American Golf long drive final line up announced

With five qualifiers over 400 yards, record qualifying distances in each category and an unprecedented level of competition, American Golf has confirmed the line-up of competitors who will take on the reigning champions at the final of the American Golf Long Drive Championship.

With over 5000 golfers taking part over the past three months, qualification for the American Golf Long Drive Championship final has thrown up some incredible distances from the U.K.’s biggest hitters and beyond. Topping the pile in the Under 45 category is 2016 finalist John McSloy from Glasgow who sent out a 415 yard monster, just ahead of 2016 runner up Dave Evans, with 412. 389 yards is the cut off for U45 qualifiers this year, with the bottom players clinging on in a four way tie at a distance six yards further than the longest hit in last year’s final.

In the Ladies Championship there will be some real competition for reigning champion and world No.3 Rebecca McGinley, after LET Tour player Carly Booth (pictured) threw her hat in the ring at last chance qualifying in London. After proceeding through to the regional final, Carly tops the ladies leader board with 304 yards. The next 9 qualifiers, including fellow Tour player Michele Thomson are separated by just 16 yards.

The Over 45 qualifiers weren’t left behind in the record breaking statistics with Sean McCormack from Dunblane registering 387 yards, ahead of William Hunt-Tyrell’s 369. Pro Golfer’s and past finalists pepper the qualifying field with five qualifiers registering 350+ and beaten 2016 finalist David Willmore creeping in at number 10 with 334 yards.

Daniel Gathercole, Director of Marketing and Communications at American Golf commented, “The standard of qualifying this year has been incredible. To have over 5000 entrants has surpassed all our expectations and really shows the growing popularity of Long Drive since we introduced the Championship in 2015. There’s been record distances in every category, we’ve got finalists who flew in from Germany to just hit six balls to qualify, we’ve got Tour players, teaching Pro’s, one guy off +5 and a healthy dose of club golfers who just hit a very long ball. This Championship really has brought every type of golfer together and we can’t wait to find our three Champions in front of Sky Sports’ cameras at Heythrop Park in August who’ll go on to represent the U.K. and American Golf at the World Championships.”

Qualifiers in the three categories will battle it out at new final venue – Heythrop Park in Oxfordshire – on Friday 4^th August. Spectator entry to the final will be completely free and all are welcome.