2009 VIRGINIA TOUR: 2010 Tour Schedule 2010 Tour Letter 2010 Tour Prize Money 2010 Tour Statistics2010 VIRGINIA TOUR EVENTS: March 27 - Lynchburg, VA March 27 - Lynchburg, VA March 28 - Lynchburg, VA
May 1 - Charlottesville, VA May 2 - Charlottesville, VA (Dogwood Festival Open)
May 22 - Roanoke, VA May 22 - Roanoke, VA May 23 - Roanoke, VA (Virginia Putting Classic)
June 19-20 - Roanoke, VA (PPA Eastern Open) July 3 - Warren, OH July 3 - Warren, OH July 4 - Warren, OH
July 10 - Martinsville, VA July 11 - Martinsville, VA
July 24 - Richmond, VA July 25 - Richmond, VA (Virginia Open)
August 21 - Lynchburg, VA August 21 - Lynchburg, VA August 22 - Lynchburg, VA
September 25 - Richmond, VA September 26 - Richmond, VA September 26 - Richmond, VA (Virginia Tour Championship)
October 9-10 - Martinsville, VA (2010 Clayton Cup and Hancock Cup Matches) 2010 VIRGINIA State Committee: Gary Hinshaw (PPA) - Chairman Vince Batten (PPA) Bill Baus (PPA) Brad Lebo (PPA) Rick Rybaczek (PPA) Matt Summey (PPA) Conway Coffey (APA) Clayton Craft (APA) 
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| Rick Rybaczek 2009 PPA Virginia State Champion | Conway Coffey 2009 APA Virginia State Champion |
VIRGINIA STATE PPA CHAMPIONS: 2009 - Rick Rybaczek 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: 2009 - Conway Coffey 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: 2009 - Rick Rybaczek and Greg Newport 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: 2009 - Greg Newport 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: 2010 - Rick Rybaczek 2009 - Bill Baus 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: 2010 - Brad Lebo 2009 - Dennis Biesma 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: 2010 - Danny McCaslin 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: Virginia State Tour Career Money Winnings Leaders (1984-2009) (Compiled by Dave Taylor in PDF file format) 2009 VIRGINIA TOUR: 2009 Tour Schedule 2009 Tour Letter (PDF file) 2009 Tour Prize Money (PDF File) 2009 Tour Statistics 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 | PPA Virginia State Tour News:
Danny Mac Is Back with One-Stroke Win Over Rick Baird In Virginia Putting Classic23 May 2010 - Roanoke, VA - The Virginia PPA Tour held its second major championship of the 2010 season, the 72-hole Virginia Putting Classic, on course # 2 at the Roanoke, VA Putt-Putt Fun Center. Overnight rain showers gave way to bright sunshine for the 10:00 a.m. tee time. As a result, the mercurial new backwards carpet fibers of the course were in a state of flux throughout the tournament, rising to full attention in the afternoon's baking sunshine by tournament's end. A wide range of field scoring resulted. Amidst the much more ideal scoring conditions of the VA Putting Classic in April 2009, the professional scoring average on the Roanoke layout was 25.82 strokes per round. This season, professional division scoring rose to an average of 28.07 strokes per round.  Danny McCaslin
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At 5:00 a.m. on the morning of the tournament, 1996 PPA Commissioner's Cup Champion Danny McCaslin made the impromptu decision to make the three-hour drive from his home near Cary, NC to enter the event. Less than ten hours later, the legend of Danny McCaslin grew to new heights. A prominent PPA professional in the 1990's, McCaslin spent most of the last decade focusing on his career on the rival USPMGA Tour, where during that period he captured three USPMGA Masters National Championships and a USPMGA U.S. Open title. McCaslin's attempted 2010 PPA comeback started sluggishly, with lackluster performances in White Lake, NC and Burlington, NC. McCaslin remained patient, however, and his arduous practice sessions of the past several months finally paid unexpected dividends. A pedestrian start to the tournament left McCaslin mired in a 17th-place tie at 28 after the opening round. After swaying his way to a remarkable 14 aces in the second round for a tournament-low round of 22, however, McCaslin pole-vaulted into a two-way tie for the lead at 50 with first-round leader Rick Baird. The winning instinct took over for McCaslin, as he produced a stellar Ben Crane-like third-round 24 to increase his lead to three strokes over Baird with a 54-hole total of 74. Undaunted, the recently white-hot Baird did his best to spoil the ending to the Cinderella story. Playing nine groups ahead of McCaslin, Baird orchestrated an inspired final-round run, acing the final five holes of the event to post a hard-fought fourth-round 24 and establish the clubhouse lead at a 72-hole score of 101. Cognizant of his situation, McCaslin began the last round strongly with an outward-nine score of 12. After aces on holes 10, 11, and 15, McCaslin needed just one more ace to secure victory. McCaslin left his tee shot on hole 16 a roll short of the cup, but rebounded with a sweet stroke on the 17th hole which found the bottom of the cup. Upon prudently laying up the final hole for a tap-in deuce, McCaslin celebrated his first PPA victory since winning the 1999 PPA Orange Lake Open. Despite a stellar bogey-free performance, Baird settled for runner-up honors at 101.
