FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Texas and Michigan Junior Golfers Crowned 2007 Mutual of Omaha Drive, Chip and Putt National Champions
CELEBRATION, Fla., (Sept. 15, 2007) - Junior golfer Michael Clark, 14, of Swartz Creek, Mich., along with Patrick Wiggins (9, Gastonia, N.C.), Kyle Sterbinsky (11, Yardley, Pa) and Lonnie Smith (12, Bellaire, Texas) captured the national championship titles in their respective age divisions at today's Mutual of Omaha Drive, Chip and Putt National Championships presented by GOLF CHANNEL.
Taking place at Celebration Golf Club near Orlando, the national championships featured 84 junior golfers from throughout North America, representing 30 U.S. states and Canada. The participants were divided into four age groups (7-8, 9-10, 11-12, 13-14) that competed in three skills events - driving, chipping and putting - with the best combined score in each age group crowned 2007 national champions.
Clark, a member of the Flint Junior Golf Program in Michigan, bombed a 260-yard drive - one of the longest of the competition - en-route to his victory in the 13-14 age division.
"I was relaxed when I woke up this morning, and just went out and played my best," said Clark following the awards ceremony. "I just went out there to have fun."
Wiggins, who qualified for the national championships in the 7-8 age division in April, competed in the drive, chip & putt competition for the first time in 2007 and is a member of the National Junior Golf Club. Sterbinsky, who made his second appearance today at the national championships (2003), qualified to compete in the 9-10 age division and is an active member of Plantations Junior Golf Tour in Pennsylvania. Smith, 12, finished in seventh place in the 11-12 age division at the 2006 national championships, and channeled that experience to today's victory.
All participants qualified to compete in the national championships via finishing in the top-three in their respective age groups at one of 81 local championships and by taking first-place at one of 21 regional championships in 2007.
An hour-long national championships highlight show, hosted by GOLF CHANNEL's Adam Barr, is scheduled to air on Saturday Nov. 24 at 2 p.m. ET.
National Championships week kicked off with Mutual of Omaha Drive, Chip & Putt Second Chance Competition at Celebration Golf Club.
The world's largest junior golf skills competition, the Mutual of Omaha Drive, Chip & Putt program provides a free, fun and friendly opportunity for junior golfers to compete, develop and test their golf skills. The GOLF CHANNEL has introduced the game of golf to nearly 100,000 junior golfers through the Mutual of Omaha Drive, Chip & Putt program since the program's inception in 1999. For complete information on the Mutual of Omaha Drive, Chip & Putt program, please visit www.golfchannel.com/kids.
2007 Mutual of Omaha Drive, Chip and Putt National Championships Results
7-8
1 Patrick Wiggins, 9, Gastonia, N.C. (Eight years old during local qualifier)
2 Brandon Witt, 9, Papillion, Neb (Eight years old during local qualifier)
3 Andrew Eyre, 8, Salem, Ore.
9-10
1 Kyle Sterbinsky, 11, Yardley, Pa. (10 years old during local qualifier)
2 Justin Wick, 10, Upper Arlington, Ohio
3 Van Thomas, 10, Las Vegas, Nev.
11-12
1 Lonnie Smith, 12, Bellaire, Texas
2 Blake Cannon, 12, Payson, Ariz.
3 Kyle Austin, 11, Mebane, N.C. (Won via playoff)
13-14
1 Michael Clark, 14, Swartz Creek, Mich.
2 Lucas Armstrong, 15 Church Hill, Tenn. (14 years old during local qualifier)
3 Felipe Quiroga, 13, Orlando, Fla. (Second year a row finishing third)
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