VA

Dennis Biesma

16 May 2009 - Richmond, VA - On a windy spring afternoon, the Virginia Tour contested the second of three weekend 54-hole tournaments on historic course # 3 at the picturesque Richmond, VA Putt-Putt Fun Center. Despite the oft-perplexing winds, sophomore pro Dennis Biesma posted consistently superb rounds of 23, 24, and 24 for a 54-hole total of 71 to match defending champion Greg Newport for the lead at the end of regulation play. An 18-hole playoff would determine a champion. After equaling the professional division tournament-low round of 22 in the middle round, 2006 PPA National Champion Brad Lebo seized the 36-hole lead at 46. But for the second consecutive tournament, Lebo missed joining the playoff by one stroke after suffering a third-round bogey on the nearly-automatic hole 2. That exhibition of ineptitude dropped Lebo into a third-place tie at 72 with two-time Virginia Open Champion Manfred Stewart, who charged into the clubhouse with a stellar final-round 23. 2006 GA State Champion Michael Hitt peeked out from underneath the Brobdingnagian 2009 putting shadow being cast by his travelling compatriot Tony Jackson to complete the event in fifth position at 75. The final of the thirteen money spots allocated for the tournament fell at a score of 78.

In the ensuing 18-hole playoff, Newport leaped out to a two-stroke advantage at the halfway mark with 12 on the outward nine. But as Newport deuced holes 10-12, an inspired Biesma took command of the playoff. Biesma fired a brilliant 10 on the inward nine, failing to ace only hole 13, en route to a playoff rout of Newport, 24-27. The victory was Biesma's first of the 2009 PPA season.

Clayton Craft

Playoffs clearly were pandemic in the weekend action. In the amateur division, 2005 Virginia Putting Classic APA Champion Marty Handschuh followed up lackluster opening rounds of 26 and 28 with a spectacular final-round 23 to break out of the amateur pack and join defending champion Clayton Craft, Esq. atop the final leaderboard at 77, resulting in the third playoff of the weekend between the professional and amateur divisions. 1999 VA State APA Champion Malcolm Shumaker and second-round leader Art Koerber shared third place at 79. Reigning Southern Putting Tour APA Champion Ben Blake used a weekend-low second-round 21 to finish in fifth position at 81. At 82, 2004 JPA National Champion John Petrie garnered a sixth-place finish and received the final amateur division expense reimbursement allotment.

In a tight amateur division playoff battle, Craft grabbed a two-stroke lead after recording a front-nine 13. Handschuh aced hole 11 to cut the deficit to one stroke. After the duo matched cards on holes 12-17, Handschuh stepped to the 18th tee with honors and with a perfectly-struck ace putt maneuvered into a tie with Craft. Craft followed with a deuce. With the pair deadlocked at 29, a winner would be determined in sudden death. With an ace on the first hole of sudden death, Handschuh earned a hard-fought victory. The triumph was the affable accountant's first of the 2009 season.

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Greg Newport Defeats Rick Rybaczek in Playoff to Win Battle of Doubles Partners In Richmond, VA

16 May 2009 - Richmond, VA - Host professional and course manager Gary Hinshaw and his staff welcomed the Virginia Tour to the first of three weekend 54-hole events on the immaculately-maintained course # 3 at the Richmond, VA Putt-Putt Fun Center. The day's tricky, swirling winds led to much higher general field scoring than had been anticipated.

Greg Newport

Two-time PPA ProPutters.com Classic Champion Greg Newport fired steady rounds of 25, 25, and 25 for a 54-hole total of 75 to tie his perennial doubles partner, 2008 Southern Putting Tour Match Play Champion Rick Rybaczek, atop the leaderboard at the end of regulation play. A victor would be determined in an 18-hole playoff. After acing a stretch of 22 out of 27 holes early in the tournament, 2006 PPA National Champion Brad Lebo endured a ten-hole stretch of even-par play that would have made the Keystone Cops appear competent by comparison. Lebo subsequently scrambled to join PPA Hall of Fame legend Daryl Freeman and reigning GA State Champion Jeff Carr in a three-way, third-place logjam at 76. Second-round leader and defending champion John Bambling struggled to a final-round 30 and tumbled into a tie for eighth position at 78. The cash line for the thirteen money spots awarded in the tightly-contested event fell at 79.

