Sitompul, Hoag Win Driving, Putting Contests On Sunday
At The Western Refining College All-America Golf Classic
EL PASO, Texas (November 22, 2009) - For
the second consecutive year, perfect weather led to long drives and low scores,
as four players eclipsed 350 yards in the 2009 Titleist Long Drive competition
and five players finished within two strokes of the winning score in the PING
Putting contest Sunday during the precursor to the 35th Annual Western Refining
College All-America Golf Classic at El Paso Country Club.
Michigan's Alexander Sitompul, a junior from Jakarta, Indonesia, became the first player in the history of the even to officially launch a drive more than 360 yards, when his second drive landed 368 yards. The longest drive of the day was Oregon's Daniel Miernicki, who managed a shot of 373 yards, but was ruled out because his ball was five yards out of bounds.
South Carolina's George Bryan finished second with a smash of 360 yards, while Wichita State's Dustin Garza finished third with a drive of 353 yards. Last year's winner, Corey Nagy of Charlotte, finished fourth with a drive of 351 yards. Nagy is the only player to break 350 yards twice in the event.
Ohio State's Bo Hoag, a junior from Upper Arlington, Ohio, won the PING Putting Contest with a low score of 21 on the par-24, nine-hole course. LSU's John Peterson finished second, while Georgia's Russell Henley, Texas' Lance Lopez and Arizona's Tarquin MacManus tied for third.
The 34th Annual Western Refining College All-America Golf Classic begins play Monday at 8:00 a.m. (MT) at the El Paso Country Club.
The tournament, hosted by the Sun Bowl Association, is played at the Par-71, 6,842-yard El Paso Country Club.
Throughout the years, many Western Refining College All-America Golf Classic competitors have gone on to pursue successful careers in the Professional Golfers' Association of America and on the PGA Tour. Some of the past champions include Ricky Barnes (2000), Notah Begay (1994), David Duval (1991), Matt Kuchar (1999), Davis Love III (1984), Chris Nallen (2003), Jerry Pate (1974), Nicholas Thompson (2004) and Tiger Woods (1995).
Each university is awarded a $1,000 scholarship if a golfer from that school competes in the tournament.
Titleist Longest Drive Contest Top 15
1. Alexander Sitompul (Michigan), 368; 2. George Bryan IV (South Carolina), 360; 3. Dustin Garza (Wichita State), 353; 4. Corey Nagy (Charlotte), 351; T5. Scott Pinckney (Arizona State) and Andrew Putnam (Pepperdine), 345; 7. Harris English (Georgia), 344; 8. Knut Borsheim (Arizona State), 342; 9. Matthew Giles (USC), 337; 10. John Hahn (Kent State), 333; 11. Russell Henley (Georgia), 332; 12. Nick Taylor (Washington), 331; 13. Matt Hill (North Carolina State), 330; 14. Kevin Tway (Oklahoma State), 327; 15. Richard Lee (Washington), 326.
PING Putting Contest Top 15
1. Bo Hoag (Ohio State), 21; 2. John Peterson (LSU), 22; T3. Russell Henley (Georgia), Lance Lopez (Texas), and Tarquin MacManus (Arizona), 23; T6. Dustin Garza (Wichita State), Morgan Hoffmann (Oklahoma State), and Tom Hoge (TCU), 24; T9. Harris English (Georgia), Scott Pinckney (Arizona State), Andrew Putnam (Pepperdine), Alexander Sitompul (Michigan), and Kevin Tway, (Oklahoma State), 25; T14. Mitchell Fedorka (La Verne), Matt Hill (North Carolina State), David Holmes (Tennessee), Dave Lingmerth (Arkansas), Daniel Miernicki (Oregon), Corey Nagy (Charlotte) and Nick Taylor (Washington), 26.