Swedish Star Relies on Brand’s Comfort and Weather Resistance in Difficult Conditions
(Londonderry, New Hampshire) – Renowned Danish shoemaker ECCO announces that staff player Sophie Gustafson wore its distinctive Sport Tempo Hydromax model while capturing the 2007 Ladies Scottish Open this past weekend at The Carrick at Cameron House in Loch Lomond.
Gustafson earned the win, her 22nd career title, by carding a three-round total of three-under-par 210 despite difficult conditions that included torrential rains and strong winds. The only player to finish under par for the tournament, the 33-year-old Swede claimed a â?åÂ30,000 first prize and moved to sixth place on the Ladies European Tour money list. She also advanced to No. 27 on the Women’s World Golf Ranking.
"It’s always nice to play well and the win feels pretty good," said Gustafson
"Sophie showed tremendous perseverance, coming back from a tough Solheim Cup the previous week to record a great victory," says Jesper Thuen, Sponsor and Event Manager, ECCO Golf. "Like scores of top players worldwide, she trusts ECCO to help her perform in the most difficult conditions."
A member of both the LET and LPGA Tours, Gustafson will remain on European soil to defend her title at the Uniqa Ladies Golf Open in Austria next week. She captured last year’s crown by besting fellow ECCO staff player Laura Davies by two strokes.
In addition to Gustafson and Davies, ECCO is preferred by international Tour stars Juli Inkster, Carin Koch, Pat Hurst, Meena Lee, Candie Kung, Linda Wessberg, Wendy Ward and others. ECCO is also the official footwear sponsor of the 2007 European Solheim Cup Team and the Ladies European Tour.
ECCO’s Spring/Summer 2008 women’s golf collection features unequaled comfort, style and performance in several new designs, including the distinctive ACE series with a unique system of interlocking Truss Support Elements that creates the most advanced swing platform in the women’s game.
Distinguished by advanced technologies alongside an unmatched combination of out-of-the-box comfort, high-grade leathers and attention to detail, each shoe in the 2008 collection passes through more than 225 sets of highly-skilled hands during a production process exclusively executed at ECCO-owned factories. This labor-intensive manufacturing guarantees the brand’s golf shoes help players excel under the most demanding conditions.
All ECCO designs blend a network of built-in technologies to create the ideal platform for the perfect swing. Principal among these is a direct-injected, PU-constructed midsole/outsole. Made from a process unique to ECCO in the golf industry, this:
â?¢ Creates a one-piece shoe construction
â?¢ Ensures unrivaled durability, flexibility, lightness and weather resistance
â?¢ Provides a superior level of cushioning and comfort that does not break down over time, unlike commonly-used materials such as air, rubber and EVA foam
Additional performance features of the Spring/Summer 2008 women’s golf collection include:
â?¢ Ultra-soft, high-grade leathers with hydrophobic treatments for superb weather-resistance
â?¢ Internal stabilizer to reduce torque and create an ideal swing stability
â?¢ Double-layer insole with cushion that absorbs heel force to reduce stress on the knees, hips and back
â?¢ Internal Air-Circulation System to maintain a fresh, dry and cool foot environment
â?¢ Dynamic Energy Return System that provides a trampoline effect during foot-strike and follow-through to reduce fatigue and restore energy with each step
â?¢ Green-friendly outsole designs featuring molded traction bars combined with Stinger cleats from Champ and the Q-Lok insert system to provide ideal traction and grip
About ECCO
The only major shoe manufacturer to own and manage the entire value chain from cow to consumer, ECCO is a global leader in city, casual and sport shoes for men, women and children. In 2006, the Danish company sold more than 14.8 million pairs, achieving net revenues of 4.5 billion DKK (approximately 645 million euros).
Founded in 1963 by Karl Toosbuy, ECCO has nearly 13,000 employees, direct subsidiaries in Europe, the Far East and North America, and partners worldwide. ECCO shoes are sold in more than 3,000 shops globally, including 551 mono-brand (ECCO exclusive) stores.
Following the rules of good craftsmanship to deliver genuine freedom of movement and comfort to consumers, ECCO’s aim has never been to be the biggest, but always to be the best.
ECCO USA is based in Londonderry, New Hampshire. For more information: visit www.eccousa.com, 800.886.3226
Contact:
Tom Williams
Buffalo Communications
703.891.3322
twilliams@billycaspergolf.com