Kyle Berkshire and Monica Lieving capture World Long Drive Championships
24 Oct 2023
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Kyle Berkshire (COBRA Golf Photo)
For the third time in his six-year career, Kyle Berkshire is a world champion. The world No. 1 captured the World Long Drive Championship belt at Bobby Jones Golf Course in Atlanta on Sunday, outdriving No. 8 Sean Johnson 398 to 397 yards in the Final.
Along with Berkshire, world No. 2 Monica Lieving earned her first career world championship, beating No. 1 Phillis Meti in the finals.
Monica Lieving and Kyle Berkshire
Berkshire’s experience on the biggest stage came into play in his quarterfinal match-up against No. 3 Justin James. Berkshire needed to beat James’ 393-yard drive but the Crofton, Maryland, native had yet to put any of his first five attempts on the grid.
His sixth and final ball of the quarterfinals traveled 432 yards, his furthest of the final day, to push Berkshire to the semifinals. He outdrove No. 5 Zack Holton by five yards (398 to 393) in the semifinals to reach the final against Johnson.
The WLD Championship was Berkshire’s first win of 2023.
Lieving’s day started with a 319-yard blast in the quarterfinals to take down world No. 4 Kelly Rudney. She met Alexis Belton, an Atlanta native competing in her first event in four years, in the semifinals. Lieving outdrove Belton 349 yards to 302.
Atlanta resident Meti crushed a drive in her quarterfinal set, hitting the longest shot of the event in the Women’s Division: 382 yards. She was unable to put a ball in play in the final, meaning Lieving needed one ball in play, and she did just that.
Lieving won three of six events in 2023.
Earlier in the week, Ryan Reisbeck captured the World Long Drive Senior Division championship, the first world championship of his 13-year career.
Miscellaneous
Kyle Berkshire with his COBRA Driver
Kyle Berkshire joins Jason Zuback and Sean Fister as the only competitors to win three or more world championships.
Semifinalist James Tait hit the longest drive of the event at 452 yards. That drive was in the quarterfinals to beat Bryce Verplank, a two-time winner this year.
Phillis Meti’s 382-yard drive in the quarterfinals was the longest of the year in the Women’s Division.
Recap courtesy of The Golf Wire