Big hitters triumph at American Golf Long Drive Championship

GRIPPING and ripping booked a trio of big hitters places on a Stateside journey.

Swing speed and shaft flex proved vital as Lucas Dornan, Rebecca McGinley and Anton Reader triumphed at the American Golf Long Drive Championship at High Legh Park.

Dornan, a member at Stockbrook Manor, smashed a 368-yard monster with his final drive of the competition to beat Dave Evans and take the Open category.

McGinley, a professional playing on the LET Access Series, retained her ladies crown with an effort of 299 yards against Olivia Raybould.

She had earlier crashed a 318 yard drive in the semi-final, while Hosehay Village member Reader produced a body-bending 340 yards as he won the Over 45s category.

The trio will now all fly to Oklahoma in October to compete in the World Long Drive Championship.

Dornan used a 3-degree Callaway XR 16 with a Fujikura XXX shaft as he overcame Bedford-based Evans in a tight encounter.

The pair had both launched drives of more than 380 yards in previous rounds but, with only one of his 6 drives remaining, Dornan didn’t have a legal ball in play.

His final effort proved too big to beat as Evans failed to top the number in his final set.

Delighted

“I’m delighted to have won the American Golf Long Drive Championship in my first ever Long Drive event,” said the Billericay trader.

“I knew from looking around the swing speeds of the other competitors that if I hit it well I’d be among the leaders.

“I‘d clocked 152mph during the day so I knew I was swinging it fast but was just missing the middle of the club, so it was a relief when I managed to get a legal drive on my last hit in both semi-final and final.

“From qualifying in store through regionals and to the final, I’ve had a fantastic experience and can’t thank American Golf and Garmin enough for giving me the chance to go on and compete with the best in the world.”

McGinley said: “I’m so pleased to have defended my American Golf Long Drive title.

“The competition was tough this year so I was pleased to get a couple of 300 yard drives on the board.

“Now I’ve qualified for the world finals I’m going to have to up my game, but I know if I put the work in I can do American Golf and Garmin proud and hopefully bring back a better finish than my third place last year.”

Reader, who had watched last year’s event on TV, said he can’t wait to get out to Oklahoma.

“Coming face to face with guys I’d seen hit huge drives was a little intimidating, but I knew my chance was as good as anyone’s on a good day.

“The atmosphere during the final was what really spurred me on. Winning the final Dave was the best golf moment I’ve ever had.

“I know I can hit a ball but I’d just come for a day out, winning was a pipe dream.

“Things like that don’t happen to people like me, it’s a memory I’ll treasure for years to come.”

Daniel Gathercole, marketing and communications director at American Golf, was impressed with the standard.

“The Championship took a big step up this year,” he said. “9 of our U45 finalists recorded drives in excess of 350 yards and our reigning Champion Dan Konyk went out in the quarter final with 372.

“Lucas and Dave were so long all day. This was the first Long Drive competition either had entered and they showed tremendous nerve under pressure.

“Rebecca and Anton upped the stakes again in the other two categories and I can’t wait for everyone to see the competition when it airs on Sky.”

The Long Drive Championship is a vital part of American Golf’s drive to get more people out playing golf more often.

2017 will see a series of free events added to the current event schedule when the Scratch and Individual Championships, Family Cup, Pitch & Putt Championship and Adventure Golf Championship will be added to the Junior Championship, Long Drive, 9 Hole, Seniors and Ladies.

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