Page 4 - C:\Users\Yoga 11e\Documents\Flip PDF Professional\PPA Mag 1 Eighteen Version2\
P. 4

Napoli would employ some years later, he hurriedly addressed the ball on the tee mat and quickly
            stroked the ball into the cup.  His world record-breaking round was the talk of the tournament – but that
            was just the first round.  Turner had a 4-stroke lead over Kerry Kirpatrick of Charlotte, NC.  After a
                        nd
            respectful 2  round of 25, he now held a 2-stroke lead over Carl Strickland (brother of Evelyn Florin)
            of Lyons, Georgia.  Strickland, playing very steady, had rounds of 25 and 21.   Turner closed the
            tournament with a disappointing 30, and a total of 74 - to place second, finishing 3 strokes behind Carl
            Strickland's winning total of 71.  However, there was much more happening as the tournament was
            concluding.  As the focus was being placed on the two front-runners, Jimmy Harritos, of Fayetteville,
            NC was quietly working towards a world record round as well.  Harritos, seeded as one of the top
                                                                                    th
            players in the game, started on hole 1 – and aced the first 12 holes.  The 13  hole must have been on
                                                                                   th
            his mind because he admits to thinking about 13 as he was playing the 11  hole.  The distraction
            contributed to a poor putt.  Regaining his focus, he proceeded to make the next four holes and was
            approaching hole 18 as the focus was being placed on the tournament leaders.   Although he was not
            trying to keep his status a secret, he did want to play the tough 18 before the tournament director
            learned of his status. However, word got out and it was announced that Jimmy Harritos was about to
            play hole 18 with the possibility to tie the world record…just established a few hours earlier.  Harritos
            could feel the nerves starting to misbehave, so he hurriedly played his right rail front door shot on the
                      th
            typical 18  hole with perfection.   The crowd cheered with excitement acknowledging the feat.

            As years passed, there were more scores of 19.  A single hole kept these players from attaining a feat
            that is much more difficult to attain than any other mark of perfection.  How can this profound
            statement be true?  Here is a simple explanation: there are many factors that affect play.  Over 18 holes
            of a PPA tournament, the weather conditions change, causing balls to roll differently. Also, each hole
            has a specific way of which it needs to be played to enhance the percentage of perfection. Timing is a
            factor, as well. The time to prepare for each hole is limited, very limited.  And the most important
            element of all – being able to concentrate as the rarely attained goal gets closer to being achieved.  The
            19s shot by Turner and Harritos were impressive, but the pressure of making an 18 on the final hole had
            yet to come close to being experienced.   One note to make before leaving the Winston-Salem event –
            Jimmy Harritos is still the only person to shoot a score lower than 80 for 3 rounds and never have a
            round in the 20s.  His rounds during the Winston-Salem tournament were 30 – 30 – 19 = 79.

            The EIGHTEEN was, for years, a passing thought, too high of a standard to attain.  It was just not a
            feasible goal to set out to attain due to the distraction for the main goal at hand, winning the
            tournament.  So, it became one of those moments that would surprise and startle the PPA.  The surprise
            came from Warren Morris. Since this time, only 3 others have tied this score. Just the thought that only
            four men have accomplished the feat since 1959 should be an indicator of the momentous achievement
            of ... perfection.  Here are their stories.
   1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9