SOUTHLAKE, TEXAS – Long Drivers of America announced today it will conduct the 2006 "Texas Shoot-Out" on May 3-6 at Hank Haney’s City Pointe Driving Range in Dallas.
Participation in this top-tier professional long drive event, which features competition in two divisions, open and senior (45+), is restricted to LDA members.
Southlake-based Long Drivers of America, headed by two-time national long drive champion Art Sellinger, annually conducts the RE/MAX World Long Drive Championship, the premier event in power golf.
Other LDA-sanctioned events scheduled for 2006 include the Pinnacle Exceptional Driver Championship and RE/MAX Junior World Long Drive Championship.
"We are pleased to stage the 2006 Texas Shoot-Out exclusively for LDA members and to give our members an equal opportunity to compete," Sellinger said. "In addition to prize money, exemptions to the 2006 RE/MAX finals next fall will be on the line. Another exciting aspect is that Saturday’s finals will be a featured component of GOLFWEEK magazine’s Golfest – a weekend golf festival that unveils new equipment from leading manufacturers and showcases the hottest trends in merchandise, training and instruction. We expect to have a large crowd of avid golfers on hand to see the world’s biggest hitters parade to the tee and put on a spectacular power show."
Registration for LDA’s Texas Shoot-Out begins on March 1 and closes on March 31. LDA members may sign up by contacting LDA headquarters at (888) 233-4654.
The Texas Shoot-Out will have a field of 48 open division competitors and 24 seniors. Based on a full field in each division, the purse will be a minimum of $60,000.
"This event will be comparable in size and scope, and conducted along the same lines, as the 2005 Alpha Long Drive Classic in Des Moines," Sellinger said. "We plan to have onsite qualifying rounds beginning on Wednesday, May 3 and continuing on Thursday, May 4. We’ll probably start the senior division elimination rounds on Thursday afternoon and have both divisions in action on Friday."
Top finishers in each division advance to head-to-head match-play finals, tentatively scheduled for around mid-day on Saturday.
A total of 27 Texas Shoot-Out competitors (14 open, 13 senior) will be exempt from onsite qualifying. Exempt hitters, among others, are reigning RE/MAX world long drive champions Sean (The Beast) Fister, Gerry James and Steve Griffith; members of the LDA Hall of Fame including four-time world champion Jason Zuback; 2005 Alpha Long Drive Classic champions Brooks Baldwin (open) and Bobby Wilson (senior).
Entry fees are $500 for exempt competitors. Nonexempt competitors pay $125 for qualifying and an additional $375 if they advance into the main draw.
Texas Shoot-Out competitors should check with LDA headquarters to ensure their membership status is current.
Tournament director Mike Ambriz indicated that brackets and tee times for onsite qualifying will be announced on Monday, April 3. Player packets will be distributed at that time.
FAST FACTS:
WHAT: LDA’s Texas Shoot-Out
WHEN: May 3-6, 2006
WHERE: Hank Haney’s City Pointe Driving Range, Dallas
WHO: Members-only event for professional long drivers who belong to Long Drivers of America, the sport’s organizing and administrative body. Competitors must have current member status.
ENTRY FEES: $500 for exempt players; $125 for nonexempt players with an additional $375 required to enter the main draw. Note: Entry fees are nonrefundable.
MAIN DRAW: 48 hitters in open division; 24 hitters in senior division.
QUALIFYING FIELD: TBA after registration closes March 31.
PURSE: $60,000 minimum (based on a full field.
REGISTER: Call (888) 233-4654
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS (TENTATIVE)
Wednesday, May 3 – Onsite qualifying
Thursday, May 4 – Onsite qualifying
Thursday, May 4 – Senior division play begins
Friday, May 5 – Senior and open elimination rounds
Saturday, May 6 – "Hour of Power" match-play finals during Golfweek’s Golfest.
EXEMPT COMPETITORS:
OPEN DIVISION (14) SENIOR DIVISION (13)
Brooks Baldwin, 4 Scott DeCandia, 1
Vince Ciurluini, 3 Pat Dempsey, 3,5
Mike Dobbyn, 5 Ted Fostey, 3
Sean Fister, 1,2,3,5 Bobby Furnatter, 3
Dave Gureckis, 3,5 Mike Gorton, 1,3,5
Vince Howell, 3 Steve Griffith, 2
Danny Luirette, 3,5 Michael Hooper, 3
David Mobley, 3 Gerry James, 2,3
Brian Pavlet, 3 Eric Jones, 3
Tom Roskos, 3 Frank Miller, 3
Trez Simmons, 5 Kurt Moore, 3
Greg Wellong, 3 John Tutty, 3,5
Carl Wolter, 3,5 Bobby Wilson 1,3,4,5
Jason Zuback, 1
Exempt Categories:
1. LDA Hall of Fame
2. Reigning RE/MAX WLDC champion
3. LDA Tour Top Ten Career Earnings
4. 2005 Alpha Long Drive Classic winner
5. 2004 LDA Tour event wins within two calendar years
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