2014 PPA Southern Tour Kicks Off $20,000-Plus Season

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2014 PPA Southern Tour Kicks Off $20,000-Plus Season The Ninth Renewal of the annual Professional Putters Association Southern Tour includes events in memory the late PPA National Champion Tracy

1 2014 PPA Southern Tour Kicks Off $20,000-Plus Season The Ninth Renewal of the annual Professional Putters Association Southern Tour includes events in memory the late PPA National Champion Tracy Moore, PPA National Tournament Director Roger Moore, PPA Pioneer John Connor and the late June B. Lecka as the season begins on March 15 in on historic Amelia Island in the the Sunshine State. The Amateur Putters Association, meanwhile, will pay homage to Rick Carter, Art Koerber and Wayne Hancock. Tim Jones To Defend Florida State Title We're Going To Roll Out The Red Carpet, Aaron Bean Says FERNANDINA BEACH, Fla. - Two-time PPA National Champion Greg Ward of Loganville, Ga., will join PPA Florida State Champion Tim Jones of Altamonte Springs, Fla. as the 2014 PPA Southern Tour opens a 7-weekend, 20-tournament campaign beginning on March at the Putt-Putt Fun Center in Fernandina Beach, Fla. on Amelia Island. We're going to roll out the red carpet for the pros and amateurs, says Aaron Bean, the 47-year-old member of the Florida State Senate, who will be hosting his final PPA and APA events after selling the Nassau County, Fla. franchise to Frank Blake in February. We'll have the PPA/APA Florida Doubles Championship at 6 p.m. on March 14, a 36-hole event open to all divisions. And on March 15, at 7 p.m., a $12-$13 barbecue dinner for all the players. We've negotiated special hotels rates for pros and amateurs at the Days Inn at $69 per night. We're looking forward to hosting the PPA Southern Tour opener. The tour opens with the $800 Great Amelia Island Shootout, scheduled for 11 a.m. on March 15, and followed by the $1,000 Inaugural John Connor Memorial, which is

2 scheduled for 3 p.m. in memory of the longtime PPA Pros-Players Committee chairman who died Dec. 3, 2013 at age 79. Tim Jones defends his $1,200 PPA Florida State Championship, a 72-hole event he claimed in 2013 with rounds of 25, 26, 25 and 27 for a 103 total, 41-under par, including an 18-hole playoff victory over Jeff Carr of Orangeburg, S.C. Others expected to compete for the Florida crown include Robert Johnson of Lawrenceville, Ga., who is the the 2003 PPA National Champion, a three-time PPA National Seniors Champion and the reigning PPA Southern Tour Champion; 2010 PPA National Champion Greg Newport of York, S.C., 2007 PPA National Champion Rick Baird of Charlotte, N.C., inducted into the 2013 PPA Hall of Fame and one of only three players in PPA history to record a perfect score of 18; 2009 PPA National Champion Tony Varnadore of Rock Hill, S.C.; Jay Klapper, the 2005 PPA National Champion from Lawrenceville, Ga; 1998 and 1989 PPA National Champion Lewis Burton of Lawrenceville, Ga.; 1997 PPA National Champion Randy Reeves of Montgomery, Ala.; and 1973 PPA National Champion Daryl Freeman of Bristol, Va. The Southern Tour schedule includes stops in White Lake, North Carolina on April for the $800 Glass Bottom Open, the $1,000 Harry G. Womble Invitational and the $1, th Annual Carolinas Open; the $1,000 Inaugural Rick Carter Memorial, the $1,000 Randy Carter Memorial and the $1,000 Inaugural June B. Lecka Memorial on May in High Point, N.C.; the $800 Roger Moore Memorial, the $1,000 Tracy Moore Memorial and the $1,200 PPA Georgia State Championship on June 7-8 in Martinez, Ga.; a revival of the $800 Old Pro Classic, the $1, th Annual North Carolina State Championship and the $1,500 Inaugural Mid-Atlantic Championship on June in Wilson, N.C.; the $1,000 Howard Loy Memorial and the $1, th Annual Elton Davis Memorial Classic on Aug in Burlington, N.C.; and the $800 Goldsboro Open, the $1,000 Lloyd C. Collier Memorial and the 9 th Annual Southern Tour Championship on Sept. 6-7 in Goldsboro, N.C. All $800 and events begin at 11 a.m., with $1,000 events set for 3 p.m., with exception of the $1,000 June B. Lecka Memorial, set for 10 a.m. on May 18. All $1,200 events are scheduled for Sundays at 10 a.m. We are more than pleased to bring back Putt-Putt Fun Center franchise venues Goldsboro and Wilson, said Bill Kirby Jr., who was tasked with taking the PPA and Amateur Putters Association back to the franchise system locations. This has been a long process, and on behalf of David Callahan, chief executive officer of Putt-Putt LLC in Winston-Salem, N.C., and Operations Director Robin Kerr, we are grateful to Kevin Whitfield and Carl Lancaster, owners of the Putt-Putt Fun Center franchise in Goldsboro, and Shawn and Kim Tutor, franchise owners in Wilson, N.C. for welcoming us back. Equally, we are again grateful to Aaron Bean and Frank Blake in Fernandina Beach, Fla.; Harry and John Womble in White Lake, N.C.; Mark Ross in Martinez, Ga.; Todd Lecka, owner of the Putt-Putt Fun Center franchise in High Point, N.C., and longtime manager Chris Grainey; and Brian Patterson, owner of the Putt-Putt Fun

