Winners on LPGA, Champions and Japan Tours, Top Finishers at EDS Byron Nelson Played Company?s Player-Preferred Shafts
(SAN DIEGO, California) – Graphite Design – maker of some of the most widely played high-performance shafts on the PGA TOUR – sparked winners and top finishers on the LPGA, PGA, Japan and Champions Tours over the weekend, according to the Darrell Survey.
Claiming her second victory of 2008 and the 71st of her career, the champion of the LPGA’s Stanford International Pro-Am played Graphite Design’s Tour AD PT-6 model in her driver, hitting a remarkable 86.5 percent of fairways during the event. She claimed the title on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff.
On the PGA TOUR, the runner-up at the EDS Byron Nelson Classic used Graphite Design’s Tour AD Quattro Tech model in his driver and the YS-6 in his 4-wood to earn a spot in a playoff. Three additional top-seven finishers used Graphite Design shafts to negotiate the demanding, redesigned TPC Four Seasons Resort Las Colinas course.
Graphite Design continued its Japan Tour dominance at the Tsuruya Open, winning the graphite wood shaft brand count for the 160th consecutive week dating to 2002. A total of 182 Graphite Design shafts were in play, 70 more than the nearest competitor. The winner was among those using Graphite Design shafts; the top 11 finishers in the event all played the company’s models.
In addition, a member of the winning team at the Champions Tour’s Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf played a Graphite Design YS shaft model in his driver.
“We congratulate the many players who enjoyed success using Graphite Design shafts this weekend,” said Tim Gillis, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Graphite Design. “The results clearly show how well our shafts perform for a variety of golfers under different conditions. Men and women of all ages and swing styles maximize their distance and accuracy with Graphite Design shafts, and the benefits are equally impressive for amateurs as professionals.”
Graphite Design recently unveiled its newest premium shaft model, the Tour AD YSQ, to rave reviews from OEM representatives, customers and media. The Tour AD YSQ features advanced Axial Composite Interlace (ACI) construction, delivering superior performance in four key areas: launch angle, spin rate, accuracy and distance.
The company also launched the Graphite Design Fantasy Golf Tour 2008, where contestants pick their favorites in the PGA TOUR’s five biggest tournaments for a chance to win $100,000. Entering the Graphite Design Fantasy Golf Tour is free and requires only a quick registration via the company’s newly redesigned web site (www.gdintl.com, click on Fantasy Challenge).
In 2007, Graphite Design shaft models propelled professionals to a combined 45 victories on the PGA, Nationwide, Champions, Japan and LPGA tours. Among those relying on Graphite Design shafts were the world’s No. 3-ranked men’s player, the No. 4 women’s player, the winner of the Champions Tour’s Charles Schwab Cup points title, and seven of the top eight money earners on the Japan Tour. Graphite Design reinforced its dominance on the Japan Tour, where it has claimed 158 consecutive graphite wood shaft brand counts — an unprecedented streak which dates to 2002. On the PGA TOUR, Graphite Design shafts have helped professionals earn 54 victories and more than $290 million since 2004.
Graphite Design is the graphite shaftmaker of choice for Hank Haney, coach to the world’s top-ranked player. In 2007 the company introduced the Tour AD Quattro Tech ultra-premium shaft in the U.S. and launched its G-TECH combination-flex custom clubmaker series of wood and iron shafts, designed for exceptional playability throughout the bag.
About Graphite Design
Graphite Design, established in Japan in 1989 and in the U.S. in 1997, is the industry leader in shaft technology and the preferred brand for golf professionals worldwide. One of the world’s three largest golf-club shaft manufacturers, the company made its mark manufacturing high-performance shafts for most of golf’s major OEMs, including the top four companies by sales volume. Graphite Design shafts continue to be preferred by top clubmakers the world over while the company’s mainstay YS shafts, Pershing shafts and other models are extremely popular among avid and occasional golfers.
Revolutionary technology, design and sourcing the most advanced materials are trademarks in all Graphite Design shafts, making them the highest quality performance shafts on the market. Validating the company’s “AD” logo, all of Graphite Design’s PGA Tour-proven shafts specifically promote “Accuracy and Distance” and these key competitive advantages are helping professional and amateur golfers optimize their games after switching to Graphite Design shafts.
For more information about Graphite Design: 888.707.6132, info@gdintl.com; www.gdintl.com.
Contact:
Daniel Mitchell
Buffalo Communications
253.312.4536
dmitchell@billycaspergolf.com
