Local, Regional Qualifying Returns with “Callaway World Long Drive Qualifying Series,” Featuring Dedicated Long Drive Weekend Events
2016 Registration Now Open at: www.LongDrivers.com
Video: Two-Time World Long Drive Champion Tim Burke Announces 2016 WLD Schedule on Morning Drive
ORLANDO, Fla. (April 20, 2016) – Golf Channel has released the schedule for the 2016 World Long Drive season, which will culminate October 6-12 with the World Long Drive Championship at WinStar World Casino and Resort north of Dallas in Thackerville, Okla. The announcement was made earlier today on Golf Channel’s Morning Drive program with 2015 World Long Drive champion Tim Burke, who won his second title in three years last October under the lights at WinStar.
2016 marks the return of local and regional qualifying with the “Callaway World Long Drive Qualifying Series.” Six dedicated “long drive weekend” qualifying events are currently scheduled to take place for Open and Senior Division competitors, beginning with the WinStar Long Drive Launch May 12-14. Days 1 and 2 of local qualifiers will be narrowed down to 48 Open Division and 16 Senior Division competitors advancing to the regional qualifier on Day 3. Each regional qualifier will then award three Open Division and two Senior Division competitors with a spot in the 2016 World Long Drive Championship.
Registration for the Callaway World Long Drive Qualifying Series is now open at www.longdrivers.com, and dates and locations include:
WinStar Long Drive Launch (WinStar World Casino & Resort, Thackerville, Okla.)
Thursday, May 12: Day 1 Local Qualifiers (Day 1 Senior Regional)
Friday, May 13: Day 2 Local Qualifiers (Day 2 Senior Regional)
Saturday, May 14: Open Division Regional Qualifier
Bull’s Classic (Tillery Tradition Country Club, Mt. Gilead, N.C.)
Friday, May 20: Bulls’s Classic (Tour Event)
Saturday, May 21: Day 1 Local Qualifiers (Day 1 Senior Regional)
Sunday, May 22: Day 2 Local Qualifiers (Day 2 Senior Regional)
Monday, May 23: Open Division Regional Qualifier
Tennessee Shootout (Graysburg Hills GC, Greenville, Tenn)
Wednesday June 8: (Tour Event)
Thursday June 9: (Tour Event)
Friday June 10: (Tour Event)
Bluff City Shootout (Golf and Games Family Park, Memphis, Tenn.)
Thursday, June 23: Day 1 Local Qualifiers (Day 1 Senior Regional)
Friday, June 24: Day 2 Local Qualifiers (Day 2 Senior Regional)
Saturday, June 25: Bluff City Shootout (Tour Event)
Sunday, June 26: Open Division Regional Qualifier
Rockwell Blast (Lakeside Golf Course, West Bountiful, Utah)
Thursday, July 28: Day 1 Local Qualifiers (Day 1 Senior Regional)
Friday, July 29: Day 2 Local Qualifiers (Day 2 Senior Regional)
Saturday, July 30: Rockwell Blast (Tour Event)
Sunday, July 31: Open Division Regional Qualifier
Mile High Shootout (Park Hill Golf Club, Denver, Colo.)
Thursday, August 25: Day 1 Local Qualifiers (Day 1 Senior Regional)
Friday, August 26: Day 2 Local Qualifiers (Day 2 Senior Regional)
Saturday, August 27: Open Division Regional Qualifier
Sunday, August 28: Mile High Shootout (Tour Event)
Changes to competition in 2016
New to the format in 2016 is that local and regional qualifying sets will consist of eight (8) drives within a 3-minute time limit, whereas in previous years the sets consisted of six (6) drives within a 2-minute 45 second time limit.
World Long Drive Championship Field
The Open Division will consist of 80 players competing in a match play bracket. The field will be made up of exempt competitors, regional qualifiers, tour event winners, international representatives, and “Last Chance Qualifiers.” The Senior Division will be made up of a field of 48 competitors, also contested in a match play bracket that consists of exempt competitors, regional qualifiers and international representatives.
Last Chance Qualifying
Last Chance Qualifying will take place prior to the start of the World Long Drive Championship (**date TBD**) with a final opportunity for those competitors who have yet to qualify.
For more information, visit: http://www.longdrivers.com/news/2016-world-long-drive-season
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