Louisville, KY – The web site for the World Long Drive Championship says the competition is good for those who "Have a burning desire to hit golf balls hard." Well, PowerBilt®’s new 460cc Driver, produced from super-premium TVC beta titanium, has helped two long drive competitors hit balls hard enough to qualify for the World Long Drive finals in Mesquite, Nevada later this month. One of those qualifying drives topped an amazing 350 yards.
Johny Barnes, 56, of San Antonio, Texas and Jay Wall, 55, of Tulsa, Oklahoma both hit with the sleek and sweet PowerBilt 460cc Driver to win their districts and reach the finals of the Super Senior Division for golfers 55 and over. Barnes, a part-time railroad worker and volunteer with the First Tee program, is one of only a few African-Americans to ever reach the long drive finals. The 6’4", 237 pound Barnes is one of the favorites to win the World Championship in his division. That’s because he drove the ball a whopping 351 yards with his PowerBilt 460cc Driver to win the District 8 qualifier. This was one of the longest drives in all Super Senior qualifying and ranked high even among the Open Division qualifiers.
"I hit that 351 yard shot into a 15 mile an hour headwind," Barnes said. "There shouldn’t be wind in Mesquite, at least not like that. If there’s not any wind, there’s no telling how far I can hit it with this PowerBilt driver."
Wall, a former assistant golf club pro and current fire-proofing contractor, had a long drive of 316 yards with his PowerBilt 460cc Driver. The 6’1-1/2", 265 pound Wall has been involved in long drive competitions since 1976.
"I’ve never hit anything but PowerBilt. I think the new PowerBilt 460cc is the best ever. It’s a little heavier than what I used to swing, but I’ve found that to be an asset," Wall said. "It really helps me get into the ball."
The PowerBilt 460cc Driver has the highest strength-to-weight ratio available. The super-premium TVC beta titanium combined with a breakthrough "Fiberized Forging" process allowed PowerBilt to make the walls stronger but thinner. Thinner walls mean the weight can be redistributed to the perimeter of the club head to help golfers achieve maximum distance off the tee, while also creating a larger sweet spot to help keep the ball in play.
DETAILS ABOUT THE WORLD LONG DRIVE CHAMPIONSHIPS
The World Long Drive Championship involves a three step process. Step one is local qualifying at over 300 sites in North America and many more around the world. Step two is district qualifying for men and women at 18 North American sites and national championships in other countries. Step three is the world finals at the Palms Club in Mesquite, Nevada October 17-22, with golf’s biggest hitters battling for bragging rights and a total purse of $450,000 in four divisions, Open, Senior, Super Senior, and Women.
Contact:
Rick Redman
502-588-7326
Rick.Redman@slugger.com