3 Center franchise in Burlington, N.C. Without these gracious owners and managers, the PPA and APA Southern Tour would not exist. Franchise owners are embracing the 2014 PPA Southern Tour with anticipation. We've enjoyed hosting the pros and amateurs as a prelude to the White Lake Water Festival for 20 years, John Womble says, and look forward to seeing everyone again in the 2014 PPA Southern Tour season. Kim Tutor welcomes the Southern Tour after a one-year absence. We are excited to be able to say 'Yes!' to your tour dates, said Tutor, who co-owns the Wilson franchise, circa If I can help with anything, please let me know... and thanks for the interest in the Goldsboro location, says Kevin Whitfield, co-owner of the Goldsboro franchise that has not hosted a PPA or APA-sanctioned event since The 2014 Southern Tour is tailored this season in concert with the $80,000 PPA National Tournament Program in mind, including the $10,000 Diamond Jubilee Cup set for June in Hope Mills, N.C. in recognition of Putt-Putt LLC's 60 th anniversary, the $10,000 PPA Hall of Fame Classic scheduled for August in Charlottesville, Va., and culminating with the $50,000 PPA National Championship set for Sept. 30-Oct 4. in Lake Charles, La., where a $10,000 first-place prize awaits the champion. This year's PPA National Program schedule is the most attractive package that the pros have had in years, says David McCollister, a member of the PPA National Board of Directors. The increase in prize money, large money payouts to the top spots, and the PPA National Championship being 12 rounds are some positive changes. Some of these changes came from the wishes of many players. I hope that this direction will motivate increased participation in the PPA, McCollister says. For the PPA to increase the benefits to the players in the future, the participation must grow. I am looking forward to this year and future years to come. Kirby echoed McCollister's sentiments. "Our hope is that many of our talented APA members will decide to test their skills with the professionals in Lake Charles, Kirby said about the 54 th Annual PPA National Championship. We realize that many simply enjoy playing for the love of the game, but we have APA members such as APA National Amateur Champion Joey Graybeal, Randal Smith, Donnie Carpenter, Larry Smith, Bonnie White, Vanette Block, Ray Guthrie, David Myers and Dennis Biesma, all who we hope will eventually follow in the footsteps of such APA standouts as Chris Chafin and Todd Trent into the PPA ranks. The 2014 Southern Tour has been designed with offering equitable entry fees with more than equitable prize-money pay windows to encourage growth in the PPA National

4 Program, which is celebrating its most prolific national schedule since 2000, when Alan Quinnelly won his third PPA National Championship. We've done our best to keep entry fees as they were in 2013 and previous years, realizing that many of our members, PPA and APA, are still recovering from the throes of the economic slowdown, Kirby said. That is why we have $800 preliminary events prior to our $1,000 and $1,200 events. We have stretched payouts, keeping in mind all players, and not just our more seasoned veteran players. We are attempting to pay 70 or close to that percentage of our competitors, while still trying to keep prize monies lucrative enough for our more accomplished players. I would like to believe we have done just that. These tournament weekends can become expensive with lodging, travel and meal costs, along with entry fees and greens fees, Kirby said. And a bad round or a bad tournament weekend can become a financial burden for many of our members who are on tight financial restraints and budgets, while also raising children and paying college tuition costs. While some members may be critical of the payouts, our concern was to give as many contestants something to play for when his or her stroke might be a bit off in a particular tournament or on a particular weekend. Our PPA future is about the sum of our parts, and it is a small sacrifice when comes to building our PPA membership numbers. Entry fees for $1,200 tournaments will be $60, with prize monies based on the number of contestants. Based on 23 contestants, at $60 entry fees, the prize money payoff will be: 1. $200; 2. $160; ; 4. $100; 5. 90; 6. $85; 7. $80; 8. $75; 9. $70; 10; $65; 11. $60; 12. $55; 13; $50; 14; $45; 15; $40; 16; $35; 17; $30; and 18. $20. Thomas Rawles of the 2014 PPA Southern Tour Committee was of the persuasion that we should pay $200 for first place, Kirby said, and we did our best to follow suit with a compromise, while still keeping in mind mid-range players and other tier players. There is also strong payoffs for second, third, fourth, fifth, six, seventh, eight and ninth places. Based on 20 contestants, at $60 entry fees, the prize money payoff will be: 1. $175; 2. $150; 3. $100; 4. $90; 5. $85; 6. $80; 7. $75; 8. $70; 9. $65; 10; $60; 11. $55; 12. $50; 13. $45; 14. $40; 15. $35 and 16. $25. We certainly took our money to the top for some, including the top five places, Kirby said. Some argued that we should not pay beyond the $60 entry fee, but I'm of the belief that something is better than nothing, and I kept in mind that every contestant can find some consolation in winning back a portion of his or her entry fee.