In the ensuing 18-hole playoff, Newport built a one-stroke advantage on the outward nine with an opening-nine 12. Newport extended his lead to two strokes after an ace on the 11th hole. Rybaczek fought back valiantly, however, acing the 12th and 16th holes to grab a share of the playoff lead. After the contestants matched deuces on the fickle 17th hole, Rybaczek, with honors, opened the door for Newport by lagging his ace effort on the final hole. Seizing the opportunity, Newport struck a perfect tee shot. As his ball found the bottom of the cup, Newport defeated Rybaczek in the playoff, 26-27, and earned his second win of the 2009 PPA season.

Clayton Craft

In the amateur division, two-time APA National Champion Clayton Craft, Esq. crafted rounds of 26, 28, and 25 for a 54-hole total of 79 and a two-stroke triumph, his second of the year. Defending champion Mike Matthews captured runner-up honors at 81. Richmond, VA local standout Malcolm Shumaker completed the event in third position at 82. At 83, the father-and-son tandem of Bill Petrie and second-round leader John Petrie, who suffered a third-round 30, shared fourth place. The final of the six amateur expense reimbursement spots allocated in the tournament came at a score of 85.

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Tony Jackson Shoots 92 to Capture His First Virginia Tour Major Title

19 April 2009 - Roanoke, VA - On an overcast and calm spring morning, the Virginia PPA Tour gathered to contest its first major championship of the 2009 season, the 72-hole Virginia Putting Classic, on course # 2 at the Roanoke, VA Putt-Putt Fun Center. With the nearly ideal playing conditions, very low tournament scoring was anticipated. The field did not disappoint.

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Tony Jackson

2007 Elton Davis Memorial Champion Tony Jackson opened the tournament with a spectacular first-round 21 and rode the momentum throughout the event, posting impressive rounds of 21, 24, 25, and 22 for a 72-hole total of 92 and a wire-to-wire, two-stroke victory. The win was Jackson's first of the 2009 PPA season and gave him his first major title on the Virginia Tour. Two-time PPA ProPutters.com Classic Champion Greg Newport matched Jackson's final-round 22 to leapfrog into a second-place finish at 94. 2003 PPA National Champion Robert Johnson pole-vaulted into a tie for the 54-hole lead with Jackson after a carding a sizzling round of 22 in the event's penultimate round, but with a final-round 25 settled for third place at 95. After a lackluster opening half of the tournament, two-time PPA Senior National Champion Bill Baus charged in the clubhouse with closing rounds of 23 and 22 to complete the day in fourth position at 96. With a fourth-round 23, 2003 South Carolina State Champion Tony Varnadore maneuvered into fifth place at 97. Defending champion Brad Lebo established a new single-round course record of 20 in the tournament's third round amidst an otherwise pedestrian performance and finished in sixth place at 98. The final of the sixteen cash spots awarded in the event fell at a 72-hole total of 103.

Conway Coffey

In the amateur division, reigning Virginia State APA Champion Conway Coffey at last negotiated his way to the top of the final leaderboard after enduring four runner-up finishes in the first five events of the 2009 Virginia Tour schedule. After lurking three strokes off of Wade Driskill's lead at the event's midway point with opening rounds of 27 and 24, Coffey brewed up a brilliant third-round 22 to seize a lead that he would not relinquish. A final-round 25 gave Coffey a 54-hole total of 98, enough for a two-stroke victory, his first of the 2009 season. Two-time APA National Champion Clayton Craft, Esq. also posted a third-round 22 to hover within a stroke of Coffey's 54-hole lead, but a final-round 26 relegated him to second place at 100. At 102, Pittsburgh's Gerald Vick finished in third position. Wade Driskill, who set a torrid pace as the amateur leader in the first and second rounds, cooled off in the final rounds but held on to complete the event in fourth place at 105. Despite a third-round 32, 2004 JPA National Champion John Petrie earned a fifth-place finish at 106. Seven amateur division expense reimbursement spots were allocated, the last of which came at a score of 109.

