Britain’s Joe Miller has been proclaimed champion of the SPANISH LDET CHAMPIONSHIP with a bombshell from 371.5 yards. Miller ha batido en la final a Andreas Persson (358 yardas) tras un disputadísimo campeonato, en el campo de Los Lagos (Mijas Golf Internacional), donde los mejores pegadores de Europa han exhibido sus drivers. A falta de una prueba puntuable del circuito, el torneo de Mijas ha dejado el ranking of the LDET tighter than ever.
The weather is one of the worst enemies of the Long Drivers and the tournament began diluted by the heavy rain that fell early in the morning. Clouded by clouds and a light wind, the qualifying rounds started at 10 am. Group 1 pitted Persson (SWE), Laso (ESP), Joakim Boltenstern (SWE), amateur Scott Beaven (UK) and Thomas Metcalfe (UK). Spaniard Alfonso Laso suffered from a shoulder injury that has not allowed him to have a good season, and the Los Lagos event was no exception. The best shots of the first group were for Persson, with 352y, and Scott Beaven, with 351y, getting the pass to the quarterfinals. Beaven was undoubtedly the surprise of the tournament, as it was the first time he participated in a Long Drive event.
In the second group competed the American circuit player Maurice Allen, who holds the Guinness World Record for Long drive speed with a 356 km/h stroke. The pairings in this group pitted Allen against two of the LDET circuit hitters: Joe Miller (world champion in 2010) and Scotland’s Jamie Kinnell. The best marks after three rounds went to Miller and Allen, with 360 and 364 yards respectively, two impressive records for two of the best in the world.
The third group faced three of the hitters who were also competing for a place in the World Finals in the United States at the end of September: David Kvist and John McSloy and Eric Houballah. Scotland’s McSloy, who was ranked third, had a lot at stake in this tournament and made it through to the quarterfinals with an excellent 355.5 yards, beating his record this season (344.7). Sweden’s Kvist advanced through the round with a 352-yard round.
The last qualifying group left many emotions as the incredible and unexpected 370-yard drive of Anders Pettersson, who qualified for the quarterfinals along with the British Dan Konyk. Music, beverage tastings, the speaker and the cheers of the audience surrounded the hitters early in the afternoon in the quarterfinals. With muscles at the ready and nerves on edge, the players put on a real show and left hits such as Andreas Persson’s impressive 386.5-yard (353.4-meter) howitzer, which was the Samsung longest ball of the day (longest ball of the day.)
Undoubtedly, the four players who made it to the semifinals: Persson, Pettersson, Allen and Miller, proved to be at a high level in this golf discipline. They have been very exciting clashes where the pass to the final has been decided by just a few yards of difference: Allen (368y) and Miller (370y); Persson (374y) and Pettersson (362y).
The first and the second of the ranking have starred in a new final of the circuit in the fierce fight for the title and the not inconsiderable prize money for the winner of the season (10,000 euros). Joe Miller and Andreas Persson met again on the tee, and had to play two rounds to decide the winner. Miller, with a 371.5y, his best score in the tournament, was proclaimed champion, winning his fourth event of the season.
After the SPANISH LDET CHAMPIONSHIP, the updated ranking:
Ranking Name Surname Surname Country LDET Points
1 Andreas Persson Sweden 3100
2 Joe Miller England 3000
3 John McSloy Scotland 2350
4 Alexander Boltens. Sweden 1700
5 Dan Konyk England 1650
6 Jorgen Trank Sweden 1200
7 Eric Houballah France 1300
8 Jamie Kinnell Scotland 1200
9 Joakim Boltens. Sweden 950
10 Johan Tomb Sweden 700
11 Fredrik Karlsson Sweden 500
12 Tony Nilsson Sweden 500
13 Stanislas Heck France 500
14 Marc Autret France 350
15 Chris Tomb Sweden 350
16 Tom Hollingw England 350
17 Dragan Vasovic Switzer. 250
18 Alfonso Laso Spain 250
Leave a Reply