In a field where a record 109 hybrids were put into play, the most hybrids ever used in a single event on the PGA Tours, Nickent Golf battled the odds and prevailed as the # 1 hybrid on the Nationwide Tour. Thirty-one 3DX hybrids were put into play at the Athens Regional Foundation Classic in Georgia last week.
Even with extreme pressure from other major manufacturers to try and solidify their hybrid position, Nickent was #1 for the second straight event. Four players using Nickent finished in the Top 10, including the second and third place finishers. Ten of the top 25 players on the Nationwide Tour are using their clubs and Nickent has the most hybrid Top 10 finishes on the 2006 Nationwide Tour.
"Performance of the golf clubs has always been the key factor in getting clubs in play on the Nationwide Tour," said Nickent Tour Director Josh Trivett. "I think our numbers show why so many players go with us."
It is the third consecutive year that Nickent has earned the hybrid crown in a Nationwide Tour event. They began using the Nationwide Tour as a ladder to the PGA Tour in late 2004. The strategy of seeding their product to the up-and-coming Nationwide Tour has paid dividends on both tours: Nickent is currently the # 2 most played hybrid on the 2006 PGA Tour, according to the Darrell Survey.
"The hybrid category is exploding on the professional tours, which in return is making the hybrid explode at retail," said Nickent Senior Vice President and designer of the new DC Hybrid series John Hoeflich. "This is the year of the hybrid and Nickent is leading the charge."
Golf Datatech figures from January reported that of all woods sold, hybrids represented 26.3% at an average price of $126.98. That’s in comparison to 38.6% share for drivers and 33.8% for fairway woods. According to Hoeflich, hybrids are likely to surpass fairway woods and contend with driver sales in the next few years once the public is fully educated on what hybrids can do for their game.
Contact:
Jon Claffey
Director of Marketing
Nickent Golf
1-888-NICKENT X 122
Cell 626-320-4150
jclaffey@nickentgolf.com
