Oregon Mail Tribune, August 17, 2001

FULL TEXT OF STORY:

By: Tim Trower

Of the Mail Tribune

August 17, 2001

The headline spoke volumes: "Wind blows it in long drive championships."

Some awfully big hitters of the ball descended on Eagle Point Golf Course a year ago to flex their muscles, wind up tight and explode shots down the fairway in hopes of qualifying for the RE/MAX World Long Drive Championships.

But midway through the finals, Mother Nature huffed and puffed and blew the shots down.

She might not get the same chance this time around.

Qualifying will be held this weekend at Eagle Point, but there will be changes from last year’s inaugural venture.

The event will expand to two days, with local qualifying on Saturday and District 4 competition on Sunday. Also, a women’s field has been added to the men’s open and senior men’s (45 over) divisions.

In hopes of neutralizing the wind, the finals begin at 9 a.m. Sunday for the open men, rather than in the potentially-blustery afternoon, like last year.

"The wind really wreaked havoc," says James Lewis of Medford, organizer of the event and one of the favorites. "We only had two rounds last year, and there were too many people in the final round. It was too lengthy to expect conditions to stay the same. Quite a few quality hitters had no chance to advance because of the conditions."

Lewis was among them.

"That was no fun," he says, noting that the wind "did an about-face’ halfway through the finals.

The first 10 hitters competed in relative calm, but the second 10 butted heads with a head wind.

Greg Walker, for instance who has placed as high as fourth in the world, had the top mark in qualifying at 383 yards. But in the finals, he mustered only 315 yards.

"And he said he hit the ball harder than in the first round," says Lewis. "There was definite yardage being eaten up by the wind. That just is not going to be an issue this year."

For the men, anyway. Their three rounds are expected to last at least until noon, then will be followed by the senior men and women.

Local qualifiers will hit from 3 to 8 p.m. Saturday and Lewis encourages anyone interest to give it a shot.

"there are a lot of guys who can really hit the ball." Says Lewis. "Anyone who thinks they’re long should come out and test their mettle."

The top two district placers in 2000, Thomas Celone of Reno Nev., and Vince Howell of Stockton, Calif., return. Celone, hitting second in the finals, won with a drive of 373 yards, 2 feet, 3 inches. Three spots later, Howell cam in at 363-1-2.

Lewis was eighth with a drive of 319-1-11.

The 6-foot-7, 280pounder later went to the Northern California district event and qualified for the world championships for the second straight year. After finishing 18^th two years ago, he didn’t advance past eh first round last year.

Lewis has a best of 417 yards in competition.

Tomislaw Kralj of Dublin, Calif., sports the longest drive in North America this year at 4620206 and will compete here. A year ago, Lewis edged Kralj by 5 inches in the Northern California district.

Mike Moulton, who has the all-time long drive in competition at 475 yards, will also be here, as will Gerry James, who’s 473-yard blast was the best until Moulton surpassed it.

Gregg Wellong, at two-time world finalist, brings the most appropriate name to the fray.

Among the women, Lee Brandon of Los Angeles will turn heads. The fitness expert and model has been a competitive long driver for only three months and owns the top mark in North America at 319 yards.

"She’s packing some credentials with her, and evidently she can flat hit a golf ball," says Lewis.