5 Entry fees for $1,000 tournament will be $45, with prize monies based on the number of contestants. Based on 23 contestants, at $45 entry fees, the prize payoff will be: 1. $150; 2. $100; 3. $75; 4. $70; 5. $65; 7. $55; 8. $50; 9. $50; 10. $50; 11. $45; ; 13. $30; 14. $30; 15. $25 and 16. $25. This breakdown gives our top players a strong top prize to shoot for, as well as the runner-up, Kirby said. Wish we could have broken it down better, but we were trying to again keep as many players and their finances in mind. The truth of it is that we took $110 away from the old format, which was a cost of about $10 each from the first 12 finishers. Based on 20 contestants, at $45 entry fees, the prize payoff will be: 1. $125; 2. $100; 3. $75; 4. $70; 5. $65; 6. $60; 7. $55; 8. $50; 9. $50; 10. $50; 11. $45; 12. $45; 13. $30; 14. $30; 15. $25; 16. $25. Entry fees for $800 tournaments will be $40, with prize monies based on the number of contestants. Based on 23 contestants, at $40, the prize payoff will be: 1. $125; 2. $ $75; 4. $70; 5. $60; 6. $50; 7. $50; 8. $50; 9. $50; 10. $50; 11. $45; 12. $45; 13. $40; 14. $30; 14. $30; 15. $25; 16. $20; 17. $20; 18. $20. These $800 events were designed in mind with contestants who must work at their jobs on Fridays, then either travel long distances of up to 4 hours to tournament venues, and arrive on tournament sites and have far less practice time than those who can be on site a day before, Kirby said. With 11 a.m. tee-offs, as well as limited practice, the $800 events are much like warm-up tournaments from the 1960s. Based on 20 contestants, at $40, the prize money payoff will be: 1. $100, 2. $80; 3. $75; 4. $70; 5. $65; 6. $60; 7. $55; 8. $50; 9. $45; 10. $40; 11. $40; 12. $40; 13. $35; 14. $30; 15. $25. I think what you are doing is great, Jay Klapper, the 2205 PPA National Champion, says of the 2014 PPA Southern Tour.. David McCollister is keeping something alive that I have spent my whole life playing, with so many great memories and friends. I have never played for the money, so I think the extra spots are important because a lot of players with wives and kids have to think about the money. The best thing of all is that the PPA National Board and David McCollister are doing this for everybody, and asking for our feedback and criticism. See ya in Fernandina Beach. Tournament prize monies will be evaluated at all tournament sites, and prior to teeoff. We will, with assistance from PPA Southern Tour Chairman Greg Newport and the Southern Tour Committee, allow for sliding prize money payoff scales, Kirby said,

6 contingent with our fields, and that likely will add to more enriching and extended monies for all competitors. Two qualifying spots for the 2014 Southern Tour Championship will be offered at each tournament site, with qualifying fees of $100 for 38 qualifying berths. Qualifiers will be required to secure the qualifying spot with a minimum of a $50 deposit at on-site qualifying. The $50 balance may be paid at the site of the 2014 PPA Southern Tour Championship in Goldsboro, where the old course built by the late Lloyd C. Collier will challenge pros and amateurs alike with the pointed dropoff, the Y Hole and the sidehill... all designs that will test nerves and strokes under competition. APA Southern Tour Season The Inaugural Rick Carter memorial, the fourth Annual Randy Carter Memorial and the 22 nd Annual Wayne Hancock Memorial, all in memory of the late High Points putting standouts, will highlight the 2014 APA Southern Tour schedule, along with the Annual Art Koerber Memorial in Martinez, Ga. All of these players were loved by amateurs and professionals alike, Kirby said, and we wanted to keep their memories alive because of their APA friends, including Adam Smith, Billy Caudle and so many others. The 2014 APA Southern Tour opens along with the PPA Southern Tour in Fernandina Beach, Fla., where Jim Last will be bidding for the Florida Amateur Championship that eluded the personable hometown amateur in 2013, when Todd Trent took the title by one stroke. The tour opens with the Great Amelia Island Amateur Shootout, scheduled for 11 a.m. on March 15, and followed by the Inaugural John Connor Memorial, which is scheduled for 3 p.m. The Florida State Amateur Championship is scheduled for 10 a.m. on March 16. Other APA Southern Tour stops are in White Lake, North Carolina on April 26-27, 2014 for the Glass Bottom Open, the Harry G. Womble Invitational and the 30 th Annual Carolinas Open; the Inaugural Rick Carter Memorial, the Randy Carter Memorial and the 22 nd Annual Wayne Hancock Memorial May in High Point, N.C.; the Art Koerber Memorial, the Tracy Moore Memorial and the Georgia State Amateur Championship on June 7-8 in Martinez, Ga.; a revival of the Old Pro Classic, the 39 th Annual North Carolina State Amateur and the $1,200 Inaugrual Mid-Atlantic Amateur Championship on June in Wilson, N.C.; the Howard Loy Memorial and the 40 th Annual Elton Davis Memorial Classic on Aug in Burlington, N.C.; and the