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Brad Lebo Rebounds to Fire 70 En Route to Victory in Roanoke, VA

18 April 2009 - Roanoke, VA - The Virginia PPA Tour held the second of two Saturday 54-hole tournaments on course # 2 at the Roanoke, VA Putt-Putt Fun Center. The final leaderboard nearly was turned upside down from that of the day's previous event, as only one of the top eight finishers in the afternoon tournament had cashed in the morning contest.

Brad Lebo

2006 PPA National Champion Brad Lebo rebounded valiantly from a lackluster morning tournament performance to fire rounds of 24, 24, and 22 for a 54-hole total of 70 and a two-stroke victory, Lebo's second of the 2009 PPA season. In the process, the haggard old warhorse tied the existing 54-hole scoring record for the course which was set initially by Clayton Craft in a local event in September 2008. 2006 GA State Champion and second-round leader Michael Hitt notched a second-place finish at 72 with steady rounds of 25, 22, and 25. At 73, 2003 PPA National Champion Robert Johnson completed the event in third position. Cincinnati's James Weber used a stellar second-round 22 as a springboard to a fourth-place finish at 75. A tie for fifth position at 76 included 2004 PPA National Player of the Year John Bambling and Russell Sigmon, who earned his first career professional win just three weeks earlier. The final of the fifteen money spots allocated in the tournament fell at a score of 81.

Clayton Craft

In the amateur division, two-time APA National Champion and Roanoke native Clayton Craft, Esq. demonstrated his local putting prowess, crafting rounds of 24, 27, and 25 for a 54-hole score of 76 and a dominating three-stroke triumph, Craft's first of the 2009 season. Southern Putting Tour amateur heavyweight Ben Blake earned runner-up honors at 79. At 80, 1999 Virginia State APA Champion Malcolm Shumaker completed the event in third place. 2004 JPA National Champion John Petrie finished in fourth position at 82. Sharing fifth place at 83 were 1983 Virginia State APA Champion Mike Matthews and Randy Baldwin, who lost in a playoff in the day's previous event. The last of the seven amateur division expense reimbursement spots awarded in the tournament came at 84.

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Ricky Schults Edges Randy Reeves to Earn One-Shot Win in Roanoke, VA

Ricky Schults

18 April 2009 - Roanoke, VA - Reigning North Carolina and Louisiana State Champion Ricky Schults compiled consistent rounds of 24, 24, and 26 for a 54-hole total of 74 to capture a come-from-behind, one-stroke victory, his first of the young 2009 season. 1997 PPA National Champion and second-round leader Randy Reeves struggled to a final-round 29 after posting brilliant opening rounds of 22 and 24 and settled for a disappointing runner-up finish at 75. A third-round 24 pole-vaulted 2007 PPA Tournament Players Champion Vince Batten into third place at 76. Ken Schooler recorded his second-consecutive top-four finish on the Virginia Tour, firing 77 to complete the event in fourth position. A five-way, fifth-place logjam at 77 included local player Dennis Biesma, 1999 PPA Most Improved Player Tony Varnadore, PPA Hall of Fame legend Daryl Freeman, two-time PPA Senior National Champion Bill Baus, and 2007 PPA National Champion Rick Baird. The cash line for the fifteen money spots awarded in the tournament fell at 79.

James LeBrun

In the amateur division, local player James LeBrun, reigning Virginia State APA Champion Conway Coffey, and the recently-resurgent Randy Baldwin ended regulation play deadlocked at a 54-hole total of 77. A victor would be determined in an 18-hole playoff. 2004 JPA National Champion John Petrie narrowly missed joining the playoff trio, finishing in fourth position at 78. At 80, reigning Southern Putting Tour APA Champion Ben Blake rounded out the top five finishers in the amateur division. The final of the eight amateur division expense reimbursement spots came at a score of 82.

