FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, April 24th, 2018

ALEXIS BELTON, WILL HOGUE WIN 2018 “CLASH IN THE CANYON”

Belton Claims First World Long Drive Title in Just Second-Ever Competition;

Hogue Earns First Victory Since 2016 During Reign as No. 1 

World Long Drive Association 2018 Season Continues with Ak-Chin Smash in

the Sun, Airing Tuesday, May 15 from Maricopa, Ariz., Live on Golf Channel 

VIDEO: Belton Hits 332-yard Drive in Final to Win First-Ever Title

 

MESQUITE, Nev. (April 24, 2018) – Alexis Belton (Ruston, La.) and Will Hogue (Collierville, Tenn.) captured the Clash in the Canyon – the first televised World Long Drive Association (WLDA) event of 2018 – amidst a dry Nevada desert backdrop.

Belton’s win – her first – comes in only her second-ever World Long Drive competition (after advancing to the semifinals at the 2017 Volvik World Long Drive Championship last September). The 24-year-old WLDA newcomer utilized a 332-yard drive in the final against Alex Phillips (Las Vegas, Nev.) along with a 334-yard blast in her semifinal match against 2013 Volvik World Long Drive champion Heather Manfredda (Shelbyville, Ky.)

Hogue, the former No. 1 in the World (2016) outlasted the current World No. 1 – Justin James – in the final after connecting on a 413-yard drive. The 32-year-old firefighter/paramedic advanced to the final after beating Ryan Reisbeck (Layton, Utah) courtesy of a 426-yard drive.

The Clash in the Canyon is the second official event of the 2018 World Long Drive season, as Justin Moose claimed the East Coast Classic in Columbia, South Carolina last month. The next stop on the schedule is in three weeks at the Ak-Chin Smash in the Sun, taking place in Maricopa Ariz., and airing live in primetime on Golf Channel, Tuesday, May 15.

OPEN DIVISION FINAL

(6) Will Hogue (Collierville, Tenn.) def. (1) Justin James (Jacksonville, Fla.)

WOMEN’S DIVISION FINAL

(2) Alexis Belton (Ruston, La.) def. (4) Alex Phillips (Las Vegas, Nev.)

OPEN DIVISION SEMIFINAL MATCHES

(1) Justin James def. (8) Ryan Steenberg (Rochester, N.Y.)

(6) Will Hogue def. (3) Ryan Reisbeck (Layton, Utah)

WOMEN’S DIVISION SEMIFINAL MATCHES

(4) Alex Phillips def. (8) Troy Mullins (Los Angeles, Calif.)

(2) Alexis Belton def. (6) Heather Manfredda (Shelbyville, Ky.)

OPEN DIVISION QUARTERFINAL MATCH RESULTS

(1) Justin James def. (30) Jim Waldron (Scottsdale, Ariz)

(8) Ryan Steenberg def. (14) Justin Moose (Columbia, S.C)

(6) Will Hogue def. (15) Kyle Berkshire (Orlando, Fla.)

(3) Ryan Reisbeck (Layton, Utah) def. (18) Nick Kiefer (Chicago, Ill.)

2018 WORLD LONG DRIVE ASSOCIATION SCHEDULE:

DATE EVENT LOCATION
March 15-17 East Coast Classic West Columbia, S.C.
April 21-24 Clash in the Canyon (*Golf Channel*) Mesquite, Nev.
May 11-15 Ak-Chin Smash in the Sun (*Golf Channel*) Maricopa, Ariz.
June 4-5 Atlantic City Boardwalk Bash (*Golf Channel*) Atlantic City, N.J.
June 21-23 Bluff City Shootout Memphis, Tenn.
July 6-8 Bash For Cash Port Robinson, Ont., Canada
August 2-4 WinStar Midwest Slam Thackerville, Okla.
August 12-13 Tennessee Big Shots benefitting Niswonger Children’s Hospital (*Golf Channel*) Kingsport, Tenn.
September 1-5 Volvik World Long Drive Championship (*Golf Channel*) Thackerville, Okla.

 

Showcasing the truly global nature of World Long Drive, several events will be staged in 2018 through officially sanctioned WLDA international partners, including stops in Germany, Japan, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. Additionally, an all-encompassing international qualifier will be staged (late summer) featuring a minimum of four exemptions into the Open Division of the Volvik World Long Drive Championship in September.

ABOUT WORLD LONG DRIVE ASSOCIATION

The World Long Drive Association is an organization that brings together golf’s longest hitters from around the globe. Emerging as one of golf’s most popular grass roots competitions – a finalist at the 2018 Cynopsis Sports Media Awards in the League of the Year for a Breakthrough Sport and Live Coverage of a Breakthrough Sport categories – sanctioned Long Drive events are open to amateur and professional golfers. With an Open Division, Women’s Division and Masters Division (Ages 45+), the sport appeals to golfers of all ages. The 2018 WLDA season consists of events across the United States and around the world, culminating with the Volvik World Long Drive Championship, Sept. 1-5, from WinStar World Casino & Resort on the Oklahoma / Texas border, where competitors will convene under the lights for the world title on Golf Channel. In 2017, World Long Drive coverage on Golf Channel featured three televised events, and across all telecasts (live and replay) airing across Golf Channel and NBC, 6.4 million unique viewers watched at least some portion of World Long Drive events, +295% vs. 2016, and the most-viewed season of World Long Drive on record (2013-2017, according to data released by The Nielsen Company).

 

-NBC Sports Group-