The Road To The 2021 Ultimate Long Drive™ World Championship Involved 28 Countries, Over 150 Events, And 1000+ participants. 160 Athletes from 7 to 70+ Competed for 26 Amateur and Professional Long Drive World Titles at Cog Hill Golf & Country Club Near Chicago
Myrtle Beach, SC – A season that ran from September 2020 through September 2021 involved athletes in 28 countries vying for spots in the 2021 Ultimate Long Drive™ World Championship. One hundred sixty athletes from age divisions 7 & Under to 70+ competed for 26 Amateur and Professional World Titles.
“We began this grassroots effort to grow the sport of long drive back in 2017,” remarks Jeff Gilder, President & CEO of Ultimate Long Drive, Inc. “It’s awesome to see the growth in participation. These are some very enthusiastic competitors. Long drive tends to bring that out of you. We have leagues operating all across the USA now, and sanctioned events happening around the world. We will exceed 200 events for 2022.”
Jim Waldron from Scottsdale, Arizona won the Xtreme Long Drive® (XLD™) professional series title when he emerged from the losers bracket needing to beat Germany’s (thus far) undefeated, Marin Borgmeier twice. An emotional Waldron told broadcaster, Jim Kelly, “I knew if I was going to pull it off, it today was going to be the day. Today was my day.” Jim Waldron is the 2021 Xtreme Long Drive® Men’s World Champion.
From Bremerton, Washington, Kanani Lodge took home the Xtreme Long Drive® professional series women’s title. Kanani has been dominating women’s professional long drive since entering the sport in 2019. Kanani Lodge is the 2021 Xtreme Long Drive® Women’s World Champion.
Mike Bauman from Galena, Ohio won the 2021 Xtreme Long Drive® World Championship title. Now, four-time World Champion, David Mobley from Fort Myers, Florida took home the Xtreme Long Drive® 50+ and 55+ division titles. Canadian Daniel Fournier won the Xtreme Long Drive® 60+ division World Title.
In the Amateur Long Drive™ (ALD™) World Championships Canadian Kelly Rudney took home the belt for Amateur Long Drive™ Women’s World Champion. Texan, Palmer Smith, won the Amateur Long Drive Open Men’s World Championship. Smith turned professional immediately following the ALD™Championship, used his winner’s exemption into the XLD™ World Championship, and played his way to the final 4 in that competition.
Ryan Lloyd from Elk Grove, Illinois slept in his car at qualifying events along the way, and at Cog Hill and took home the first (ULD) Military Long Drive World Championship Belt. Here are all the winners and their winning yardages:
Xtreme Long Drive®
| Division | Name | Home State/Country | Distance |
| Open Women | Kanani Lodge | Alaska | 345 yds |
| Open Men | Jim Waldron | Arizona | 367 yds |
| Masters 45+ | Mike Baumann | Ohio | 334 yds |
| Seniors 50+ | David Mobley | Florida | 316 yds |
| Seniors 55+ | David Mobley | Florida | 304 yds |
| Legends 60+ | Daniel Fornier | Canada | 260 yds |
Amateur Long Drive™
| 70+ Men | Doug Miller | Indiana | 273 yds |
| Super Senior Men | Doug Miller | Indiana | 284 yds |
| Senior Women | Melissa Steck | Colorado | 223 yds |
| Senior Men | Jorge Aquado | Mexico | 305 yds |
| Open Military | Ryan Lloyd | Illinois | 286 yds |
| Open Women | Kelly Rudney | Canada | 262 yds |
| Open Men | Palmer Smith | Texas | 353 yds |
| 7U Boys | Bowen Bristow | Texas | 55 yds |
| 7U Girls | Savanna Bristow | Texas | 131 yds |
| 9U Boys | Dylan Spinnato | Maryland | 161 yds |
| 9U Girls | Emma Kessner | Maryland | 159 yds |
| 11U Boys | Garrett Chappen | Texas | 102 yds |
| 13U Boys | Mason Stewart | California | 244 yds |
| Junior Girls | MacKenzie Kennedy | Canada | 208 yds |
| Junior Boys | Kauner Kay | Utah | 337 yds |
| Adaptive Wheelchair | Charles Napinski | South Carolina | 167 yds |
| Open Adaptive – amputee | Dana Shealey | Indiana | 222 yds |
| Open Adaptive – adult | Josh Fair | Ohio | 326 yds |
| Open Adaptive – adult | Henry O’Grady | South Carolina | 218 yds |
| Open Adaptive – youth | Noah Fair | Ohio | 253 yds |
A full-length television show of the Ultimate Long Drive™ World Championship will be aired later in the fall on Roku, Amazon Fire TV, and Apple TV. Programming will be made available on OTT and Connected TVs via wingding™ TV and will be viewable on iOs, Android, desktops, and smart tvs.
The 2022 season, having begun October 1, 2021 is in full swing with over 200 events planned for the season that will end with the 2022 World Championship at Premier Sports Complex in Lakewood Ranch, Florida October 27 – 30, 2022.
For more information visit the website at https://ultimatelongdrive.com
