Event Summary
The 2024 ULD World Championship Presented by Experience Columbia, SC Sports will be remembered for great competition among the best long drivers in the world as well as another competition between the ULD event team and mother nature. Hurricane Helene passed by the area creating some unique challenges. We’re very grateful for the patience and support of Par Tee Golf Center, our sponsors, the community, our staff, the many volunteers, and the world-class athletes who, through it all, put on a spectacular show as we battled the elements to finish the event right on time per the original schedule.
Set Up
The first members of our team arrived at Par Tee Golf Center in West Columbia, SC on Monday September 23 to layout the tee box and grid. On Tuesday, the rest of the team arrived and the event set-up with tents, tee boxes, signage, and bleachers was completed by early evening. The plan was to have competitions all day Wednesday and Thursday with competitions extending into the night (under the lights) Friday, and Saturday But, the attention turned to the path of Hurricane Helene that appeared to be headed for our location by as early as Thursday morning.
First Schedule Adjustment – Wednesday (Day #1 & 2) Competition
On Tuesday the company providing lights were contacted to move delivery up to Wednesday. Tuesday night, the team successfully contacted each competitor that was part of Thursday’s competitions and moved them to Wednesday evening and night with the exception of one division. Wednesday’s competitions (Day #1) ran on schedule until 5:30 PM. The Thursday (Day #2) competition began Wednesday evening immediately following the Day #1 competition and finished around midnight under the lights with some exciting competitions and an enthusiastic crowd. We were, for the most part, back on schedule. Thursday was a complete washout with 14+ inches of rain and wind gusts reaching 80+ mph as Helene quickly moved through the area leaving downed trees and wide-spread power outages in our immediate area in her wake.
Second Schedule Adjustment – Friday (Day #2 Competition)
In preparation for the storm, the event team took down most of the set-up immediately following Wednesday’s competition. The plan was to arrive early Friday morning and re-set the event, but Helene wasn’t finished. Due to high winds and rain, set-up could not commence safely until late morning requiring the second schedule adjustment. Competitions were moved from the originally scheduled 9 AM start to 2 PM, a move that would interfere with the 7:30 PM start of the annual Welcome Party. All scheduled Friday competitions were held except for the Open Pro seeding rounds that had to be moved to Saturday afternoon.
The Welcome Party Presented by Yuengling Brewery
For the first time, we invited the public to our annual Welcome Party. Also for the first time, we held the Welcome Party at the event venue. Since the start time of the party was scheduled for 7:30, arriving fans were treated to several rounds of live competition.as we finished the days (rescheduled) rounds. The Maurice’s BBQ Food Truck joined us with their popular menu, and Black Tie Bartending served ice cold Yuengling to those in attendance.
Long Drive Hole-In-One
We kicked off the party with a 350 Yard long drive hole-in-one challenge with a prize of $10,000. Two long drivers were picked at random (from tickets in a hat) to take 6 shots each (in 2 1/2 minute) at a 3′ circle positioned just past the 350 yard line on the grid. The circle had a Yuengling Flight flag in the center as an aim point. Should either of the hitters (Rob Henrich and Tanner Pipes) get a ball into the circle, they would split the $10,000 with a lucky fan holding the winning ticket. The crowd roared with excitement as Tanner Pipes crushed his last drive straight down the middle toward the target…only to stop just a few feet short…directly in line with the target. We will definitely do this again next year!
Flight Beer Can Challenge
New for 2024, the Welcome Party presented by Yuengling Brewery, included the Flight Beer Can Challenge. A $500 prize was offered to the hitter who could drive a ball the farthest off a Flight Beer can. We underestimated the interest! To participate, the hitters had to buy a Flight beer (or otherwise obtain a can) and use the can as a tee. The line for this competition formed early and grew as the competition ensued. To say they had a large time would be an understatement. Shark Attack Golf put up an additional $100 for the competition. Allan Peake took home $600 and currently holds the “official” world record for a golf ball hit off a Flight beer can at 322.7 yards…which was longer than any of his attempts during ULD competition. Allan has asked if we could amend the ULD competition rules to allow Flight beer can tees.
Saturday (Day #4 Competition) and Finals Under the Lights)
We began Saturday on the original schedule at 9 AM. The only schedule adjustment that had to be made for Saturday included adding the Open Men’s Pro seeding rounds into the afternoon. The event team accomplished this with minimal impact by using a built-in buffer/break time slot. The finals competition started on the originally planned schedule at 8 PM and finished with the Open Men’s Pro finals ending just before 11 PM.
World Champions
Troy Teal | Open Valor | 328.4 YDS
Kevin Bateman | Senior Valor | 305.4 YDS
Garrett Garland | M75 | 259.2 YDS
Pat Johnson | M70 | 255 YDS
Gardner Lahet | M65 | 290.1 YDS
Gary Ramirez | M60 | 300.4 YDS
Kenji Nishida | M55 | 301.4 YDS
Mark Stoneking | M50 | 301.7 YDS
Shinji Kaneko | M45 | 304.1 YDS
Francis Michel | M40 | 293 YDS
Hank Parks | M35 | 344.8 YDS
Douglas Miller | M70 Pro & M65 Pro | 268.5 & 262.5 YDS
Rick Scarfia | M60 Pro | 299 YDS
David Mobely | M55 Pro | 335.8 YDS
Jeff Crittenden | M50 Pro & M45 Pro | 336.9 & 337.9 YDS
Shinya Sawayanagi | M40 Pro | 348.6 YDS
Wes Patterson | M35 Pro | 355.8 YDS
Naoto Misumi | OM Pro | 352 YDS
Nolan Locke | OM Amateur | 331.7 YDS
Kelly Rudney | OW Pro | 309 YDS
Saki Ishi | OW Amateur | 285.5 YDS
Barbara Glass | W80 | 101 YDS
Mary Carr | W60 | 214 YDS
Melissa Smith | W50 & 45 | 258.7 & 257.5 YDS
Sara Graham | W40 & W35 | 249.5 & 261.3 YDS
Liam Poirier | U17 Boys | 328.5 YDS
Luis Fernando Castrello | U15 Boys | 318.1 YDS
Callum Mucklow | U13 Boys | 295.2 YDS
Dylan Spinnato | U11 Boys | 255.9 YDS
Jake Porter | U9 Boys | 160 YDS
Liam Norman | U7 Boys | 132.5 YDS
Chloe Jacques | U17 Girls | 282 YDS
Katelyn Pearman | U15 Girls | 206.2 YDS
Jorryn Nuckols | U13 Girls | 167.1 YDS
Brooklyn Long | U9 Girls | 127.6 YDS
Henry O’Grady | Adaptive | 200 YDS
Michael Boswell | Adaptive | 165 YDS
Charles Napinski | Adaptive | 157.5 YDS
Results
