Rookie Hollingworth crowned Europe’s longest driver
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Yorkshire’s Tom Hollingworth slammed all the established stars of European long driving to emerge as the Open Division TSG European Long Drive champion for 2009 in his first ever competition at Close House, Northumberland.
Hollingworth made it through the last-chance qualifying on day one and announced his arrival as a title contender with the longest drive of the day, a whopping 380 yards.
He made it through the next two rounds as a wildcard after driving 383 yards and continued his fine debut by defeating Sweden’s Peter Carlborg in the semi-final and set-up a deciding match with multi-world finalist Andreas Persson.
The Swede could only manage 349 yards as Hollingworth put together a consistent display of power, recording drives of 344 yards, 327 yards, 334 yards, 362 yards and topping it off with a 367 yard monster.
The Junior Team event was won with a massive 364 yard drive from 15-year-old Sam Robinson of Tyneside Golf Club that helped his team (completed by Jack Herriott and Alice Greenfield) secure the first place and prizes from ZFL Golf.
Sandra Carlborg won the Ladies European Championship with a drive of 315 yards and Sweden’s Johan Tumba won the Seniors with 330 yards.
Hollingworth will be joined by Andreas Persson, Mikael Lindblom, Peter Carlborg and Adam Stacey in the Open Division World Finals in Mesquite, Nevada in October. In the Seniors, Johan Tumba will also be flying the flag for Europe.
