Long drive qualifier includes past champions
Franklin. Rob Mack returns to post winning drive in first qualifier. Second qualifier set for Friday.
Franklin /
| 19 Aug 2019 | 02:02
Contestants in the 1st qualifier for the Sussex County Long Drive Championship give the event a thumbs up
Rob Mack, 2 time Sussex Long Drive Champion hits a qualifying tee shot of 320
Past 2 time Sussex Long Drive Champion Rob Mack registers for the 1st qualifier
Past champion of the Women’s 18 to 54 division Lisa Coe qualifies for the Championship
The 2019 Long Drive Championship should be very exciting if it is anything like the 1st Qualifier held on Friday, Aug. 16, 2019 at the Black Bear Long Drive range.
One of the fist to register for the event was Rob Mack, a 2-time Champion who won the 2015 event with a drive 313 yards. However in his last appearance in the event, he was unable to land a tee shot in the grid and lost to Matt Dickson whose winning drive was 287 yards.
Mack stated “I’ll be back!”
It became quickly apparent that this year’s competition would be exciting when Ralph Kestel, the first golfer to hit his qualifying tee shots, hit his best tee shot 310 yards.
When told he was competing with Mack, a 2 time winner, he responded “Your looking at this year’s winner!” Not to be outdone Mack was sixth to tee off for the event and was able to outdo Kestel with a 320-yard shot, just 10 yards better.
Other past winners competing in the first qualifier were past Women’s 18-54 winner Lisa Coe who hit a qualifying tee shot of 257 to finish second to Kim Fryer who had the best qualifying shot in this division of 263 yards and past winner of the Women’s 55 and over division who hit a 218 to lead the women in that division.
The second and final qualifier will be held on Friday, Aug. 23 at the Black Bear Golf Club from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Those interested in competing can register at the Black Bear Pro Shop.