7 Goldsboro Open, the Lloyd C. Collier Memorial and the 9 th Annual Southern Amateur Tour Championship on Sept. 6-7 in Goldsboro, N.C. Entry fees for the APA are $10 for The Great Amelia Island Amateur, the Inaugural John Connor Memorial, the Florida State Amateur, the Glass Bottom Boat, the Harry G. Womble Invitational, the Inaugural Rick Carter Memorial, the Fourth Annual Randy Carter Memorial, the Annual Art Koerber Memorial, the Tracy Moore Memorial, the Georgia State Amateur Championship, the Old Pro Classic, the 39th Annual N.C. Amateur Championship, the Howard Loy Memorial, the Goldsboro Open and the Lloyd C. Collier Memorial. Reimbursement prizes are: 1. $10 and plaque or certificate; 2. $ $10; $10; 5. $10. Entry fees for other APA events are $15 for the 30 th Annual Carolinas Amateur, the 22 nd Annual Wayne Hancock Memorial and the Mid-Atlantic Amateur and the Elton Davis Memorial Classic. Reimbursement prizes are: 1. $15 and plaque or certificate; 2. $ $15; 4. $15; 5. $15. Two qualifying spots for the 2014 Southern Tour Championship will be offered at each tournament site, with qualifying fees of $20 for 38 qualifying berths. Qualifiers will be required to hold the spot with a minimum of $10 at on-site qualifying. The balance may be paid on site of the 2014 PPA Southern Tour Championship in Goldsboro PPA/APA Southern Tour Committee All 2014 Southern Tour events will be administered by the 2014 Southern Tour Committee, under the chairmanship of Greg Newport, gnewputt@hotmail.com, entry fees, qualifying fees, fiduciary responsibilities and accountability to the PPA Commissioner and the PPA National Board of Directors, scoring, statistics, rulings, and reporting all tournament results to PPA Commissioner Joe Aboid for publication at proputters.org, official website of the Professional Putters Association and the Amateur Putters Association etc. Other Southern Tour Committee members are: Chris Chafin, Cbchafin@aol.com; Johnny Brown, brownjkac@aol.com; Thomas Rawles, thomasrawles@hotmail.com; Jeff Spainhour, Jeffreys2@cox.net; Frank Warren, fwarren3@aol.com; Tony Varnadore, nctonyv@hotmail.com; and Todd Trent, ttrent041168@bellsouth.net. The Southern Tour Committee. We will be posting the PPA and APA Southern Tour schedules at Mydogghouse.com, along with a 2014 PPA/APA Southern Tour letter, Newport said, after official publication to proputters.org.

8 Excess monies from all events, including APA, will be earmarked for the PPA Southern Tour Championship, with a portion to be designated for the PPA National Championship charity in Lake Charles, La., as per the PPA Southern Tour Committee. There were numerous requests regarding the 2014 PPA Southern Tour, Kirby said. Please keep Fernandina Beach on the schedule. Change the Florida State Championship from 6 rounds to 4 rounds because of the lengthy travel home. Keep the Carolinas Open in White Lake. Keep the APA players in mind when it comes to entry fees. We were in constant communication with the PPA Commissioner and the PPA National Board of Directors, Southern Tour franchise owners, Southern Tour membership players, and David McCollister in consideration of the Southern Tour program. More than 200 hours, including telephone and communications went into developing the program. Every request was considered, honored or compromised to the benefit of the membership from Fernandina Beach to Goldsboro, North Carolina. The Professional Putters Association reserves the right for editorial corrections of error.

2017 PPA Southern Putting Tour

2017 PPA Southern Putting Tour Fellow Putters: On behalf of the 2017 PPA Southern Putting Tour Committee, we welcome all of you to the 2017 putting season. We thank all course owners and managers, to include