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that restricted the number of players. The weather was perfect,

remaining in the mid to low 80s with low humidity. Ken Boy won the

pro division by defeating Tony Cross, at that time

the defending National Putting Champion, by two
strokes and four strokes over John Roessner and

Bob Lipscomb (defending champion), with Ricky
Smith five strokes back. In the amateur division,

Mike Baldoza (defending champion) had a
commanding lead after day one. However, Doug

Cortellini gained 8 strokes over 4 rounds to beat

Baldoza by 3 strokes. Robert Smith (the 1972 &
Ken Boy
rd
1974 National PPA Champion) finished 3 .

After the 1971 National Invitational, more major tournaments were
being scheduled throughout the season, and the National Invitation

went on a 30-year hiatus until 2001, where it returned to the PPA

schedule and was played at the beautiful Burlington, NC course on May
th
th
19 and 20 . It continued to be an “open” invitational tournament.
The weather by tee time was in the low 70s with a comfortable breeze.
rd
By the 3 round the heat would be in the low 90s. At the end of the
first round three players would score 22s, Bo Luthie, Billy Caudle, and

Daryl Freeman (1973 National Putting Champion) and would lead Cliff
Matthews (2002 & 2004 National Champion) by one stroke. At the end

of the day, Randy Reeves (2003 & 2017 National Champion) would have

a two-stroke lead over Bo Luthie and a three-stroke lead over Greg
Newport (2010 National Champion). Charlie Greenwalt, Greg Ward

(Putter of the Decade), Gary English, and Rick Baird (2007 National

Champion) would be five strokes back. During the second day of the
tournament, the players would be greeted by the same weather

experienced during day one. Reeves would start day 2 with a 25 and