Big hitters coming to WA PGA
BY iseekgolf.com | Von Nida Tour | 2006 Western Australian PGA Championship | Preview | 24 May 2006
If anybody wanted to witness an exhibition of long driving, then the Western Australian Golf Club will be the place to be this week.
Tournament organisers have grouped arguably the three longest hitters from the Von Nida Tour together for the opening two rounds of the WA PGA Championship.
Kurt Barnes, Paul Marantz and Brad McIntosh are all know to consistently launch 300m plus drives will put on a fight for bragging rights and claim the title of undisputed long driver of the Tour.
But if there were any suggestions that their respective games were one dimensional then think again. Barnes has already claimed two Von Nida titles winning the 2004 Queensland PGA championship and the 2005 Victorian Open. McIntosh, winning last years Queensland Open and following that up with a world record equalling 59 at Emerald Lakes the next week.
Marantz confirmed his draw card status claiming his first victory in this year’s Bega Cheese NSW PGA Championship.
If you thought your body had to fit a certain stereotype to smash it over 300 metres than this group will blow that theory away.
Marantz towers above the field at 6" 5 and weighing in at 110kg’s. Barnes 6" and 94kg’s and McIntosh 5"8 and 80kg’s, the left handed New South Welshman punching well out of his weight division, but possessing the ability to go the full distance and climb to the top of his chosen career.
The bell will ring to commence their opening round on Thursday at 11:50 local time with the trio joining Kim Felton & David Diaz as the players most likely to claim the title.
Source – PGA Australia