Two-time PPA Senior National Champion Bill Baus capped off a very solid weekend with a third-place finish at 104. Defending champion Tony Jackson played admirably in his attempted title defense, shooting 105 to complete the event in fourth position. At 107, PPA Hall of Fame legend Daryl Freeman finished fifth. A gaggle of players in a sixth-place tie at 108 included 2006 PPA National Champion Brad Lebo, 2009 Dogwood Open Champion Dennis Biesma, reigning PPA Eastern Open Champion Greg Newport, and 2008 GA State Champion Jeff Carr. 2006 GA State Champion Michael Hitt rounded out the top ten at 109. The final of the sixteen money spots awarded in the tournament fell at a 72-hole total of 113.  Randal Smith
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In the amateur division, reigning PPA Southern Open APA Champion Randal Smith rode the momentum of his victory in the previous afternoon's tournament to yet another triumph. Smith dominated his amateur foes with rounds of 26, 26, 25, and 28 for a 72-hole total of 105, giving him a seven-stroke margin of victory and his sixth amateur division win of the 2010 season. Two-time APA National Champion and Roanoke local standout Clayton Craft, Esq. posted 112 to win the battle for second place. At 114, 1983 VA APA State Champion Mike Matthews conjured up yet another strong performance in a major tournament, completing the event in third position. A quartet of players tying for fourth place at 117 and earning the final amateur division expense reimbursement spots distributed in the tournament included 1999 VA APA State Champion Malcolm Shumaker, 2004 JPA National Champion John Petrie, Roanoke local player James LeBrun, and 2009 Dogwood Open APA Champion Bill Petrie.
Thomas Rawles Fires 77 to Return to Winner's Circle in Roanoke, VA22 May 2010 - The Virginia PPA Tour gathered to contest to the second of three weekend tournaments on course # 2 at the Roanoke, VA Putt-Putt Fun Center. For about an hour prior to the tee off time of the event, very heavy rain showers completely saturated the course's new, thick backwards carpet fibers and dampened the rails used for the course's many bank shots. Quite surprisingly, field scoring actually significantly improved over that of the day's earlier tournament despite the adverse and rapidly-changing course conditions.  Thomas Rawles
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Tour veteran Thomas Rawles proved to be the most adept in the 28-player professional field at the afternoon guessing game, as he carded solid, steady rounds of 25, 26, and 26 for a 54-hole total of 77 to capture his first victory since September 2003, which fittingly also came on course # 2 in Roanoke, VA. Rejuvenated PPA Hall of Fame member Bill Kirby continued his recent strong play, posting a brilliant tournament-low second-round 22 and ultimately tying for second place at 78 with reigning PPA National Champion Tony Varnadore. At 79, second-round leader Robert Johnson completed the event in fourth position. A five-way, fifth-place tie at 80 included defending champion Bill Baus, PPA Hall of Fame legend Daryl Freeman, 2007 PPA National Champion Rick Baird, July 2008 Richmond, VA Local Player of the Month Vince Batten, and naturally-gifted 1997 PPA National Champion Randy Reeves. The last of the fourteen money spots allocated in the tournament fell at a 54-hole score of 83.  Randal Smith
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In the amateur division, reigning PPA Southern Open APA Champion Randal Smith stormed back with fury from a disappointing morning tournament performance. After opening the event with a lackluster round of 30, Smith manufactured an inspired clubhouse charge, firing final rounds of 25 and 24 to catch second-round leader Joey Graybeal and force an 18-hole playoff after the duo completed the tournament deadlocked at a 54-hole total of 79. Despite having joined the PPA's amateur ranks only eight days earlier, Graybeal already may have found his Lex Luthor in the amateur field. Less than one week earlier, Smith had wrestled a late lead from the pure-stroking Graybeal en route to the PPA Southern Open APA title. In this week's showdown, Smith and Graybeal completed the 18-hole playoff all square after each shot 30. The two gladiators matched respective deuces and aces on the first and second holes of sudden death. On the dangerous and fickle third hole, Smith struck a perfect tee shot which resulted in a hole-in-one. When Graybeal's ace effort slid by the hole, Smith notched his fifth amateur victory of the 2010 season. Reigning VA APA State Champion Conway Coffey shared third place with 2008 Southern Putting Tour APA Champion Ben Blake at 83. At 84, 2004 JPA National Champion John Petrie rounded out the amateur division's top five. The final of the six amateur division expense reimbursement spots awarded in the event came at a 54-hole total of 86.
