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BREAKING NEWS (9 CURRENT)
RECAP OF 2008 DIAMOND IN THE DESERT CHAMPIONSHIP
By Russ Pate
OPEN DIVISION
Champion: Vince Ciurluini, 365
Runner-up: Scott Smith, 352
RE/MAX WLDC Exemptions: 4 (Ciurluini, Smith, Bobby Bradley, Mike Moulton)
The Deets: Ciurluini dished out a heaping helping of pasta in the finals, smoking a 365-yard winner. Bobby Bradley, Ciurluini and Moulton cruised through the winners side of the bracket, while Smith survived a series of elimination rounds. Corey Morley Jr. posted the longest drive of the competition, a 373-yard blast in round one. Ciurlinis sets for the day were like climbing a stepladder: 349, 354, 359, followed by 365 in the finale.
SENIOR DIVISION
Champion: Lance Reader, 346/341
Runner-up: Jackie Sholar, 335/0
RE/MAX WLDC Exemptions: 2 (Reader, Sholar)
The Deets: Reader turned the tables on Sholar in match-play, after losing to the graceful Kentuckian in round five. Reader evened the ledger with a 346-335 win in the first match, setting up a sudden-death scenario. The Krank Golf boss posted 341 yards in his final set while Sholar failed to find the grid. Reader had the long ball of the day, 365 yards in round two. Sholar gained the upper hand momentarily with a 353 (to Readers 347 and Brian Harris 338) in round five.
WOMENS DIVISION
Champion: Alicia Zuckerman, 246
Runner-up: Brenda Prudham, 240
RE/MAX WLDC Exemption: Zuckerman
The Deets: Zuckerman cruised in rounds one and two, filling the grid with 4x6 in each set. Zuckermans 276 in round two was the longest drive of the day. Prudham joined her in the shootout round after defeating Michelle Sheptak in round 4. Prudhams 240 in the finals was her long of the day.
SUPER SENIOR DIVISION
Champion: Miguel Jaime, 305
Runner-up: Dennis DeAngelis, 293
RE/MAX WLDC Exemptions: Jaime, DeAngelis
The Deets: Jaime peeled off three bills from start to finish. He went W-W-W in rounds one, two and five posting 312, 308, 318. The latter figure, which sent Jaime straight to the shootout round, shared division honors with Rick Tijerina, who had 318 in a round four win. DeAngelis was a model of consistency, posting 297 and 293 in rounds one and two. He added 285 in losing to Jaime in round five and 290 in round six, which set up a rematch with Jaime, who prevailed 305-293.
GRAND CHAMPIONS DIVISION
Champion: John Joseph, 285
Runner-up: Gary Hollrah, 264
RE/MAX WLDC Exemption: Joseph
The Deets: This division was unmatched for DDC drama. The shootout round between Joseph, who had breezed through the winners bracket, and Hollrah, who had endured the losers side, ended in a white-knuckle measurement resulting in an exact tie (the first in memory) at 289/24; the tie forced a three-ball playoff in which Joseph, the defending DDC champion, prevailed, 285-264. The long drive of the day belonged to Rick Scott, who posted 312 in round one. Hollrah and Scott each topped 300 in round three. Joseph never had a monster ball, but never had a bad set, either.
2008 DIAMOND IN THE DESERT CLASSIC DAY ONE RECAP
By Russ Pate
Already on the practice range shortly after 8 a.m. on Friday (Feb. 8), roughly two hours ahead of the start of competition in the 2008 Diamond in the Desert Classic, was a contingent of long drivers based in the western U.S.
Among the early risers, who arrived at the Palms GC roughly two hours ahead of the beginning of play, were:
Johnny Lawson -- Manager of an auto repair shop, Lawson, 47, a resident of Star Valley, Wyoming, had in his possession a copy of Sean Fisters new book, The Long Drive Bible. He was beginning his second year in long drive with high hopes.
