2005 NEWS ITEMS
Europeans Shine On RE/MAX Long Drive Stage
New English Star Finishes Third
Long Drivers of Europe sent their strongest ever team of big hitters to Las Vegas, USA to represent Europe in the RE/MAX World Long Drive Championships.
In an event traditionally dominated by the Americans there were some notable successes, climaxed by the magnificent performance of 22 year-old, European number 2, Adam Stacey from London in the Open Division.
Adam, who is in only his first year on the European Long Drive circuit, hit huge all week, culminating in his longest drive of 383 yards in the floodlit semi-finals, followed by a towering 368 yards in front of a packed crowd of over 4,000 supporters, in worsening conditions, in the final to secure a fabulous third place. He missed out on second place by only one yard.
Along the way, Adam defeated many of the World's best players, including 4-times RE/MAX World Champion, Jason Zuback and last year's winner David Mobley. The Open Division was won by previous 2-times champion, Sean 'The Beast' Fister from Arkansas with a best drive of 376 yards in the final.
Adam first started playing long drive as recently as the London Golf Show this April but has been prominent at many of the National rounds throughout the year. His third place in the World finals secured him exemption for 2006 and $30,000 in prize money.
Other notable success included the performance of Finland's Janos Uotila, who just missed out on qualifying for the semi-final by two yards and Sweden's Johan Tumba who made it as far as the sixth round. In the Women's Division Jessica Wallstrom, Sweden, also drove well just missing a place in the quarterfinals, losing in round 7 by three yards.
These performances, and those by the squad in general have at last brought European long driving firmly to the attention of the Americans and will accelerate the growth of this exciting sport across the continent.
Go to www.longdrivers.com for official results.
Added: 26 October 2005
PLAYERS NEWSLETTER
Players Newsletter No 3 can be viewed here in PDF Format!
Added: 4 July 2005
New World Record set by RE/MAX European Champion
Paul ‘St George’ Slater claimed a new world record for the longest drive ever at an event hosted by The London Golf Show and run by Long Drivers of Europe at London City Airport.
This was an event intended to launch The London Golf Show in April but turned out to be a spectacular record attempt. Although there is not an official world record for total yards driven it did not stop the players giving it their best shots. In the most difficult of weather conditions, including driving rain and hurricane-like winds, several of the premier long drivers from The RE/MAX European Championship were joined by celebrities Rick Wakeman, rugby legends, All Black Zinzan Brooke and England’s Simon Shaw and a hardy bunch of juniors from Feel The Fear Golf.
Finland’s Janos Uotilla made the trip to drive a creditable 570 yards. This was equalled by home favourite and new radio and newspaper star, Phil ‘The Power’ Naylor, who had spent most of the preceding week giving interviews. Phil later hit 620 yards in an effort to catch Paul Slater.
Wales’s Paul Evans and Chris Roberts have come back from their winter lay-off looking very strong and fit and are sure to figure high in this year’s RE/MAX Championship. Paul’s early 615 yards posted notice that a record was on the cards. Chris later hit a mighty 688 in his last set.
These players were joined by regular supporter Rowan Myles from Scotland. Rowan ‘Braveheart’ finished his drives with 685 yards to his credit.
All of these efforts paled in comparison, however, to that of current RE/MAX European Champion Paul Slater. Pinnacle balls have never been subjected to so much punishment as St George blasted the longest drive of the day to a massive 720 yards! It could have been even longer as it finally stopped rolling at 737 yards but our rules for the day stipulated that measurements were taken from where a ball crossed the margins of the runway. Even his next ball topped off at over 690.
Paul said, "I took some loft off the club I was using after the first couple as the ball was losing energy on the runway as it was dropping from a height. This club has a 2.5 degree loft and the stiffest shaft I've ever used.”
It beat the previous best of 696 yards - set recently by Australian Tour pro Stuart Appleby.
He said: "I knew it was right as soon as I hit it. You know when you've hit a good shot; you get the surge going right up through your body. That's what we do it for really."
Ross Broadstock, managing director of the London Golf Show, explained: "Like everything else to do with the London Golf Show this has become huge. "This is the first time we have done this and golfers from across Europe turned up and we broke the world record.
"It's the first ever London Golf Show and that's also going to be huge with events like this and more."
Simon Shaw took the amateur prize with a fine effort of 465 yards.
Slater also paid tribute to the juniors, whose top effort of a magnificent 510 yards was recorded by Bianca Flynn, 14, from Rugby - also believed to be world records for ladies and under 16s.
"Their performance was fabulous. I was delighted to see them hitting the ball so well. Without youngsters we wouldn't have a future for the sport."
LDE look forward to seeing every one at The London Golf Show, at which they will be running a long drive competition on a simulator. The show will probably be the largest public golf show in the world and is a ‘must visit’ for anyone interested in the game. We also hope to see all these new converts to the fascinating world of long driving at our National events in 2005. Added: 14 February 2005
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