Bill Baus Defeats Jeff Carr in Playoff For Victory in Roanoke, VA22 May 2010 - Roanoke, VA - 22 May 2010 - Roanoke, VA - On an intermittently overcast and drizzly late Saturday morning, the Virginia PPA Tour held the first of three weekend tournaments on course # 2 at the Roanoke, VA Putt-Putt Fun Center. The course's newly-laid backwards carpets and freshly-painted rails provided a great challenge for the field of 29 professionals and 21 amateurs, many of whom were using the weekend's events as preparation for the PPA Eastern Open to be contested on the course on the weekend of June 19-20, 2010. Aces certainly proved to be at a premium, as the professional field averaged 28.43 strokes per round in the event. By comparison, in the analogous tournament on the Virginia Tour schedule in April 2009, the professional field averaged 26.94 strokes per round.  Bill Baus
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Two-time PPA Senior National Champion Bill Baus opened the weekend with a sizzling tournament-low, first-round 24. Baus' subsequent rounds of 28 and 27 gave him a 54-hole total of 79, enough to force a playoff with 2008 GA State Champion Jeff Carr, who posted steady rounds of 26, 26, and 27. In a tightly-contested 18-hole playoff which was interrupted by sudden heavy rainfall, Carr opened up a two-stroke lead over Baus after 14 holes at 7-under par. Baus fought back valiantly, however, squaring the match with unanswered aces on the 15th and 16th holes. After the duo exchanged deuces on the 17th hole, Baus recorded a timely and rather fortuitous backdoor ace on the 18th hole. As Carr's ace effort failed to find the bottom of the cup, Baus earned his first victory of the 2010 PPA season by a final playoff score of 28-29. 2006 PPA National Champion Brad Lebo marked his 300th consecutive Virginia PPA Tour start by finishing in a three-way tie for third place at 81 with Roanoke local standout Dennis Biesma and 1995 PPA National Champion Bill Kirby. The final of the fifteen money spots awarded in the tournament fell at a 54-hole score of 85.  Clayton Craft
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In the amateur division, two Roanoke local players soared to the top of the final amateur division leaderboard. Two-time APA National Champion Clayton Craft, Esq. celebrated the 35th victory of his decorated amateur career on his home course, crafting rounds of 26, 29, and 26 for a 54-hole total of 81 and a two-stroke triumph. The win was Craft's first of the 2010 season. Roanoke local stalwart James LeBrun notched runner-up honors at 83. A two-way, third-place tie at 84 included Don Mathews and 2004 JPA National Champion John Petrie. Bunched in a four-way, fifth-place tie at 86, Geoffrey Boyer, Ping C-67-wielding Wade Driskill, 2009 Dogwood Open APA Champion Bill Petrie, and second-round leader Randy Baldwin rounded out the top five amateur division finishers and earned the final amateur division expense reimbursement spots allocated in the tournament.