John Joseph and Pam Joseph The Josephs live in the Palm Springs area; he works as a golf instructor while she works for a custom builder. John won the grand champions division at the 2007 Diamond in the Desert Classic, earning an exemption to the world finals. Pam would enjoy joining her husband in the big show this fall.
Bud Davis and Jeremy Davis Bud, 32, and Jeremy, 35, work together in a heating and air conditioning business in Patterson, California. Friends of the Josephs, their posse included Buds personal trainer, Hugo Brambila, a professional soccer player.
John Reifel, the 58-year old super senior competitor spent 30-plus years in the auto business in Michigan before he and his wife found a dream home for retirement in southern Utah. He was taking his first shot at RE/MAX qualifying.
Dennis DeAngelis - The resident of Reno made an immediate impact as long drive rookie in 2007, qualifying for the show in Mesquite. He may be best known in golf circles for inventing the Kaddy Stroller, the original three-wheel push cart.
Todd Quaney An independent contractor from Las Vegas, Quaney, 45, was moving up into the senior division to start his third year in long drive.
Among all the Westerners on range was one well-known long drive figure from back East: club manufacturer Kenny Lawson, head honcho at ALL OUT GOLF.
DDC registration opened at 9 a.m. and the honor of hitting the first ball in 2008 RE/MAX qualifying worldwide went to John Kikes.
A resident of Danville, California, Kikes turned in a strong showing at the 2007 RE/MAX finals, narrowly missing the match-play rounds in the super senior division.
Watching from the second row of the bleachers as Kikes teed off were daughter-and-mother team of Angie Burwell and Marylou Valencia of Orange, California. They had driven in from California with Angies 22-year-old Casen Burwell, who came close to qualifying for Mesquite last fall at Jack Dohertys last-chance event in Primm.
Over the course of the next eight hours, after Mr. Kikes launched a beauty down the center of the grid, three separate qualifying events unfolded and more than 200 tries were logged.
DDC day one results are posted elsewhere on this website. Among the highlights of the day was an exceptional set late in the second local qualifier by Brian Coday. The Hawaii resident, late of NORCAL, posted a 360 that secured a spot in Sundays finals and knocked Bobby Bradley out of the sixth and final qualifying spot.
Undeterred, Bradley, a former pitcher in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization, came back in the third qualifier and registered the leading drive with 361 yards.
In second place with 360 yards, also advancing to Sundays DDC finale, was Daniel Konyk. The Englishman, the lone representative from Long Drivers of Europe (LDE) on the scene, came up big in his final set of the day.
Long drives of the day in their respective divisions were:
OPEN
Mike Moulton, 369 (Qualifier 2)
SENIOR
Lance Reader, 348 (Qualifier 1)
Mike Sanders, 348 (Qualifier 2)
SUPER SENIOR
Mark Rodriguez, 325 (Qualifier 1)
WOMEN Alicia Zuckerman, 266 (Qualifier 1)
GRAND CHAMPIONS Rick Scott (Qualifier 1)
By the end of a long day of qualifying, Todd Quaney had advanced in the senior division, winning qualifier 3. Dennis DeAngelis had moved on in the super seniors, advancing from qualifier 2.
The Davis brothers, Bud and Jeremy, were not as fortunate, failing to advance. Nor was Johnny Lawson, John Reifel or Casen Burwell.
For them, and others, however, there would be another day: Two more local qualifiers were scheduled for Saturday, prior to DDC championship finals being conducted in the womens, grand champions and super senior divisions. In the DDC open and senior divisions, meanwhile, finals are on tap for Sunday.
For lovers of the long ball, the sunup to sundown schedule of LDAs Diamond in the Desert Classic is like nothing else in long drive.
Mark your calendars for 2009.
MCDOUGALL CRANKS OUT FIRST WIN AT 2008 DESERT LAUNCH
By Russ Pate
The winding road Allen McDougall negotiated to the 2008 Desert Launch championship in Mesquite featured several speed bumps and potential potholes.
To earn his first tour title, worth $11,000, McDougall had to travel through the loser's side of the bracket after taking a detour from round 7 to round 9; then survive a tense three-ball playoff in the semifinals against Jeff Farley.
