Lee Weldy Captures 1961 National Putting Championship

Long, lean Lee Weldy, 23-year-old salesman from Savannah, GA, spread-eagled the field to sweep to a one-sided victory in the $7,500 National Championship Tournament of the Professional Putters Association.

Weldy, wielding a blazing hot putter, fired a record-equaling 246 total for the 144-hole distance on the Putt-Putt Golf Course at 16 Sunnybrook Drive to whip his nearest challenger by nine shots.

Weldy, scoring his first major PPA tournament triumph, was 42-under par to tie the record set by Neil Connor of Greenville, SC, in winning the 1961 Durham Open two weeks ago.

Connor, 1960 National Champion, and Frank Holt, leading money winner of 1960, failed to make the 147 cut-off point after the first 72 holes of qualifying and watched the final 72 holes of competition from the sidelines. Connor, who had won two tournaments on the 1961 cross country tour, stood at 149 and Holt's 148 missed qualifying by one stroke.

Weldy uncorked final rounds of 29-30-30-31 to come from two shots off the pace at the halfway point and beat Vance Randall of Asheville, NC, who collected $1,500 for his runner-up finish of 255. Weldy, who pocketed $3,000 first place money, scored 46 aces in winning the blue-ribbon event of the second annual PPA tournament trail.

Ron Nixon of Columbus, GA, halfway leader at 122, finished in a fourth-place tie with Bob Williamson of Jacksonville, FL at 257. Harold Hardester of Orlando, FL, who was one shot behind Nixon after the first 72 holes, blew himself out of the money with a disastrous 44 on the final day. His score card showed one 9.

The low amateur was Jack Bein of Cincinnati, Ohio. His 282 total won the handsome trophy presented by PPA President Don Clayton, who also presented the $3,000 check to Weldy. Jack Horner, Sports Editor of the Durham (NC) Herald, won the National Sportswriter-Sportscasters tournament with a 36-hole score of 64, eight under par.