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PowerPlay Golf Event At Celtic Manor A Huge Success

May 31, 2011 | Filed Under: General NewsEvents & Tournaments   Share

Celtic Manor, Wales, UK - Golf legend and world renowned golf course designer Gary Player headlined a stellar field for the first ever PowerPlay Golf event held yesterday, May 30th, at historic Celtic Manor in Wales.  Swedish golfer Caroline Hedwall became the first ever Tour pro to capture a PowerPlay event winning in dramatic fashion with a late barrage of six-point PowerPlay birdies. 

Hedwall triumphed over a star studded field including current US Open Champions Graeme McDowell and Paula Creamer, Ryder Cup stars Ian Poulter and Paul Casey, Major Champions John Daly, Ian Woosnam and Helen Alfredsson and 18-time Major Champion Gary Player.

Over nine selected holes on Celtic Manor’s Twenty Ten Course, and in front of a large crowd, the early pace setters were American LPGA Tour star Paula Creamer and young French European Tour rookie Victor Dubuisson. When Creamer failed to convert a last-hole PowerPlay birdie, attention turned to Hedwall, who amassed an incredible 18 points on the final three holes with three successive PowerPlay 6-point birdies, including a clutch 15-foot putt on the final hole.

Hedwall’s compatriot Helen Alfredsson and world number 12 Ian Poulter – who almost eagled the last after driving the green – both came with a late charge, matching Hedwall’s last-hole PowerPlay birdie, but the young Swede prevailed to take the £100,000 first prize.

“That was a lot of fun. I was in the middle of the pack with three to play but knew I still had a chance with PowerPlays in reserve. I was very nervous on the first tee but playing with Ian Poulter and Helen Alfredsson was a great experience” commented Hedwall, who donated 50% of her prize money to the Swedish Golf Federation in recognition of the support they gave her as an elite amateur. The victory caps a memorable few days for Hedwall, who secured her first Ladies European Tour victory on Sunday at the Allianz Slovak Ladies Open.

Hedwall’s fellow competitors enjoyed the way that PowerPlay Golf is set up to bring drama to the closing holes. “I like to have fun on the golf course and the PowerPlay format is volatile. You can get back into contention with some big plays towards the end,” commented 2011 World Matchplay Champion Ian Poulter.

Ryder Cup player Paul Casey said “The course was set up very well by PowerPlay Golf. It looks like the girls have given us a good beating today and made better decisions so fair play to them. This was great fun.”
Gary Player loved the emphasis the format places on course management. “Amateur golfers don’t realise how important course management is. Jack and Tiger won Majors with excellent course management and a strong mental game. PowerPlay Golf is going to teach amateur golfers a great deal about when to take a risk and when to shoot for par.”

And current U.S Open Champion Graeme McDowell Tweeted: “Got absolutely spanked by the girls today. Lots of fun and a great concept.”

The three-hour tournament was broadcast live to over 30 countries, ensuring that PowerPlay Golf’s new nine-hole format reached a broad audience of golf fans and sports enthusiasts. Saab GB Marketing Director David Pugh said: “It was a fantastic debut event and we look forward to working with PowerPlay Golf to develop this exciting new form of the sport. Our congratulations go to Sweden’s new star Caroline Hedwall for her impressive victory!”
Working together with international sports marketing giants IMG, PowerPlay Golf will now take its tour pro series to two further continents – Asia and North America - later in 2011. Both events will once again feature an eclectic twelve-person field of male and female Tour stars of all ages.

Multi-sports group Convers Sports Initiatives, which acquired a controlling interest in PowerPlay Golf in November 2010, believes the televised events will act as a catalyst for the format’s roll-out throughout the global amateur game. Chairman Vladimir Antonov said “We are creating a network of PowerPlay Golf Official Venues so that amateur golfers all over the world can play the game. Superstars such as those who played at The Celtic Manor Resort yesterday are superb role models, and set the example of how exciting PowerPlay Golf can be.”

With planned collaborations with the National Golf Federations and Governing bodies around the world and with over 70% of golfers in a recent survey stating that they would watch and play a shorter format of the game, PowerPlay Golf looks set to become an invigorating force in golf. “We have made a great start but yesterday’s tournament is only the beginning. We want to drive participation in all golfing countries and bring much needed extra revenue into golf clubs” stated Executive Director Peter McEvoy MBE.

The entire event will be re-broadcast on The Golf Channel on Tuesday May 31 at 8:00 pm.

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