After they finished within the 2" of each other at 350 yards, invoking LDA's dreaded 6" rule and an extra three drives apiece, McDougall dispatched Farley, 360-346.
That earned the Scottsdale resident a spot in the finals against top-seed Jeff Gavin, who had posted the two longest drives of the tournament, 379 and 377 yards, respectively, in rounds two and seven.
Against the backdrop of darkening skies and dropping temperatures, McDougall survived the head-to-head showdown against Gavin, when the Canadian failed to find the grid, spoiling an otherwise sensational day.
For Gavin, the Desert Launch might easily have been renamed the Desert Crunch.
McDougall coaxed 338 yards out of his Krank driver with a UST LD3 shaft, not an eye-opening number by any means, but enough to elate the large contingent of white-jacketed Krank hitters cheering him on.
The final eight included 2007 champion Kevin Bullard, who mounted a spirited title defense and secured the second seed before coming up short in his quarterfinal match with Fred Groth.
SEEDING ROUND 7:
Jeff Gavin (1) 379
Kevin Bullard (2) 369
Fred Groth (3) 354/22
Carl Wolter (4) 354/20
(Losers to rd. 9: Allen McDougall, 354; Jesse Pettersen, 345)
SEEDING ROUND 9:
J.D. Murkerson (5), 362
Allen McDougall (6), 361
Jeff Farley (7), 361
Dustin Merrill (8), 360
(Finishers 9-12: Jesse Pettersen, 358; Kevin Blenkhorn, 350; Jerimie Montgomery, 345; Dave Mobley, 345)
MATCH PLAY RESULTS
Quarterfinals:
Jeff Gavin, Mississauga, Ontario (1) def. Dustin Merrill, St. Louis, MO (8), 362-359
Carl Wolter, Lehighton, PA (4) def. J.D. Murkerson, Blakely, GA (5), 366-361
Allen McDougall, Scottsdale, AZ (6) def. Fred Groth, El Segundo, CA (3), 360-333
Jeff Farley, Huntington Beach, CA (7) def. Kevin Bullard, Cedartown, GA (2), 348-344
Semifinals:
Gavin def. Wolter, 355-323
McDougall def. Farley in three-ball playoff 360-346 (after tying at 350+)
Finals:
McDougall def. Gavin, 338-0B
Open Division Prize Money
McDougall $11,000
Gavin 5,000
Wolter 3,000
Farley 3,000
Merrill 2,000
Murkerson 2,000
Groth 2,000
Bullard 2,000
Pettersen 1,000
Blenkhorn 1,000
Montgomery 1,000
Mobley 1,000
MILLER BACK ON TOP IN MESQUITE
By Russ Pate
In his first trip back to the Palms GC grid in Mesquite since his dominant win at the 2007 RE/MAX world finals, Frank Miller put on another impressive power show.
The reigning senior world champion defeated Gerry James 358-343 in the match-play finals of LDAs season-opening 2008 Desert Launch.
Miller, who resides in Covina, Calif., pocketed $5,000 for his second LDA Tour title. Ironically, he had outgunned James at the 2007 Texas Shootout in Dallas for his first career win.
Together, Miller and James have shared the past three world championships in the senior division. James, who resides in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., won RE/MAX titles in 2005 and 2006 before Miller unseated him last fall.
James earned $3,000 for his runner-up finish.
The other two Desert Launch semifinalists, Dan Scardina and Mike Gorton, each won $1,500.
Perhaps equally significant, though, was the fact Gorton and Scardina secured exemptions to the 2008 RE/MAX WLDC finals next fall.
Gorton, 2007 RE/MAX super senior champion, now has exemptions in two separate divisions. For Scardina, making his senior debut at a tour event, the exemption ensures a less hectic summer.
