November 2, 2009–Jamie Sadlowski can go deep with the best of them, and he proved it again when he boomed one 384 yards in the Finals of the RE/MAX World Long Drive Championship last week in Mesquite, Nevada, home to six Las Vegas Golf Region golf courses. Sadlowski's drive beat runner-up Jerimie Montgomery by 33 yards. Sadlowski earned the $150,000 top prize while Montgomery took home $70,000, or about $199 per yard of his 351-yard launch.
Long Drivers of America Hall-of-Famer Bobby Wilson added to his legendary status by winning the Senior Division and Super Senior Division, with a drive of 378 in the senior event final and of 362 yards in the Super Senior Division. Wilson narrowly edged Dan Boever 358-357 in the semi-final match of the senior division tournament. Wilson's two wins earned him $70,000 for his efforts. Wilson also narrowly edged Pat Dempsey 370-369 in the Super Senior semi-final. It was the first time in the history of the event that one driver earned two championship rings in one evening.
The tournament marked the 15th anniversary championship in Nevada. Power golf’s premier event was staged in Las Vegas in 1995-96, then moved to its home in Mesquite in 1997. Mesquite, Nevada, is a mini-golf mecca, anchored by the awe-inspiring Wolf Creek Golf Club, 18 holes of fantasy golf that dance in the hills overlooking the Virgin Valley, where the gambling town of Mesquite is located. Click now to view the stunning photos of Wolf Creek, and to click to the official website of Wolf Creek to reserve your Mesquite golf tee times or Mesquite golf packages. Mesquite is a part of the extended Las Vegas Golf Region that is home to more than 50 world-class golf courses designed by the biggest names in the world of golf.
Mick Yelovich recorded the longest drive of the seeding process, a prodigous blast of 403 years to earn the top seed heading into the round of eight long drivers. But he was defeated in the semi-finals by Montgomery, 381-375. Sadlowski was the second seed after hitting one 401 yards in the seeding rounds. Sadlowski earned his second-straight long drive title and the 21-yard old solidified his status as the world's longest driver of the golf ball. The RE/MAX World Long Drive Championship and Long Drivers of America was created by former Las Vegas resident Art Sellinger and is the pre-eminent long drive event in the world. ESPN will debut a 90-minute highlights package from the championship on Sunday, Dec. 20; ESPN2 will follow with a re-airing on Friday, Dec. 25.