Art Sellinger owner and chief executive officer of Long Drivers of America announced on Sunday, Oct. 21, that the 2013 Re/Max World Long Drivers Championship will be broadcast live by a new media partner, the Golf Channel and NBC.
The Golf Channel will produce four shows documenting the event and a live broadcast of the finals. This is huge for Sellinger’s group as the event has only been rebroadcast two days over Christmas in the past.
But Mesquite isn’t in line to get any of this publicity. Mesquite Athletic & Leisure Services Director Brian Dangerfield announced Oct. 9 that this would be the last Re/Max World Long Drivers Championship to be held in Mesquite.
Funding has been pulled by the Mesquite Resort Association. But this announcement may be premature as private efforts are underway to keep the event in Mesquite.
Meanwhile the 2012 version of the golfing event continues at the Mesquite Sports & Events Center through today. The Senior and Open Divisions semi-finals and finals are scheduled for 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., respectively.
Four champions have been crowned so far in Womens, Legends (60 years and older) Super Seniors (55 plus) and Grand Champions (50-55 years) Divisions. Sweden’s Sandra Carlborg won her second straight championship with a drive of 339 yards. David Brinker of Missouri won the Legends Division with a drive of 330 yards. It was Brinker’s first WLDC Championship. David Crutchfield from Alabama took his first Grand Champions Division title with a blast of 354 yards for his first world title. The Super Seniors winner was Californian Eric Jones with a huge poke of 369 yards. This was the second win for Jones who also won a championship in 2003.