Brad Lebo Wins His Third Career Dogwood Festival Open Title2 May 2010 - Charlottesville, VA - 2 May 2010 - Charlottesville, VA - The Virginia PPA Tour held its first major championship of the 2010 season, the 72-hole Dogwood Festival Open, on course # 2 at the beautiful Charlottesville, VA Putt-Putt Fun Center. With intermittently overcast skies and moderate morning temperatures, the course's enigmatic carpet fibers remained fairly tame throughout the tournament. The players took advantage of the relatively benign conditions, as general field scoring improved significantly from that posted in the previous day's event.  Brad Lebo
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2006 PPA National Champion Brad Lebo, the only player in the field to record four sub-30 rounds, survived a spirited final-round clubhouse charge by reigning PPA Eastern Open Champion Greg Newport to notch his third career Dogwood Festival Open title. Lebo fired rounds of 27, 27, 29, and 26 for a bogey-free 72-hole total of 109 to earn his first victory of the 2010 season. Newport carded the tournament's low round of 25 in the final round but inevitably settled for runner-up honors at 110. At 112, third-round leader Robert Johnson finished third. 2007 PPA National Champion Rick Baird continued his stellar 2010 PPA campaign, completing the event in fourth position at 114. A two-way, fifth-place tie at 115 included Thomas Rawles and 1991 VA State Champion Ed Grajewski, who won the previous day's tournament. The cash line for the nine money spots allocated in the event fell at a 72-hole score of 120.  Malcolm Shumaker
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In the amateur division, 1999 VA APA State Champion Malcolm Shumaker used a brilliant penultimate-round 26, the low round of the day in the amateur division, as a springboard to a two-stroke victory. Shumaker manufactured rounds of 29, 32, 26, and 29 for a 72-hole total of 116. Third-round leader Mike Matthews struggled to a final-round 32 but held on to finish in second place at 118. At 119, two-time APA National Champion Clayton Craft, Esq. completed the event in third position. Amateur division heavyweight Randal Smith overcame a difficult start to the tournament to finish in fourth place at 120. James LeBrun and five-time VA APA State Champion Chuck Dibbs shared fifth position at 121 and split the final of the five amateur division expense reimbursement spots distributed in the tournament.
The Virginia PPA Tour wishes to thank long-time course owner Lloyd Wood and his staff for warmly welcoming the tour to the Charlottesville Putt-Putt Fun Center. The tour as well greatly appreciated the arduous efforts they made in preparing the course and facility for the weekend events. The Virginia Tour will resume its schedule with three tournaments on the weekend of May 22-23, 2010 on course # 2 at the Roanoke, VA Putt-Putt Fun Center. Two 54-hole contests will be held on Saturday, May 22. The first of those events will tee off at 11:00 a.m., with the second tournament scheduled to commence at approximately 2:30 p.m. On Sunday, May 23, the second Virginia Tour major championship of the season, the 72-hole Virginia Putting Classic, will begin at 10:00 a.m.
Ed Grajewski Ends Victory Drought with Two-Stroke Win in Charlottesville, VA1 May 2010 - Charlottesville, VA - Long-time course owner Lloyd Wood graciously welcomed the Virginia PPA Tour to the picturesque Charlottesville, VA Putt-Putt Fun Center to contest the first of two weekend tournaments. On a sun-drenched and unseasonably warm spring afternoon, the temperamental carpet fibers of Charlottesville's course # 2 rose to full attention, challenging and often baffling the field.  Ed Grajewski
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In the weeks leading up to the event, 1991 VA State Champion Ed Grajewski prepared extensively on the Charlottesville layout. His hard work paid dividends, as Grajewski earned his first tour victory since winning a Virginia Tour event in Richmond, VA in July 2001. Grajewski carded steady rounds of 28, 28, and 30 for a 54-hole total of 86. A trio of players sharing runner-up honors at 88 included 1992 VA State Champion Gary Hinshaw, 2009 Dogwood Festival Open Champion Dennis Biesma, and 2007 PPA National Champion Rick Baird, who held the first-round lead with a tournament-low opening-round 26. Bunched in a three-way, fifth-place tie at 89 were 2007 PPA Tournament Players Champion Vince Batten, PPA Hall of Fame legend Daryl Freeman, and 2006 PPA National Champion Brad Lebo. The cash line for the nine money spots awarded in the event fell at a 54-hole score of 92.  Wade Driskill
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In keeping with the theme established in the professional division, the amateur division results also featured a player who ended a lengthy victory drought. Lynchburg, VA's Ping C-67-wielding Wade Driskill recorded rounds of 29, 27, and 31 for a 54-hole total of 87 and a dominating three-stroke triumph, his first since winning a Virginia tour amateur division event in Lynchburg, VA in 2002. 1999 VA APA State Champion Malcolm Shumaker finished in second place at 90. Completing the event in third position at 91 was 1983 VA APA State Champion Mike Matthews. First-round leader Randal Smith settled for fourth place at 92 and in the process notched the final of the four amateur division expense reimbursement spots allocated in the tournament. Reigning Dogwood Open APA Champion Bill Petrie rounded out the top five amateur division finishers at 94.