Match-Play Recap:
Semifinals:
Frank Miller, Covina, California, def. Dan Scardina, Bartlett, Illinois, 359-341;
Gerry James, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, def. Mike Gorton, Erie, Colorado, 356-344
Finals:
Miller def. James, 358-343
2008 Desert Launch earnings:
Miller $5,000
James 3,000
Gorton 1,500
Scardina 1,500
Action shifts on Thursday to the 2008 Desert Launch open division, where a 48-hitter field will battle for a purse of $34,000.
Top prize is $11,000.
2008 DESERT LAUNCH PREVIEW
By Russ Pate
Defending champions Kevin Bullard (open) and Gerry James (senior) headline the field for Long Drivers of Americas 2008 Desert Launch, which officially opens the professional long drive season on Wednesday, Feb. 8.
Also competing in the $45,000 LDA Tour event at the Palms GC in Mesquite, Nevada, are three reigning RE/MAX world long drive champions: Mike Dobbyn (open), Frank Miller (senior) and Mike Gorton (super senior).
Bullard claimed the 2007 Desert Launch title by besting Brian Pavlet in the match-play finals, 356-353.
James secured the 2007 senior title by defeating Pat Dempsey, 355-343.
Dempsey will be competing in both the open and senior divisions at the 2008 Desert Launch. The California veteran will be the lone double-dipper at the seasons inaugural event.
Action on Wednesday gets underway at 10 a.m. with on-site qualifying in the open division. Some 49 competitors will battle for 34 spots in Thursdays main draw.
On Wednesday beginning at 2 p.m., the 16-hitter senior division will command the stage from start to finish. On Thursday, open division hitters will hammer away all day beginning at 9 a.m.
On the line at the 2008 Desert Launch are highly coveted exemptions into the 2008 RE/MAX World Long Drive Championship finals in Mesquite next October.
The 2008 Desert Launchs top four nonexempt finishers in the open division, and top two nonexempt finishers in the senior division, will lock up spots for next fall. For many, that opportunity alone is worth the entry fee.
Prize money for the 2008 Desert Launch breaks down as follows:
Open Division Senior Division
W $11,000 $5,000
R 5,000 3,000
S 3,000 1,500
5-8 2,000 ----
9-12 1,000
Admission is free. Spectators are welcome.
NEW CANADIAN COMPANY RECEIVES RIGHTS
TO STAGE RE/MAX WLDC, EDC QUALIFIERS
LONG DRIVE VETERAN CLEVERDON HEADS UP
LONG DRIVERS OF CANADA
ROANOKE, TEXAS (Jan. 25, 2008) - Long Drivers of America (LDA) today announced it has reached an operating agreement with start-up Long Drivers of Canada Inc.(LDC), which will conduct local and regional qualifying events associated with the RE/MAX World Long Drive Championship, the premier event in power golf.
LDC, headed by veteran long drive competitor Brett Cleverdon, a multi-time world finals participant, will also stage qualifying events in Canada for the Exceptional Driver Championship, LDA's grass roots competition for amateur golfers that spans North America.
"LDA is pleased to have found a franchisee in Canada that can build on our sport's rich tradition there," said Art Sellinger, chief executive officer. "Brett Cleverdon and his team at LDC understand the demands of long drive competition and the desires of competitors. That base of experience and know-how will enable them to conduct first-class events. We consider this a win-win for LDA and LDC."
LDA has existing franchisees that annually stage RE/MAX World Long Drive Championship qualifying events in more than 30 countries nationwide. Franchisees encompass Europe, South Africa, India, Japan, Korea, Australia, South America and the Caribbean, among others.
Now add Canada to the growing list.
"I am thrilled that LDA and Art Sellinger have given me the opportunity to purchase franchise rights for Canada," said Cleverdon, who has competed in professional long drive since 1996. "It is a huge opportunity for me to grow the sport in a country that has produced the best long driver of all time (five-time RE/MAX world champion Jason Zuback, a Calgary resident and member of Canada's Sports Hall of Fame) and is producing more superstars each year. I really look forward to running all the qualifying events in Canada associated with both the RE/MAX World Long Drive Championship and Exceptional Driver Championship."
LDC will be based in Muskoka Lakes, Ontario; the company's website is www.longdrivers.ca.
