Trusts Titleist from Tee-to-Green to Capture SAS Championship
Fairhaven, MA (September 28, 2009) – Titleist Brand Ambassador Tom Pernice, Jr. became the 15th player to win in his Champions Tour debut, converting a 35-foot birdie putt on the final hole for a dramatic one-stroke victory at the SAS Championship. Pernice, a two-time winner on the PGA TOUR, closed with a 3-under 69 to finish at 13-under 203, edging two players, including Pro V1 loyalist David Frost. Pernice is the third player this year to win in his debut.
Dan Forsman (Pro V1x, 909D3 driver, 909F3 fairway, 585.H utility, ZM irons, Vokey Design sand and lob wedges, Scotty Cameron putter) finished solo fourth at 11-under, while Denis Watson (Pro V1x, New AP2 irons, Vokey Design gap wedge), Russ Cochran (Pro V1, New AP2 irons) and Andy Bean (Pro V1) were among four players another shot back. In fact, 6 of the top 8 finishers trusted Titleist for their success.
Pernice’s win was the 15th for Titleist golf ball players on the 2009 Champions Tour, more than seven times the nearest competitor with 2. Titleist was the top golf ball choice among players at the SAS Championship with 52 players, compared to 11 for the nearest competitor. Titleist was also first in iron sets (19) and wedges (51). Pernice is the first player to win on the Champions Tour with Titleist New AP2 irons that will begin shipping in mid-November.
What’s in Tom Pernice’s Bag?: Pro V1x golf ball, 909D3 driver (9.5), 909H hybrids (17, 21), New AP2 irons (4-9), Vokey Design pitching wedge (48), Spin Milled sand (56) and lob (59) wedges, Scotty Cameron Kombi putter
JAPAN/ASIAN TOUR: Pernice was joined in the winners’ circle last weekend by fellow Titleist Brand Ambassador and former PGA Tour player Daisuke Maruyama, who claimed his first title in four years with victory at the Asia-Pacific Panasonic Open. Maruyama finished with an 8-under 276 total, four strokes clear of three players, including Kim Kyung Tae (Pro V1x, 909D3 driver, 909H hybrid, ZB/ZM irons, Vokey Design wedges) and Liang Wenchong (Pro V1x).
Titleist was the most-played ball at the Asia-Pacific Panasonic Open with 77 players, compared to 21 for the nearest competitor. Titleist was also first in hybrids (25), iron sets (29) and wedges (97) and second in drivers (24) and putters (26). The event was co-sanctioned by the Asian and Japanese tours. Maruyama is the first player to win on the Japan or Asian Tours with Titleist’s New CB irons that will begin shipping in mid-November.
What’s Daisuke Maruyama’s Bag?: Pro V1x, 909D3 driver (8.5), 909F3 3-wood (13), 909H hybrids (17, 21), New CB irons (4-P), Vokey Design sand wedge (54), Spin Milled lob wedge (60)
PGA: Third round leader Kenny Perry (Pro V1x) and Padraig Harrington (Pro V1x) tied for fourth and Titleist Brand Ambassador Steve Stricker (Pro V1, 909D3 driver, 906F2 fairway metal, 909H hybrid, 755 irons, Vokey Design wedges) shot a final round 1-under 69 to finish alone in sixth place at the TOUR Championship. Stricker’s performance landed him in third place in the season-ending FedExCup Playoffs.
Titleist was the top golf ball choice among the field of 30 players at the TOUR Championship with 20, compared to 4 for the nearest competitor. Titleist was also first in wedges (22) and putters (9), and second in drivers (7), fairway metals (7), hybrids (5) and iron sets (6).
NATIONWIDE: Garrett Willis (Pro V1, Scotty Cameron prototype putter) won the WNB Golf Classic to virtually lock up a spot next year on the PGA Tour, closing with a 4-under 68 for a one-stroke victory over Chad Collins (Pro V1x, Vokey Design lob wedge). Collins torched the Midland Country Club course earlier in the day with a 10-under 62. Willis finished at 20-under 268 after shooting four successive rounds in the 60s. Titleist Brand Ambassador Darron Stiles (Pro V1, 905R driver, New CB irons, Vokey Spin Milled wedges, Scotty Cameron Newport 2 putter) closed with a back nine 6-under 30 for a 6-under 66, to tie for third place at 17-under 271.
With the victory, the 35-year-old Willis jumped from 19th to 6th on the Nationwide Tour money list. The final Top 25 will earn PGA Tour cards for the 2010 season. Willis won the 2001 Tucson Open in his first start on the PGA Tour. He also won the Nationwide Tour’s 2005 Utah Classic.
Titleist was the top golf ball choice at the WNB Golf Classic with 101 players, more than five times the nearest competitor with 20. Titleist was also tops in the wedge (155) and putter (59) categories, and second in iron sets (33). Willis’ win marks the 17th for Titleist players on the 2009 Nationwide Tour, more than four times the nearest competitor with 4.
CANADIAN: Rafael Gomez (Pro V1) won the Iberostar Riviera Maya Open by one stroke over Antonio Maldonado (Pro V1x). Gomez finished the tournament at 12-under par 276. Scott Gibson (Pro V1x) shot a final round two-under par 70 to secure solo third at 8-under 280, one ahead of John Douma (Pro V1x).
KOREAN/CHINA: Titleist Brand Ambassador DaeHyun Kim (Pro V1, 907 D1 driver, 909F2 3-wood, 909H hybrid, 695MB irons, Vokey Design sand and lob wedges) won the KEB Invitational, shooting a final round one-under 71 to record a one-stroke victory. It was the first win of Kim’s career after posting three runner-ups, including last week. Eight of the 11 players who finished among the top 10 and ties trusted Titleist golf balls for their success.
Titleist was the most played golf ball at the event with 88 players, more than four times the nearest competitor with 21. Titleist was also the top choice in drivers (34) and iron sets (38). The event was co-sanctioned with the China Tour.
WORLDWIDE WINS: With four more victories this week, Titleist golf ball loyalists have accumulated 122 wins across the worldwide professional tours, more than five times the nearest competitor with 24.
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Joe Gomes, Director of Communications (508.979.3211)
