Page 5 - The Invitational 2021 revised

Expectingly, by the end of round four, most players tweaked their play-

and the field average was 30.0. In the PPA Division the field average

for round one was 26.8, for round two, it was 28.3, and for round three,
it was 27.1. pretty consistent across 2 courses. However, as the

carpets fluffed, the scores started rising for some players. The average

score for round four was 28.7. By the end of day one, Kevin Rutledge,
scoring a 23 for his final round of the day, created a 3-stroke lead over

Terry Phillips and a 4-stroke lead over Greg Ward.

The first National Invitational in 1970 and was decided by a playoff –
2021 would be no different in the PPA Division. However, on June 6,

the APA title would be convincingly won. Earl Davis would take his 1-
stroke lead at the beginning of the day and tactfully increase the lead

every round by one stroke. Going into the final round, he held a slight

lead. Chuck Palm
conveyed that Davis

“…putted lights out!”

“He was very
focused and

determined,” as
Palm paused with an

exasperating laugh.

Palm expressed that
Davis was so

focused, Palm went

to fist-pump Davis for Davis’ excellent putt, but Davis’ mind was on the
next putt. Every time that Palm would make a move, Davis would

respond to thwart the advancement. Davis and Palm were never aware

of the score status of others that were playing in front of them, but
Palm appropriately calculated that if he could not catch Davis, then the

other groups did not matter. Davis knew if he could win day two of the