Cleverdon said LDC anticipates having three RE/MAX WLDC regional finals in Canada in 2008 and a Canadian Long Drive Championship. A total of 24 slots in five divisions at the RE/MAX world finals next fall will be available.
LDC will also stage Exceptional Driver Championship local qualifying tournaments in Canada in 2008 feeding into three regional finals; 12 competitors from the three regional events will advance to the 2009 EDC finals.
Long Drive Season Set to Start
First-stage qualifying for the 2008 RE/MAX World Long Drive Championship begins with LDA's Diamond in the Desert Classic, scheduled for Feb. 8-10 at the Palms GC in Mesquite, Nevada. Local RE/MAX WLDC qualifying events begin immediately thereafter and continue globally during the spring and summer months.
RE/MAX WLDC local qualifiers will begin in Canada this spring. A complete schedule of Canadian qualifying events will be posted and maintained on the LDC website.
Twelve RE/MAX regional finals in the United States will unfold between the beginning of August and the middle of September.
RE/MAX championship week in Mesquite takes place on October 20-25. Nearly 300 long drive competitors from around the world will compete for titles in five adult divisions. At stake is a record purse of $600,000, with the open division champion earmarked to receive $250,000, by far the largest payday in the sport's history.
The RE/MAX World Long Drive Championship is broadcast by ESPN and shown throughout Canada on TSN. The Exceptional Driver Championship airs on Golf Channel.
More information about the RE/MAX World Long Drive Championship and Exceptional Driver Championship is available at (888) 233-4654 or www.longdrivers.com.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Brett Cleverdon, LDC, brett@longdrivers.ca
Russ Pate, LDA, (214) 349-3603
U.S. REGIONS RESTRUCTURED FOR
2008 RE/MAX WORLD LONG DRIVE CHAMPIONSHIP
ROANOKE, TEXAS (Jan. 9, 2008) - Long Drivers of America (LDA) has established a new U.S. regional structure for the 2008 RE/MAX World Long Drive Championship, the premier event in power golf.
Second-stage qualifying for the international grass roots competition will feature 12 regional finals (formerly called "district" finals) across the United States. Sites and dates for the 12 regional finals are pending.
The newly established U.S. regions, with their respective geographical areas, are:
Region 1 - NORTHEAST
Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia.
Region 2 - ATLANTIC COAST
North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia
Region 3 - DEEP SOUTH
Alabama, Florida, Georgia
Region 4 - GREAT LAKES
Michigan
Region 5 - OHIO VALLEY
Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio
Region 6 - UPPER MIDWEST
Illinois, Wisconsin
Region 7 - GREAT PLAINS
Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota
Region 8 - COTTON BELT
Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Texas
Region 9 - GREAT NORTHWEST
Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming
Region 10 - MOUNTAIN WEST
Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah
Region 11 - FAR WEST
California, Nevada
Region 12 - ALOHA
Hawaii
First-stage qualifying for the 2008 RE/MAX World Long Drive Championship begins Feb. 8-10 at the Palms GC in Mesquite, Nevada with LDA's annual Diamond in the Desert Classic. Local RE/MAX qualifying events begin immediately thereafter and continue globally during the spring and summer months.
The 12 U.S. regional finals start the first weekend in August and conclude by mid-September.
The RE/MAX world finals return to Mesquite on October 20-25, 2008. Long drive competitors from around the world will compete for titles in five adult divisions and for a record $600,000 purse. The 2008 open division world champion will earn $250,000, by far the largest payday in the sport's history.
More information is available by calling (888) 233-4654 or by browsing www.longdrivers.com.
ESPN'S CHRISTMAS TELECAST GOES DEEP
RATINGS BOUNCE FOR PRESENTATION OF
2007 RE/MAX WLDC FINALS
ROANOKE, TEXAS (Jan. 7, 2008) -- Officials with Long Drivers of America (LDA) are beaming about a bounce in TV ratings for the 2007 RE/MAX World Long Drive Championship, the premier event in power golf.
