May 19, 2008
Nike Golf Emerges Triumphant Again with Big Wins in Japan and Ireland -Nike Golf's Shingo Katayama wins a Major Championship on the Japan Golf Tour and Richard Finch Grabs title on the PGA European Tour-
The amazing momentum for Nike Golf continues to soar as it stacks up two international victories over the weekend bringing to 10 the total number of wins in 2008. Nike Golf athletes Shingo Katayama and Richard Finch won on the Japan Golf Tour and the PGA European Tour, respectively.
About Shingo Katayama's Win
Nike Golf Tour athlete Shingo Katayama won the first major championship of the year on the Japan Golf Tour, the Japan PGA Championship. This major championship victory catapulted him to the number one ranking on the Japan Golf Tour money list. Katayama was in complete control of the tournament evidenced by his six-stroke victory, making only one bogey in the entire tournament, and posting a new tournament record low score of 23-under-par. Katayama, who now has 24 career victories on the Japan Golf Tour, including six major championship titles, switched to Nike Golf's SQ SUMO driver and the new Nike ONE Platinum Ball following The Masters Tournament, where fellow Nike Golf Tour athlete, Trevor Immelman was victorious.
About Richard Finch's Win
Nike Golf Tour Staff member Richard Finch was crowned Irish Open champion after a near faultless round of golf on one of the most challenging courses the PGA European Tour has to offer. This is his second win in 2008. For Finch's win, he used Nike's new ONE Black Ball and the Nike SQ SUMO 5000 driver, the newest addition to his Nike Golf arsenal.
With the incredible success enjoyed by Nike Golf's Tour staff so far in the 2008 Tour season, Nike Golf is well on track to potentially repeat the Tour dominance it had in 2006 and 2007 when it captured the most driver, irons and fairway wood wins on the PGA Tour.
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Katayama's Japan PGA Championship Highlights
· This win is Katayama's first of the year and places him first on the money list · Katayama is one win away from lifetime exemption on the JGTO
· Katayama's 23 under par (265) at the Japan PGA Championship is a record low for the tournament · Katayama finished the weekend with only one bogey during the tournament · At the 2008 Masters on the PGA Tour, Katayama added the Nike SasQuatch Sumo 5 iron to his bag as well as the Nike One Platinum ball featuring Power Transfer Technology · This is the second time Katayama has won the Japan PGA Championship
Katayama's Nike Golf Arsenal
· Driver: Nike SQ SUMO · Irons: Nike SQ Sumo 5 iron, Pro Combo Tour 6-9, Forged Blade PW · Fairway Woods: Nike SQ 5-wood (19 degrees) and Nike SQ 7-wood (21 degrees) · Wedges: Nike SV Tour 52˚ and Nike SV Tour 58˚ · Ball: Nike ONE Platinum featuring Nike Power Transfer Technology · Footwear: Nike Golf · Apparel: Nike Golf · Glove: Nike Golf's Dri-FIT Tour _______________________________________________________________________________________
Finch's Irish Open Highlights
· With Finch's win at the Irish Open, he becomes the second multiple winner of the 2008 European Tour season, following Tiger Woods (Dubai Desert Classic and World Golf Championships - Accenture Match Play) · This win secures Finch a place in the 2008 World Golf Championships - Bridgestone Invitational · The new addition of the Sumo 5000 driver in his bag, paired with the Nike One Black ball, led Finch to 5th (72.2 %) in Greens in Regulation at the Irish Open.
Finch's Nike Golf Arsenal
· Driver: Nike SQ SUMO 5000 · Irons: Nike Forged Blades (2-PW) · Fairway Woods: Nike SQ 3-wood (15 degrees) · Wedges: Nike SV Tour 53˚ and Nike SV Tour 60˚ · Ball: Nike ONE Black featuring Nike Power Transfer Technology · Footwear: Nike Air Zoom Elite · Apparel: Nike Golf · Glove: Nike Golf's Dri-FIT Tour
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Nike Golf's 2008 PGA Tour Victories
· Tiger Woods - Buick Invitational · K.J. Choi - Sony Open · Tiger Woods - World Golf Championships - Accenture Match Play Championship · Tiger Woods - Arnold Palmer Invitational · Trevor Immelman - The Masters · Anthony Kim - The Wachovia Championship
Nike Golf's 2008 International Victories
· Tiger Woods - Dubai Desert Classic · Richard Finch - New Zealand Open · Shingo Katayama - Japan Pro Championship · Richard Finch - Irish Open
_____________________________________________________________________________________ Located in Beaverton, Oregon, Nike Golf designs and markets golf equipment, apparel, balls, footwear, bags and accessories worldwide. Nike Golf is passionately dedicated to honouring and respecting the traditions and heritage of the game, and to providing committed golfers with the absolute best equipment in the game. In 2008, Nike Golf has six PGA Tour wins and 31 top-10 finishes and four international victories. In 2007, Nike Golf had 13 PGA Tour wins, seven Nationwide Tour victories and eight international titles. For the last two years, Nike Golf has led the PGA Tour in driver, fairway woods and iron wins. For more information on Nike Golf, visit our Web site at www.nikegolf.ca. Editors seeking editorial information and downloadable images, visit www.nikegolf.com/presscenter. # # # For information on Nike Golf Canada,
please contact: Tim O'Connor
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