SCHAUMBURG, Illinois (March 8, 2010) – Nippon Shaft today congratulated Karrie Webb, winner of the ANZ Australian Ladies Masters, and three international players who finished in the top 10 at the PGA TOUR’s Honda Classic, all of whom used Nippon Shafts in their irons.
Webb fired an 11-under par 61 at RACV Royal Pines Resort on March 7 in the final round to finish at 26-under par 262, good for a six-shot victory. It was the seventh Australian Ladies Masters victory for the 35-year-old Queensland native, who owns seven major women’s championships, including two U.S. Women’s Opens.
Later Sunday, at PGA National Resort & Spa in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, three international PGA TOUR players using prototype Nippon Shaft products in their irons finished in the top 10 at the Honda Classic. Two of the players tied for fourth at 6-under par 274; the other tied for ninth at 2-under 278.
“Nippon Shaft congratulates Karrie Webb on her seventh win at the ANZ Australian Ladies Masters,” said Hiroyuki Fukuda, head of sales and marketing for Nippon Shaft. “Karrie is one of the greatest players in the history of women’s golf and Nippon Shaft is honored that she uses our products.
“We also congratulate the three international players who finished in the top 10 at the Honda Classic using prototype Nippon Shaft products in their irons,” Fukuda said.
Webb used N.S. Pro 1050GH steel shafts with a stiff flex in her irons and wedges. In her driver and fairway woods, she used the graphite N.S. Pro Regio Type 65 with a stiff flex. The highlight of Webb’s round was an eagle 3 on the par 5 7th when she holed out from 125 yards with a 9-iron.
The prototype Nippon Shaft products used by the PGA TOUR players were designed specifically for high-caliber golfers who require high performance steel shafts that enable them better to control distance and trajectory, resulting in better accuracy, according to Fukuda. Long known for excelling in the design and production of exceptional lightweight shafts, Nippon Shaft last year began designing products more specifically to serve the needs of elite players seeking better trajectory control and lower ball flight.
Nippon Shaft has more than 50 professional victories worldwide. Based in Yokahama, Japan, Nippon Shaft is the No. 1-selling steel shaft in Asia, where it controls 80 percent of the golf shaft market. In North America, Nippon Shaft is the No. 2-selling steel shaft and is growing.
Nippon Shaft is a subsidiary of privately-held NHK Spring Co. LTD, a Japanese automobile parts manufacturer. Nippon Shaft’s North American headquarters is in Schaumburg, Illinois.
Contact:
Barry Cronin
Cronin Communications, Inc.
847-698-1801
bcronin@cronincommunications.com
