Rookies James, Griffith Claim First Crowns
SOUTHLAKE, TEXAS — Two-time titleists Sean (The Beast) Fister and Stacey Shinnick each won a third RE/MAX World Long Drive Championship during the 2005 finals at The Palms GC in Mesquite, Nevada on Saturday, Oct. 22.
Fister, 43, became the oldest competitor to claim the sport of long drive’s most prestigious prize. The Little Rock resident, who previously won in 1995 and 2001, took home $100,000 for his open division title.
Fister’s winning drive measured 377 yards, 3.5 inches. Runner-up Danny Luirette of Scottsdale drove 369 yards, 26.5 inches to earn the $40,000 second prize. Great Britain’s Adam Stacey, with 368 yards, 26 inches, finished third and pocketed $30,000.
Shinnick, 37, completed her career hat trick with a drive of 311 yards, 21 inches. The Los Angeles area resident won the inaugural RE/MAX women’s division competition in 2000, adding a second title in 2002.
Shinnick earned $10,000. Runner-up Lizzy Uthoff of St. Louis, who drove 305 yards, 15 inches, earned $5,500.
Meanwhile, senior division champion Gerry James and super senior division champion Steve Griffith made the most of their first appearance in their respective RE/MAX WLDC age groups.
James, who resides in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, drove 366 yards, 31 inches to edge defending senior champion Bobby Wilson, who posted 365 yards, 29.5 inches. James collected $25,000 for winning the RE/MAX senior division, which encompasses competitors ages 45-54.
Griffith, 55, stopped the two-year winning streak of Fred Hooter in dramatic fashion. With his final swing in the six-ball set, Griffith blasted a drive of 320 yards, 3 inches to nip former NBA star Rick Barry, who had posted 318 yards, 9 inches.
Griffith, who resides in Hamilton, Ohio, earned $8,000 for his effort. The RE/MAX super senior division, introduced in 2003, encompasses competitors 55 and up.
Hooter, 62, made an impressive run at a threepeat, finishing third with a drive of 311 yards, 6 inches. During RE/MAX championship week, both Hooter and Evan (Big Cat) Williams were inducted into the Long Drivers of America (LDA) Hall of Fame.
Contact:
Russ Pate
214.349.3603 or 817.819.4547
