John Spotts New PPA National Champion
Twenty-year-old John Spotts of Indianapolis, IN, outlasted a strong field of eager putting pros to cop first place money of $10,000 to become PPA's 1963 National Champion. The "sure-putting" Spotts shot a sizzling 346, 86-under par in getting the job done. Young Spotts, a new face on the PPA tour, entered the final day's competition six strokes off the pace. He wasted no time in getting down to business as he fired a 28-28-29-25 to squeeze out his victory. Staying right on his heels all the way, making a strong bid for the lead, was Ralph Sapp of August, GA. Ralph finished one stroke off the pace with an 85-under par, 347, good for second place and $5,000. Third and fourth places proved to be an exciting battle as Tracy Moore of Augusta, GA, and Charles Gatewood of Mississippi City, MS, battled all the way down to the wire, tying with a 349.
Tracy Moore, a constant face on the PPA tour since its infancy, played his final round under heavy pressure. First and 2nd place winners, Spotts and Sapp, entered the final round 75-under par. Tracy Moore entered his final round 79 under par. With the leading score (86 under) already in, Moore had to fire a 29 to tie or 28 to win. The putts just wouldn't fall, and a disappointed Moore had to settle for a third place tie. The entire field for the pro division consisted of 231 pros, the largest ever gathered for a PPA event.
Young Joe Gehling of Cincinnati, Ohio came to Cleveland with a hot putter and put it to work in the amateur division by firing a 358, 74-under par, to claim the first place trophy. In second place, 9 strokes off the pace, was Jerry Pruitt of Atlanta, GA. Pruitt fired a 367, 65-under par. Shooting scores in the 20's was not confined to the pro division. In taking first place in the amateur division, Gehling fired 3 rounds of 29, one of 28, and a sizzling 25. A field of 67 amateurs started the first day's competition. The field was cut to the top 30 after the 2nd day's competition.
Many of the men in the putting spectacular will now move on to Indianapolis, IN; Charlotte, NC; Atlanta, GA; and Lake Charles, LA, to complete the 1963 circuit. Although the 1963 National Championship has ended, hundred upon hundreds of people who witnessed the event will remember it for a long time to come.
