SCHAUMBURG, Illinois (April 2, 2007) – The youngest player ever to win an LPGA major championship used lightweight steel shafts by Nippon Shaft in her irons Sunday enroute to a one-stroke victory in the Kraft Nabisco Championship in Rancho Mirage, Ca.
It was the fifth time this season that the winner of an LPGA or European LPGA event has used Nippon Shaft lightweight steel products in her irons.
"Nippon Shaft would like to congratulate this year’s winner of the Kraft Nabisco Championship and hopes that she enjoyed her ceremonial dip in the pond near the 18th green," said Hiroyuki Fukuda, head of Nippon Shaft in North America. "Winning a major championship at any age is a significant achievement but to do it at the age of 18 is truly special."
After finishing her final round with a 3-under 69, she watched as the final round leader relinquished a four-shot advantage over the final four holes. The winning score was 3-under par 285.
Earlier this season, LPGA winners of the SBS Open at Turtle Bay and the MasterCard Classic in Mexico also used lightweight steel Nippon Shafts in their irons.
Multiple major championship winner Karrie Webb also used Nippon Shafts in her irons earlier this year when she won the MFS Women’s Australian Open and the ANZ Ladies Masters, both European women’s tour events.
Many golfers – both professionals and amateurs – prefer steel shafts in their irons because steel shafts provide more accuracy and consistency in their shots. Nippon Shaft has been a pioneer in manufacturing lightweight steel shafts that help players increase club head speed (because of less weight) and maintain accuracy (because of the sturdiness of its steel).
Nippon Shaft is the No. 1-selling steel shaft in Asia with more than 80 percent of the market and ranks No. 2 in the North America. Currently, more than 100 touring professionals worldwide use Nippon Shaft products in their clubs, resulting in more than 50 victories in the last three years, Fukuda said. All shafts sold by Nippon Shaft are made in Japan in order to maintain the highest quality labor and technical expertise.
Nippon Shaft is a subsidiary of privately held NHK, a Japanese automobile parts manufacturer based in Yokohama, Japan. Nippon Shaft’s North American headquarters is in Schaumburg, Illinois.
Contact:
Barry Cronin
Cronin Communications, Inc.
847-698-1801 (office)
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