Daikin to sponsor 2004 Daikin Night Golf Shootout

BY iseekgolf.com | Von Nida Tour | 2004 Queensland PGA | General | 19 Aug 2004

The event which captured so much attention at last year’s Emerald Lakes Queensland PGA Championship, the Night Golf Shootout, now has a new Naming Rights Sponsor with the world’s leading name in air conditioning, Daikin, taking sponsorship of the event for 2004.

“We at Daikin are excited about the prospect of being involved as Naming Rights Sponsor in what was clearly a very successful event last year,” said Daikin’s Queensland State Manager Gerard Cassidy. “Our close business relationship with Nifsan (the owner’s of Emerald Lakes Golf Course) makes our involvement all that more special to us.”

The event will be played under lights at the Gold Coast’s Emerald Lakes Golf Club on Monday November 8th, 2004 as a lead up to the Von Nida Tour’s Queensland PGA Championship which starts on Thursday 11th. Nine of Emerald Lake’s eighteen holes are fully floodlit for night golf.

The Daikin Night Golf Shootout will feature ten players battling it out in a format where one player per hole drops out of the contest, leaving just two players to play the final hole. The player eliminated on each hole is determined by the highest score on any hole or, in the event of a tie, the player the greatest distance from the pin in regulation. Not only is a purse of $10,000 up for grabs with the winner to receive $5000, but this year a new car is also guaranteed to the winner.

Last year, local golfer Stuart Bouvier outlasted the then New Zealand Open Champion, Mahal Pearce at the final hole to claim the first prize. Last year’s field included the likes of now USPGA Tour player and Queensland Open Champion, Scott Hend, Peter Senior, Wayne Grady, Chris Downes, Nathan Green and local lady golfer Jenny Sevil who lasted a meritorious five holes against the men and from the same tees as them, before saying goodnight.

More than 1000 spectators turned out to watch the intriguing contest and to experience the pre event entertainment. Organisers are expecting an even bigger turnout this year.

“We were absolutely delighted with the response we received from the public last year,” said David White, General Manager, Marketing & Leisure Operations, for Nifsan, “more especially as it was a new concept and the evening was a little on the cool side for November. With a greater awareness this year then there is every reason to expect even greater numbers. If you like, it is golf’s answer to one day cricket. We have a winner within two and a half hours and the fascination of these quality players going head to head with no margin for error and with the increased stake this year of a new car in addition to the prize-money, it makes for intriguing viewing.”

This year’s field will include Australian PGA Champion Peter Senior, Jacobs Creek Open runner up, Wayne Grady, plus a list of players who will take their place in the field via various qualifying criteria and sponsor invitations.