In the ensuing amateur division playoff, Coffey took a one-stroke lead over LeBrun and Baldwin at five-under par at the turn. After falling three strokes behind Coffey after the 12th hole, LeBrun manufactured four consecutive unanswered aces to seize a one-stroke lead over Coffey and three-stroke lead over Baldwin with two holes remaining. Coffey aced the 17th hole to regain a share of the playoff lead. After LeBrun and Coffey each deuced the final hole to tie with a playoff score of 28, the duo headed to sudden death. Baldwin aced his final two holes of the playoff to fire 29 and miss joining the sudden death action by a single shot. With honors on the first hole of sudden death, Coffey narrowly missed his ace effort. Coaxed by one final prophetic exclamation of "one time," Lebrun's perfectly-struck tee shot found the bottom of the cup. As a result, LeBrun secured the first victory of his amateur career. Coffey was relegated to a second-place finish for the fourth time in four events this season.

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Third Time's a Charm as Manfred Stewart Seizes Victory in Lynchburg, VA

29 March 2009 - Lynchburg, VA - On a sunny but intermittently windy spring morning, the Virginia PPA Tour held the third of three weekend 54-hole events on course # 2 at PPA Tour Commissioner Joe Aboid's immaculately-maintained Lynchburg, VA Putt-Putt Fun Center. With the carpets having been saturated and the rails dampened from the previous evening's steady rainfall, the patience and adaptability of the players were tested in the rapidly-changing course conditions.

Manfred Stewart

After having lost in a playoff and missing another playoff by one stroke in the previous day's two tournaments, two-time Virginia Open Champion Manfred Stewart finally found the winner's circle, carding rounds of 24, 29, and 26 for a 54-hole total of 79. A barrage of late-tournament aces enabled Stewart to erase a two-stroke 36-hole deficit and earn his first victory of the 2009 PPA season. Defending champion and second-round leader Rick Rybaczek and a resurgent Ken Schooler shared runner-up honors at 81. At 82, 2007 PPA Tournament Players Champion Vince Batten and 2007 PPA National Champion Rick Baird tied for fourth place. The final of the eight money spots allocated in the tournament came at 85.

Malcolm Shumaker

In the amateur division, 1999 VA APA State Champion Malcolm Shumaker posted steady rounds of 27, 26, and 27 for a three-round score of 80 and a wire-to-wire triumph, Shumaker's first of the 2009 season. Amateur heavyweight Conway Coffey once again was relegated to bridesmaid status. Despite charging into the clubhouse with a stellar final-round 24, Coffey shot 82 to settle for a second place finish for the third consecutive event. A tie for third position at 87 included reigning North Carolina State APA Champion Todd Trent and Lynchburg's Randy Baldwin. Trent and Baldwin also captured the final amateur expense reimbursement spots awarded in the event. Bill Petrie and reigning Virginia Open APA Champion Amy Smith completed the tournament deadlocked in fifth place at 88.

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Rick Rybaczek Earns Playoff Victory Over Vince Batten in Lynchburg, VA

28 March 2009 - Lynchburg, VA - On a cool, rainy early-spring afternoon, the Virginia PPA Tour contested the second of three weekend 54-hole tournaments on course # 2 at PPA Tour Commissioner Joe Aboid's Lynchburg, VA Putt-Putt Fun Center. Despite the rain-induced enigmatic playing conditions, scoring near the top of the professional leaderboard actually improved slightly over that recorded in the day's earlier tournament.

Rick Rybaczek

Two-time PPA National Doubles Champion Rick Rybaczek fired rounds of 25, 25, and 29 for a 54-hole total of 79 to capture 2007 PPA Tournament Players Champion Vince Batten's clubhouse lead and force an 18-hole playoff. Due to the deteriorating weather conditions in the late afternoon, the first round of the next day's tournament also served as the playoff between Rybaczek and Batten. In the playoff, the duo matched 14's on the outward nine. Rybaczek aced the 10th and 11th holes to establish a two-stroke lead. After acing the skillful 17th hole, Rybaczek's lead soared to three strokes with one hole remaining. Batten aced the final hole to cut the deficit to two strokes, but Rybaczek emerged victorious in the playoff, 26-28, and notched his first win of the 2009 PPA season.