Viewership for a 90-minute special from the 2007 RE/MAX world finals, which debuted on ESPN on December 25, pulled a 0.7 HH rating, representing 689,000 households.
That represents a ratings gain of 40 percent over the 2006 RE/MAX WLDC telecast, which pulled a 0.5 HH rating (477,000 households).
"We are delighted by the size of the audience for the RE/MAX telecast," said Art Sellinger, chief executive officer of LDA, which produces the global grass roots event. "We tip our hat to Chris Ohlmeyer, who produced the telecast, as well as to the entire ESPN crew."
"Long drive is all about going deep," Sellinger noted. "And with ESPN providing a compelling, behind-the-scenes look at our sport, long drive is going deeper into the consciousness of sports viewers. The numbers reflect a growing interest in power golf."
ESPN2 will re-air the RE/MAX telecast on Friday, March 7 at 4 p.m. EST.
Through its international affiliates, ESPN has also aired the 2007 RE/MAX world finals on ESPN Atlantic (Africa/Middle East) and ESPN Pacific Rim (Australia/New Zealand). The show will air in Canada on TSN on Thursday, January 10 at 2 p.m. EST.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Russ Pate (214) 349-3603 or
Steve Wiley (888) 233-4654
LONG DRIVE ATTRACTS MAJOR SPONSORS
ADAMS GOLF, GRAPHITE DESIGN, GOLF'S MVP FORM ALLIANCES WITH LDA
Marketing partnerships for the 2008 long drive season with a trio of high profile golf manufacturers: Adams Golf, Graphite Design and Golf's MVP.
Adams Golf, makers of high-performance equipment preferred by many tour players, has become the official driver for LDA-sanctioned events. The Plano, Texas-based company will tailor a line of its new Insight XTD PRO drivers for LDA members. Low-lofted versions of these new Adams Golf drivers will be distributed to the long drive community exclusively through Sellinger's Power Golf, the retail arm of LDA.
Graphite Design, makers of high-performance golf shafts, has been named the official shaft for LDA-sanctioned competition. The California-based company will distribute the new PM702 and PM902 shafts, designed especially for abnormally high swing speeds competitive long drivers possess, exclusively through Sellinger's Power Golf.
"Graphite Design is pleased to become the official shaft of the Long Drivers of America. Our tour-proven technology and championship performance is a perfect fit for the high-powered sport of long drive," said Tim Gillis, vice president of sales and marketing. "We believe this partnership is simply a natural progression for our brand."
Golf's MVP, meanwhile, for the second consecutive year will serve as the official swing trainer for LDA-sanctioned competition. This unique training technology reinforces the swing principles that increase power, distance and driving accuracy for golfers of all skill levels.
"The 2008 market introduction of the Golf's MVP RED HEAT TM edition is a perfect complement to our ongoing partnership with LDA. We look forward to another successful year," said Angus Baker, president and chief executive officer of HLB Golf Partners.
"We are delighted to add Adams Golf and Graphite Design to the family of long drive sponsors and to welcome back Golf's MVP," said LDA chief executive officer Art Sellinger. "LDA events, which include the RE/MAX World Long Drive Championship on ESPN and Exceptional Driver Championship on The Golf Channel, are outstanding platforms to showcase products. Each of these companies has developed exciting new products that will help long drive competitors maximize their potential."
Sellinger indicated that the new 2008 LDA membership packages will include great offers from Graphite Design, as well as substantial discounts on the full line of Adams Golf equipment and the Golf's MVP swing trainer.
Qualifying for the 2008 RE/MAX World Long Drive Championship begins on February 8-10 at the Palms GC in Mesquite, Nevada. Qualifying for the Exceptional Driver Championship is already underway and will continue in the spring leading up to the EDC finals in June.
To learn more LDA events and LDA membership packages, browse www.longdrivers.com or contact LDA headquarters (888) 233-4654. To learn more about special offers at Sellinger's Power Golf, visit www.sellingerspowergolf.com or call (800) 208-9699.
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