The Virginia Tour will return to action on Sunday, May 2, 2010 to contest its first major championship of the 2010 season, the 72-hole Dogwood Open, on course # 2 at the Charlottesville, VA Putt-Putt Fun Center. Play in that event is scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m. click here for the complete article and scores
John Bambling Posts 73 To Earn One-Stroke Win in Lynchburg, VA28 March 2010 - Lynchburg, VA - The Virginia PPA Tour held the third of three weekend 54-hole tournaments on the uniquely-designed course # 2 layout at PPA Commissioner Joe Aboid's picturesque Lynchburg, VA Putt-Putt Fun Center. On an overcast and virtually windless morning, light drizzle slightly dampened the course's carpets prior to the 10:00 a.m. tee off time, resulting in ideal scoring conditions. The field took full advantage of the gift from nature, as a low-scoring, tightly-contested battle ensued.
 John Bambling
| 2004 PPA Player of the Year John Bambling's stellar weekend play reached a crescendo with a sizzling final-round 22, with which he climbed out of a fourth-place tie after 36 holes to seize a hard-fought, come-from-behind victory. Bambling carded rounds of 23, 28, and 22 for a 54-hole total of 73 and a one-stroke win, his first of the young 2010 PPA season. Defending champion Vince Batten and reigning Dogwood Open Champion Dennis Biesma gave spirited chase in the final round, as each fired a third-round 23 to share runner-up honors at 74. 2006 PPA National Champion Brad Lebo rose from the putting dead, acing eight of his final ten holes of the event to post a bogey-free 75 and tie for fourth place with second-round leader Bill Baus, who dazzled the gallery with a brilliant weekend-low second-round 21. The cash line for the ten money spots awarded in the tournament fell at a 54-hole score of 80.
 Randal Smith
| In the amateur division, the field hoped to derail the nearly unfathomable recent run of victories of two-time defending champion John Petrie, who entered the event having won six of the last seven Virginia Tour events played on the course. With Petrie uncharacteristically struggling throughout the event, the window of opportunity was open for the rest of the amateur field. 1999 VA State Champion Randal Smith capitalized, successfully negotiating a wild roller coaster ride en route to his first victory of the 2010 season. After grabbing a share of the opening-round lead at 26, Smith struggled to a second-round 32 and entered the final round mired in a two-way tie for 11th place at 58, six strokes behind 36-hole leader James LeBrun. The perennially fierce competitor fought back valiantly, however, recording a spectacular third-round 21, which tied Bill Baus for low round of the weekend in either division. Smith's final-round heroics gave him a 54-hole score of 79, enough for a two-stroke triumph. The remainder of the list of top five amateur division finishers was filled out by a roster of Lynchburg local standouts. Wade Driskill, a playoff loser in the previous day's second event, finished alone in second place at 81. At 82, Randy Baldwin and 2009 Dogwood Open APA Champion Bill Petrie tied for third position. Reigning VA APA State Champion Conway Coffey brewed up an 83 to complete the event in fifth place and garner the final amateur division expense reimbursement spot allocated in the tournament.Vince Batten Fires 76 For One-Stroke Victory in Lynchburg, VA27 March 2010 - Lynchburg, VA - On a windy and cool early spring afternoon, the Virginia PPA Tour contested the second of three weekend 54-hole tournaments on the tedious course # 2 layout at the beautiful Lynchburg, VA Putt-Putt Fun Center. As in the day's earlier event, the blustery conditions resulted in a wide range of field scoring as well as a field scoring average much higher than that which had been anticipated.
