Lara, Haas Rely on Pro V1x in final round charges to victory second consecutive four-win week for Titleist
Fairhaven, MA (September 20, 2010) – In competitive golf, the real tournament doesn’t begin until the weekend arrives. As contenders emerge and move up the leaderboard, as late round pressure builds and victory is within grasp, the overwhelming majority of players trust their games to Titleist. This weekend, José Manuel Lara and Hunter Haas each relied on the Pro V1x golf ball as they staged dramatic Sunday charges, shooting matching 64s to capture wins on the European and Nationwide Tours, respectively. On the Asian Tour, Pro V1x loyalist Thaworn Wiratchant won the weather-shortened Yeangder Tournament Players Championship, earning his record-tying 12th Asian Tour title. And on the South African Sunshine Tour, Titleist Brand Ambassador Jean Hugo trusted Pro V1x and a full bag of Titleist golf clubs to capture the Vodacom Business Origins of Golf at Stellenbosch tournament by one shot. Four Titleist golf ball wins for the second consecutive week: Further proof that when victory is on the line, the consistency and performance of Titleist is unmatched.
EUROPEAN TOUR: Spain’s José Manuel Lara (Pro V1x) won his second European Tour title on Sunday, capturing the Austrian GolfOpen in dramatic fashion. Lara had 10 birdies in his 8-under 64 final round, including a 35-foot putt on No. 18 to finish at 17-under 271 and force the playoff. On the first extra hole, Lara two-putted from 30 feet for a par that gave him his first victory since the 2007 Hong Kong Open.
Englishman Danny Willett (Pro V1x), who had shared the third-round lead, shot a 1-under 71 to finish three strokes back, tied for 3rd.
Lara’s strong play is timely. He finished fourth at last week’s KLM Open and this week’s win in Austria vaults him from 139th on the European Tour money list to the relative comfort of the 93rd position. Those players within the top 115 will secure their playing privileges for the 2011 season.
#1 BALL: Titleist was the most played GOLF BALL at the Austrian Open with 97 players, more than five times the nearest competitor with 19.
NATIONWIDE TOUR: Hunter Haas (Titleist Pro V1x, 909 D3 driver) won the Albertsons Boise Open for his second Nationwide Tour victory in 2010 and the fourth of his career. Haas, the Price Cutter Charity Championship winner last month in Springfield, Mo., entered the final round three strokes behind Daniel Summerhays (Pro V1x) after rounds of 68, 64 and 67. He fired a closing 7-under 64 on Sunday to finish at 21-under 263 at Hillcrest Country Club, edging Summerhays, who shot a final round 4-under 68, by a single stroke.
John Mallinger (Pro V1x), joined three players in a tie for 3rd at 17-under 267.
With the victory, Haas jumps from 12th to 4th on the Nationwide money list, guaranteeing his return to the PGA Tour next year as a top-25 finisher on the money list. The 33-year-old former Oklahoma player also is one victory away from an automatic PGA TOUR promotion.
#1 BALL, IRON, WEDGE and PUTTER: Titleist was the overwhelming GOLF BALL of choice at the Albertsons Boise Open with 103 players, more than five times the nearest competitor with 19. Titleist also was first in IRON SETS (41); SAND, LOB and APPROACH WEDGES (142) and PUTTERS (61).
ASIAN TOUR: Thaworn Wiratchant (Pro V1x) of Thailand was declared the winner of the Asian Tour’s Yeangder Tournament Players Championship at Linkou International G&CC in Taipei, Taiwan, after the event was reduced to 54 holes. Typhoon Fanapi hit Taiwan on Sunday, prompting tournament officials to cancel the final round due to dangerous conditions. Wiratchant’s 10-under total of 206 was good enough for the official win and earns him a record-tying 12 titles on the Asian Tour. Titleist Brand Ambassador Chinnarat Phadungsil (Pro V1x, 909D2 driver, 904F fairway metal, 909H hybrid, ZM irons, Vokey Design wedges, Scotty Cameron Newport 1.5 putter) of Thailand shot a third round 5-under 67 to finish one shot behind Wiratchant with a 9-under total of 207.
#1 BALL: Titleist was the most played GOLF BALL at the Yeangder Tournament Players Championship with 102 players, more than five times the nearest competitor with 18. In fact, of the 10 players who tied for ninth place or better at the event, 8 trusted a Titleist golf ball for their success.
SOUTH AFRICAN TOUR: Titleist Brand Ambassador Jean Hugo captured the Vodacom Business Origins of Golf tournament held in Stellenbosch by shooting a final round 6-under 66 for a 17-under 199 total. Hugo finished three shots clear of fellow Titleist Brand Ambassador Shaun Norris (Pro V1x, new 910D3 driver, 909H hybrid, CB irons, Vokey Design wedges), who signed for a 14-under 202. In solo 3rd with a total of 12-under 204 was Titleist Brand Ambassador Oliver Bekker (Pro V1x, new 910D2 driver, 909F2 fairway metal, MB irons, Vokey Design wedges). Titleist Brand Ambassador Louis De Jager (Pro V1x, new 910D3 driver, 909F2 fairway metal, AP2 irons, Vokey Design wedges, Scotty Cameron Squareback putter) grabbed a share of 4th with an 11-under 205 total.
This win marks the ninth career victory for Jean Hugo. The win is also the first for the new 910 driver on the South African Sunshine Tour. All four Titleist players who finished in the top-5 had the 910 driver in play.
What’s in Jean Hugo’s Bag?: Titleist Pro V1x, new 910D3 driver, 909F2 fairway metal, MB irons, Vokey Design wedges.
#1 BALL: Titleist was the GOLF BALL of choice at the Vodacom Business Origins of Golf at Stellenbosch with 45 players, compared to 23 for the nearest competitor.
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