KINGSPORT, Tenn. – The World Long Drive Association is coming to Cattails at MeadowView Marriott Conference Resort and Convention Center, and the event will air live on Golf Channel.
The event – Tennessee Big Shots Benefiting Niswonger Children’s Hospital – will take place Sunday-Monday, Aug. 12-13, with the conclusion broadcast live on Golf Channel from 6-8 p.m. ET on Monday evening. There’s a lot on the line at Tennessee Big Shots, which will feature drives 100+ yards farther than the competitors’ LPGA and PGA TOUR counterparts. This will be the final televised tour stop of 2018 for World Long Drive before the Volvik World Long Drive Championship in September. Proceeds from the event will benefit Niswonger Children’s Hospital.
Tennessee Big Shots is part of the Niswonger Children’s Hospital Classic, a signature golf tournament that attracts top players from the PGA, LPGA and PGA Champions tours.
“We couldn’t be more excited about this partnership with the World Long Drive Association and what it means for the Classic,” said Alan Levine, executive chairman, president and chief executive officer of Ballad Health. “At Ballad Health, we are committed to improving the health and wellbeing of our community, and that’s why we’re so passionate about the Classic. It’s an incredible event that really helps the children’s hospital and the children and families it serves, while also raising awareness nationally about the multitude of services provided by Niswonger Children’s Hospital.”
Niswonger Children’s Hospital – which opened in 2009 – serves more than 200,000 children in a four-state, 29-county region. Located in Johnson City, Tennessee, Niswonger Children’s Hospital is the Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia region’s only children’s hospital, and offers more than 20 pediatric subspecialties, including pediatric cardiology, pediatric surgery, pediatric endocrinology and pediatric gastroenterology.
Now a part of the Niswonger Children’s Hospital Classic, Tennessee Big Shots will be a free community event, bringing the region and the nation together to support the children’s hospital.
“We’re thrilled to have Tennessee Big Shots here in Kingsport,” said Jud Teague, executive director of Visit Kingsport. “We feel like Cattails is the perfect place for the event, and I know everybody in the area is excited and looking forward to coming out to see it. To have the Golf Channel airing it live is not only great for the city, but for Niswonger Children’s Hospital, which provides such amazing care to so many children.”
“Bringing a new event to the Kingsport region in partnership with Niswonger Children’s Hospital is a wonderful addition to the World Long Drive schedule,” said Phil Piazza, senior vice president of programming, Golf Channel. “We’re privileged to align our live television coverage surrounding the event with the incredible impact being made by the hospital, and are eager to see the Kingsport community embrace the dynamic personalities and sheer athleticism World Long Drive competitors exude at the highest level.”
The competition will feature 36 men based on World Long Drive rankings, along with 18 women. Preliminary rounds will narrow the field down to eight men and four women, who will advance to take part in the live telecast on Aug. 13. Preliminary rounds for the men will begin at 8 a.m. ET on Aug. 12, and at 9 a.m. ET on Aug. 13 for the women. The event will be rebroadcast up to six times on Golf Channel through Dec. 31.
Meadowview Marriott Conference Resort and Convention Center will serve as the official hotel for competitors and The Golf Channel at the event. For more information, visit worldlongdrive.com.
To learn more about the Niswonger Children’s Hospital Classic, visit niswongergolf.org.