 Vince Batten
| Void of much of the nagging shoulder pain which plagued his 2009 PPA season, rejuvenated 2007 PPA Tournament Players Champion Vince Batten capitalized on a brilliant tournament-low middle-round 22 to fire a 54-hole total of 76 and notch his first victory of the young 2010 season by a single stroke. Opening-round leader Rick Baird, the field's only player to give realistic challenge to Batten, settled for runner-up honors at 77. A third-place tie at 81 included 2004 PPA Player of the Year John Bambling and 2003 PPA National Champion Robert Johnson. At 82, Jeff Spainhour and two-time VA Open Champion Manfred Stewart shared fifth position. The cash line for the eleven money spots awarded in the tournament fell at a score of 84.
 John Petrie
| In the amateur division, defending champion John Petrie continued his recent dominance of the amateur field on course # 2 in Lynchburg. Petrie's sixth triumph in the last seven Virginia Tour events held on the course did not come easily, however. Another local player, Wade Driskill, carded a timely final-round 24, which tied Petrie and Conway Coffey for low amateur round of the tournament, to match Petrie's 54-hole score of 78 and force an 18-hole playoff. After establishing a two-stroke lead at the turn in the playoff, Petrie increased his lead to five strokes after 14 holes by acing four of the first five holes on the inward nine. Driskill valiantly cut the lead to three strokes after acing holes 15 and 16, but Petrie's ace on the treacherous 17th hole put victory out of reach for Driskill. Petrie ultimately won the playoff by a tally of 25 to 29. Reigning VA APA State Champion Conway Coffey finished third at 82. 2009 Martinsville, VA City Champion Randal Smith charged into the clubhouse with a final-round 25 to tie 1999 VA APA State Champion Malcolm Shumaker and local standout Randy Baldwin for fourth place at 85. That trio also captured the final expense reimbursement spots offered in the amateur division in the event. Michael Hitt Dominates Field to Capture the Virginia Tour Season Opener in Lynchburg, VA27 March 2010 - Lynchburg, VA - Course owner Joe Aboid graciously welcomed the Virginia PPA Tour to his sprawling and immaculately-maintained Lynchburg, VA Putt-Putt Fun Center to open its 2010 schedule with the first of three weekend 54-hole tournaments on the creatively-designed course # 2 layout. Since the tour's last visit to the facility in October 2009, PPA Commissioner Aboid had reconfigured four of the course's hole designs in preparation for the 51st PPA National Championship week to be held in Lynchburg in September 2010.  Michael Hitt
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Players were greeted early Saturday morning by sub-freezing temperatures and a layer of frost caking the course's rails and carpets. As the carpets and rails thawed out close to the 11:00 a.m. tee off time, so did the Ping Half Moon putter of 2006 GA State Champion Michael Hitt. Clearly inspired by the medley of his favorite late 1970's soft rock selections playing in the background, Hitt showcased his cross-handed wizardry in the blustery conditions with steady rounds of 26, 25, and 25 for a 54-hole total of 76 and a dominant four-shot victory. The triumph served to avenge Hitt's winless 2009 PPA campaign, which featured numerous close misses in a season of consistently stellar play. Reigning VA State Champion Rick Rybaczek capitalized on an uncharacteristically lengthy 75 minutes of meticulous pre-tournament preparation to earn runner-up honors at 80. PPA Hall of Fame member Daryl Freeman, who seized the first-round lead with a tournament-low round of 22, tied for third place at 81 with 2004 VA State Champion Matt Summey. A four-way, fifth-place logjam at 82 included 2007 PPA National Champion Rick Baird, 2004 PPA Player of the Year John Bambling, Jeff Spainhour, and Craig Williams. The final of the eleven money spots awarded in the tournament fell at a score of 85.  John Petrie
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In the amateur division, College of William and Mary student John Petrie took full advantage of his local course knowledge and experience to continue his recent streak of home course success. Petrie fired a second-round 23, the low round of the tournament in the amateur division, en route to a 54-hole score of 79 to notch his fifth victory in the last six Virginia Tour events held on course # 2 in Lynchburg. Two former professional division standouts, Randal Smith and Ray Guthrie, who finished as runner-up to Greg Ward in the 2001 PPA National Championship in Lynchburg, shared second place at 82. At 83, three-time defending VA APA State Champion Conway Coffey tied 2007 NC APA State Champion Chris Alley for fourth position. Mark Lawson shot 84 to complete the event alone in sixth place and capture the final amateur division expense reimbursement spot allocated in the tournament. |
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click here for the complete article and scores
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