Victory Comes Just Five Days After Hot List Recognition
IRVINE, Calif. – In the LPGA’s first tournament of 2022, Proto Concept irons were used by the No. 3 player on the Rolex Women’s Golf rankings to win the Gainbridge Championship at Boca Rio on Sunday (Jan. 30) in Boca Raton, Fla.
The 24-year-old New Zealander used Proto Concept’s C-07 6 iron and the company’s C-05 irons for her 7 through 9 iron for the first time in competition. She shot a 72-hole total of 14-under par 274 with rounds of 63-70-72-69 to win by one stroke and earn a $300,000 winner’s check. Birdies on holes 15 and 16 gave her a one-shot lead and she sealed the victory with par saves on 17 and 18. It was her 17th LPGA Tour title and moved her ever closer to the LPGA Hall of Fame.
Golf Channel announcers discussed the iron change during the final round telecast.
“She’s got those new irons in the bag…, and I talked to her caddie…earlier and he said the mis-hits are just a little bit better than the old irons she used to play,” said one Golf Channel analyst.
“[She] told me yesterday they’re just more consistent feeling,” said another on-course commentator.
“Proto Concept congratulates the winner of the Gainbridge Championship,” said Yasufumi Kawasaki, Brand Producer of Proto Concept. “We are proud that she has chosen Proto Concept irons in order to bring her game to the highest level and we look forward to doing all we can to help her maximize her game.”
The victory came just five days after the new ultra-luxury Japanese golf club designer/manufacturer burst onto the scene by having three of its products named to the Golf Digest’s 2022 Hot List for the first time. The Hot List was released Jan. 25.
Proto Concept is a collaboration between Japanese-owned Golf Partner Japan – the largest golf retailer in the world with some 400 locations – and fellow Japanese golf behemoth Endo Manufacturing, the industry standard in precision club manufacturing that is used by many of the world’s best-known OEMs. Kawasaki also is a managing executive officer of Golf Partner (www.golfpartnerusa.com).
The C-05 irons feature a tour pocket cavity engineered with a deep and low center of gravity along with a clubface that is slightly thicker than standard (2.7 millimeters) in the middle and lighter on the heel and toe (2.4 millimeters) to add ball speed on mishits. Designed to increase distance and to enhance maneuverability, straight line performance, forgiveness and feel.
The C-07 irons are designed with a pocket-cavity that pursues distance, forgiveness, maneuverability and feel with excellent playability. The design optimizes the center-of-gravity with a thickness deviation that promotes straight line performance and forgiveness on mishits.
“With Proto Concept, the goal of our design team at Golf Partner is to produce the highest quality golf clubs for avid golfers of all handicaps,” Kawasaki said. “The name Proto Concept is derived from the prototype-quality clubs that are developed for tour professionals.”
Proto Concept products may be ordered online at protoconceptgolf.com and through designated green grass club fitters nationally, which can found at https://protoconceptgolf.com/pages/store-locator.
Proto Concept was established in 2019 in Tokyo, Japan and is a part of Golf Partner Co. Ltd. www.golfpartnerusa.com. Yasufumi Kawasaki is Brand Producer for Proto Concept and is a managing executive officer of Golf Partner Japan.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Barry Cronin
Cronin Communications, Inc.
847-867-3032
