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Pinnacle Distance Team Outdrives All Challengers At Phoenix Event Challenger Kevin Shaffer Earns Trip to National Finals for Longest Amateur Drive Contact Joe Gomes PHOENIX (March 24, 2003) - The world's top-ranked long driver, Brian Pavlet, and five-time Re/Max World Long Drive finalist Mike Moulton, combined to outdrive all 10 finalists at the Pinnacle(R) Distance Challenge on Saturday. The event, which took place at Palm Valley Golf Club in Goodyear, AZ, was the second in a series of 10 Pinnacle Distance Challenges conducted across the country this spring and summer. Kevin Shaffer of Tempe, AZ, topped a field of long-driving amateur qualifiers to earn an invitation to the Pinnacle Distance Challenge Finals in Mesquite, NV, in October. A total of 134 recreational golfers attempted to qualify for the opportunity to face Pavlet, a Phoenix resident, and Moulton, with the top 10 meeting the pair in this regional Challenge. The performance improves the Pinnacle Distance Team's record to 19-1 on the year, a mark upon which they plan on improving with each passing event. "This was another excellent group of competitors, but it also indicated of how difficult we are to beat as a team," commented Pavlet following the event. "I think we were all a little surprised by the amount of talent and power that many of these golfers possessed last year. We now know that we have to be focused and prepared at every competition. We invite all those so-called long drivers to meet and compete against us at any of the eight remaining venues this year." The Pinnacle Distance Challenge offers recreational golfers of all levels the opportunity to compete against the world's long drive elite, the Pinnacle Distance Team. In addition to the Open Division qualifying, long drive clinics, a Pinnacle Power CoreTM Soft Feel Skills Challenge, a Cobra Golf Demo Day, and distance competitions for the junior, women and senior divisions were held throughout the day. The 10 challengers had an opportunity to earn $5,000 for beating one of the Pinnacle Distance Team members and an additional $10,000 bonus for hitting the longest drive of the event. While Shaffer failed to out drive Pavlet, and earn himself $5,000, he did walk away with the Pinnacle Distance Trophy for the longest drive by a challenger. Shaffer, a Scottsdale-area loan consultant, led the field of finalists with a 330-yard drive. Todd Ingram, 34, of Cave Creek, AZ, and Drew Seifried, 31, of Phoenix, who each hit 326-yard drives, rounded out the top three performers in the finals. Shaffer, Ingram and Seifried all received King Cobra SSTM 427 drivers for posting the top three performances. Rounding out the top ten qualifiers were: Darrel Arnold, 29, of Santa Ana, CA; Timothy Estvan, 26 of Albuquerque, NM; Matt Nicholson, 29, of Scottsdale, AZ; Andrew Keaggy, 19, of Phoenix; Matthew Ballou, 21, of Peoria, AZ; Eduardo Seirra, 23, of Glendale, AZ; Tyler Matthews, 18, of Phoenix. Shaffer is a testament to perseverance. Determined to earn a trip to the Pinnacle Distance Challenge finals last year, he followed the 2002 tour to seven of its ten events, including Houston, Washington, DC, Greensboro, NC, New York, Detroit, Seattle and Tampa, failing to advance. "With another strong showing by the amateurs at this the season's second event in Phoenix, the Pinnacle Distance Team continues to have its work cut out for it as we move on through the schedule," commented George Sine, vice president golf ball marketing and strategic planning, Acushnet Company. "Phoenix gave us a perfect day for golf, and Kevin Shaffer took full advantage of the conditions with a great showing. We're very happy for Kevin." "I chased the Pinnacle Distance Challenge all over America last year to no avail," said an elated Shaffer. "To finally be the top amateur, and to qualify for the finals in Mesquite, Nevada right here in my backyard is just awesome! Coming into today, I told myself I was going to go big or go home. I'm not going home. I'm going to the finals in October." Awards were also given to the top junior, women, and senior long drive contestants. Phoenix resident Joe Cruz, 47, captured the senior division with a 310-yard blast, and Johanna Halloway, 25, of Goodyear, AZ, won the women's division with a 201-yard drive. Bob Whitney, 16, of La Quinta, CA, took the boys junior division title with a 311-yard drive, while Melanie Boyles, 16, of Tempe, AZ, captured the girls division with a long drive of 250 yards. In addition to Pavlet and Moulton, other Pinnacle Distance Team members participating in the day-long event included Art Sellinger, a two-time National Long Drive champion and Long Drivers of America Hall of Famer, and Brian Nash, top-five finisher in three of the last four Re/Max World Long Drive Championships. With a landing area similar to the traditional long drive grid, ranging approximately 60 yards wide and 400 yards deep, contestants hit five Pinnacle Power Core Straight Distance golf balls, posting yardage to compare against the Pinnacle Distance Team member's best drive of five Straight Distance golf balls. The next Pinnacle Distance Challenge will take place in Dallas on April 26. The Pinnacle Distance Challenge Finals will take place on October 17 in Mesquite, Nevada. In any regional Pinnacle Distance Challenge event where no contestant out drives the Pinnacle Distance Team member, the contestant with the longest drive of the night receives an invitation to compete in the Finals. NO PURCHASE IS NECESSARY to enter the Pinnacle Distance Challenge. For more information, including schedule of events, official rules, event information and team bios, visit www.pinnaclegolf.com. Photography of the Orlando event or Pinnacle Distance Team members can be obtained electronically by contacting Joe Gomes, Director of Communications (508.979.3211). Titleist(R), FootJoy(R), Cobra(R) and Pinnacle comprise the golf brands of Acushnet Company, an operating company of Fortune Brands, Inc. |