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would be an ace. However, the carpet was replaced and course 1 was establishing the reputation of
being a challenging course. Low scores were possible, but, just like Orlando, there were a few holes
that were too inconsistent. Scores in the mid-20s were common; however, below the mid-20s was an
accomplishment. John’s pre-tournament practice was no different than usual – except he noticed that
he was making a lot more of the holes with relative ease…of which the other 11 contestants were not
noticing. Prior to this evening, John’s lowest score was a 22, scored on the same course. On May 23,
John played the front nine without much difficulty and quietly carded his perfect nine. However, he
really did not give the perfect 18 much thought… at the time. This may have been due to the lack of
consistent practice the weeks prior to the tournament. Over the previous months he would check to see
if there was going to be a tournament and then decide if he wanted to play. Some weeks he would play,
some weeks he would skip. There had been a few weeks off prior to this historical evening. As Napoli
preceded to ace 10 – 14, word started to spread and was shared with the tournament director, Joe Aboid
(now the Commissioner of the PPA). Joe quietly
eased his way to course 1 to watch. Napoli stepped
up to hole 15, a straight hole with the cup on a
slight hill attached to the back rail. However, there
was an obstacle four feet from the tee mat requiring Hole 15
the putt to be banked off a rail. As with most holes
on the course, if the shot was hit correctly, an ace was awarded.
th
Napoli picked his ball out of the cup for his 15 straight ace. Napoli
was not overly concerned about hole16. He had played it well in
practice and knew the shot was consistent. Hole 16 was not an
exceptionally difficult hole. Two small obstacles, more for aesthetics
than determent, located to the inside of each rail. The hole was
Hole 16 straight with an elevated flat area at the end of the hole. The cup was
in the center of the flat area. Napoli looked at his mark, then hit the
ball with the speed he felt was needed for wet carpet. As he was looking at the ball traveling at a faster
pace than wanting, he would look at the cup and judge the speed and distance – constantly looking
back-and-forth to the cup and ball. He knew it was too firm. The firmness could have been allowing
for the dampness of the carpet or the adrenaline starting to rapidly flow through his body. It could have
been nerves. As the overly firm putt sped to the cup it was aligned with the inside of the right lip. On
dry carpet, the ball would have certainly grabbed the lip of the cup and spun out; however, this night,
with the wet carpet – the spin of the ball was not able to grab the wet carpet fibers and it quickly slid
into the cup. At this point, it was the only mis-hit putt of his round…and Napoli knew that he had
gotten away with one. Or did he? Could it have been the ole Southern Gentleman’s apparitional
appreciation of the task at hand that accommodated the fortuitous result? For those who remember the
construction of the PPA course, each hole had a plaque just behind the tee mat honoring the course
owner that sponsored the hole. The name of the course owner for hole 16 was… Warren Morris. The
Southern Gentleman would have been rooting for John to make the ace had he been at the course. It
was at this point that the field was starting to realize the record tying pace. Joe Aboid asked Napoli if
he would mind if he announced the status of his game. Napoli obliged, and the field of players and
numerous customers gathered along the concrete bleachers that aligned the last few holes of course #1
to witness possible history. Hole 17 was designed to provide an aesthetic obstacle with the possibility
of getting a stroke penalty for putting the ball into the water. It was a lengthy 25-foot hole with the cup
located to the back of the hole and in the right corner. John had been playing this hole straight to the
right rail and ease it into the cup, However, during practice, prior to the tournament, it was the only
hole he never made. Don Ferrell, just before the tournament started, showed Napoli an alternative shot.
Play with more speed and come off the back rail to the hole. Napoli was hesitant to go with the shot, so
Don showed him the shot one more time. As Napoli was about to practice the new shot…Joe Aboid