SAN DIEGO, California (April 22, 2012) – The winner of the inaugural LPGA LOTTE Championship used Nippon Shaft N.S. PRO V90 steel shafts in her irons, finishing with a 12-under par total at the Ko Olina Golf Club in Kapolei, Hawaii.
The 26-year-old Japanese star started the final round with a three-shot lead and by day’s end had extended it to four. Her 72-hole total of 276 came on rounds of 71-65-70-70, which computed to a winner’s check of $255,000 from a $1.7 million purse. Two players finished tied for second at 8-under.
“Nippon Shaft is very proud to have been part of a great victory authored by a great player,” said Hiroyuki Fukuda, head of sales and marketing for Nippon Shaft. “Nippon Shaft is honored that players of such high caliber consistently choose to play Nippon Shaft steel shafts in their irons.”
The native of Okinawa’s last victory came at the 2011 Evian Masters, where she decided to donate her $487,000 winner’s check to the victims of Japan’s devastating earthquake/tsunami.
The victory was her eighth on the LPGA Tour and her first in the state of Hawaii. She has recorded at least one victory in the last five seasons. This year, she has five top-10 finishes in six events.
Nippon Shaft products are available either as stock or custom shafts in many of the world’s top iron brands.
In addition, Nippon Shaft products are available through Shaftology – Nippon Shaft’s dedicated clubfitter network – and through the custom club departments of top club manufacturers.
A number of PGA touring pros – including former Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup team members – are playing prototype versions of the MODUS3 shafts in PGA and European PGA tournaments this year. The Tour 120 model weighs between 114 and 126 grams and comes in S, X, and Tour X flex options. An R flex is new this season. Other models still in the testing phase weigh as little as 106 grams and as many as 139 grams – but all meet the requirements of top players.
The N.S. PRO MODUS3 series shafts are growing in popularity with tour pros because they offer optimal performance in the three key areas:
1. Desired trajectory, which comes as a result of the unique shaft structure;
2. Accurate distances, thanks to the shaft’s unique raw steel material and accompanying heat treatment;
3. Tight dispersion, which comes from the exacting tolerances of the highest quality level.
Nippon Shaft made its reputation in the late 1990s by developing the first high quality lightweight steel shaft. The revolutionary N.S. PRO 950GH became the industry’s first sub-100 gram steel shaft, combining the stability and consistency of heavier shafts with extremely lightweight. Soon, Nippon Shaft grew to be the No. 1-selling shaft in Asia, controlling 80 percent of the market, and No. 2 worldwide. Along the way, Nippon Shaft recorded more than 100 pro tour victories worldwide and became the dominant shaft on the LPGA Tour.
Nippon Shaft manufactures all of its steel and graphite shafts in a state-of-the-art factory at its headquarters in Yokohama, Japan. The company’s integrated production lines are strictly monitored and controlled with thorough checks conducted responsibly through the entire production process, Fukuda said. As a result, Nippon Shaft is able to control high product quality – from material selection to final testing.
Nippon Shaft has more than 160 professional victories worldwide. Based in Yokohama, Japan, Nippon Shaft is the No. 1-selling steel shaft in Asia, where it controls 80 percent of the golf shaft market.
Nippon Shaft is a privately-held subsidiary of NHK Spring Co. LTD, a Japanese automobile parts manufacturer. Nippon Shaft’s North American headquarters is in San Diego.
Contact:
Barry Cronin
Cronin Communications, Inc.
847-698-1801 (office)
847-867-3032 (mobile)
bcronin@cronincommunications.com
