"Big Upsets at World Long Drive Championship

October 9, 2016

Thackerville, Okla. – The Open Division of the World Long Drive Championship kicked off this morning at WinStar World Casino & Resort. The day was packed with major upsets proving that anything can happen when the longest hitters in the world take center stage.

Early in the morning, 2007 World Long Drive Champion and long-time competitor, Mike Dobbyn, was knocked by Curtis Urniezius of Canada. Urniezius nailed drives of 363 yards in both sets. Dobbyn was only able to produce drives of 353 and 359 yards.

In Saturday’s afternoon wave, Dobbyn’s brother, Mitch Dobbyn upset one of the sport’s biggest names and past champion, Ryan Reisbeck. Mitch Dobbyn beat Reisbeck in consecutive sets, striking the ball 370 yards in set one and 368 yards in set 2. While Reisbeck could only come up with drives of 359 yards and 365 yards respectively.

Then in the late wave, 2015 World Long Drive runner-up, Jeremy Easterly was eliminated by Heath Johnson.

With clear skies and a subtle tail wind, conditions on Saturday were perfect for some monster drives. Glenn Wilson Jr. came in at 399 yards; Steve Monroe tied Wilson with 399 yards and also had a second bomber at 397. Tommy Hug, at 397 yards, and Joe Miller, at 396 yards, rounded out the top five long drives of the day.

“Today felt good, like everything clicked at the right time, being able to walk away with a win, and have one of the longest balls of the day against a stacked field is positive momentum for Monday’s round of 32,” said Wilson, Jr. after day one.

Tomorrow, the Open Division players get the day off and the top 41 players in the Masters Division will take center stage. Competition kicks off tomorrow at 8am CT / 9am ET and by the end of the day the field will be whittled down to 16."

They are bigger and they are longer these days. Brute force !

Sandra Carlborg.....................In trouble!

Wow,1 ball out 24 in the grid for the Hug/Young match!
I've always said these guys should have a 45-46" 10° back-up club just to get one ball in play.

Some of those guys looked like they were 'off their feed', as we used to say in horse racing.

Wilson with 6 balls over 219bs and topping at 225!!! YOWZA!! And Joe gets him; gotta be the top pick now..

Joe Miller is about due to win again! 😉

Did I hear correctly, from the announcers.....it takes 270 to count as 'good'(minimum)??

    Was I watching the re-run last night when Jamie Sadlowski got knocked out after he could not place even one ball in the grid ?
    Why did he changed the shaft recently ?

      darpar

      Thanks, I was not quite myself and not really watching TGC, was going through a sever reaction to the flu shot .
      For a whole day wasn't feeling myself and for 4 1/2 hours I thought I had a kidney stone attack.........
      Kind of dazed when I turned on TGC.
      Might watch it tonight.

        Yep it's MILLER TIME again!!!!
        That dude's a beast!

        That was some good shit, for a change!!

        Although, I don't like them hitting all their balls at once; would like to see them alternating after 1/2 hit, like years past.

          Par4QC

          Totally agree,seems like Art changes the format almost every year.

            Par4QC

            I respect anyone whom could have muscle tone on the back of their head and their eyebrow.