Two-time Virginia Open Champion Manfred Stewart, a playoff loser in the day's earlier event, endured a second-consecutive close loss, shooting 80 to finish alone in third place. Two-time PPA Senior National Champion Bill Baus completed the tournament in fourth position at 81. At 83, defending champion Brad Lebo and Augusta, GA's Stan Seethoff shared fifth place. The final of the eight money spots awarded in the professional division in the event fell at 87.

John Petrie

In the amateur division, defending champion John Petrie successfully completed a rare four-peat. The William & Mary College student posted solid rounds of 28, 28, and 26 for a 54-hole total of 82 to record his fourth consecutive amateur division victory on the Lynchburg, VA course # 2 layout. The win was the fifth of Petrie's amateur career. First-round leader Conway Coffey settled for runner-up honors at 84. At 85, 1999 VA State APA Champion Malcolm Shumaker finished in third place. Asheboro, NC's Mark Lawson completed the event in fourth position at 88 and in the process captured the final amateur division expense reimbursement spot. Reigning North Carolina APA State Champion Todd Trent rounded out the tournament's top five amateur finishers at 89.

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Brad Lebo Defeats Manfred Stewart in Playoff to Win Virginia Tour Season Opener

28 March 2009 - Lynchburg, VA - PPA Tour Commissioner and course owner Joe Aboid welcomed the Virginia PPA Tour to the first of three 54-hole weekend events to begin the 2009 Virginia Tour season on the imaginatively-redesigned course # 2 layout at the beautiful Lynchburg, VA Putt-Putt Fun Center. Threatening skies and cool temperatures provided the backdrop for a closely-contested battle in which a mere four strokes eventually separated first and eighth places.

Brad Lebo

2006 PPA National Champion Brad Lebo aced his final two holes of the event to match two-time Virginia Open Champion Manfred Stewart's rounds of 28, 28, and 25 and tie for the lead at the end of regulation play with a 54-hole total of 81. In the ensuing 18-hole playoff, Lebo seized a commanding three-stroke lead after six holes. Stewart recovered quickly, however, to square the match after ten holes. Lebo regrouped to ace the next five holes and regain a two-stroke advantage after fifteen holes. Critical aces on the 16th and 17th holes moved Stewart to within a stroke of Lebo's lead with one hole remaining. With honors, Stewart narrowly missed his ace effort on the final hole. Lebo prudently laid up the 18th hole for a tap-in deuce to defeat Stewart in the playoff, 27-28. In the process, Lebo earned his first victory of the young 2009 PPA season.

2007 Virginia Open Champion Matt Summey fired 82 to share third-place honors with Augusta, GA's Stan Seethoff. Second-round leader and PPA Hall of Fame member Daryl Freeman carded a disappointing final-round 29 to fall into a tie for fifth position at 83 with tour sophomore Dennis Biesma. The cash line for the eight money spots awarded in the tournament fell at 85.

John Petrie

In the amateur division, two-time defending amateur champion John Petrie took full advantage of his extensive home course knowledge and experience to fire spectacular rounds of 27, 24, and 26 for a 54-hole score of 77 and notch a dominating four-stroke triumph. The victory was the fourth of Petrie's amateur career. First-round leader and prohibitive pre-tournament amateur division favorite Conway Coffey completed the event in second position at 81. At 83, two-time APA National Champion Clayton Craft crafted a third-place finish. Asheboro, NC standout Mark Lawson captured fourth position at 86. Tour veteran Wayne Cheatham rounded out the tournament's top five finishers at 89 and secured the event's final amateur division expense reimbursement spot.

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2009 PPA Virginia Tour Schedule

24 January 2009 - The PPA Virginia Tour today released their 2009 tournament schedule. The Virginia Tour will kick off it's schedule on March 28th with two tournaments on PPA Commissioner Joe Aboid's Putt-Putt Golf Course in Lynchburg, Virginia and will end it's season with the Virginia State Championship in Martinsville, Virginia. The tour is proud to host the 2009 PPA Eastern Open which is scheduled in June in Richmond, Virginia.