Grip it and rip it: Tuaone outpaces Leavitt to win Utah Long Drive

The long drive grid at Coral Canyon Golf Course, Utah Long Drive Championships, Washington, Utah, Jun. 13, 2015 | Photo by Devin Dixon

ST. GEORGE — Salt Lake City’s Ben Tuaone and St. George’s Logan Leavitt put together an epic long drive battle last weekend, with Tuaone’s 409-foot drive earning him the championship of the Utah Long Drive Competition at Coral Canyon Golf Course.

Finalists  Ben Tuaone (right) and Logan Leavitt, Utah Long Drive Championships, Washigton, Utah, Jun. 13, 2015 | Photo by Devin Dixon
Finalists Ben Tuaone (right) and Logan Leavitt, Utah Long Drive Championships, Washigton, Utah, Jun. 13, 2015 | Photo by Devin Dixon

“The finals were unbelievable,” said event host Devin Dixon of ESPN Radio 106.1 FM. “This was, perhaps, our best in 11 years of doing this. Those two guys hit four of six balls over 370 yards. It was unreal.”

For a little perspective, the best baseball players can hit a ball about 450 feet (150 yards). Top punters and passers in the NFL might be able to propel a ball 70 or 75 yards. The two Tuaone and Leavitt both hit the ball nearly three times as far as the longest home run in baseball.

 

The annual event, put on by Dixon and sponsored by Camping World of St. George, attracted

The long drive grid at Coral Canyon Golf Course, Utah Long Drive Championships, Washington, Utah, Jun. 13, 2015 | Photo by Devin Dixon
The long drive grid at Coral Canyon Golf Course, Utah Long Drive Championships, Washington, Utah, Jun. 13, 2015 | Photo by Devin Dixon

some of the best power hitter in the state of Utah. Both Tuaone and Leavitt, along with Kyle Melling, had cleared 400 yards in qualifying rounds. But it was Tuaone that outdistanced Leavitt 409-399 in the finals. Melling won the amateur division with a drive of 393 yards.

Some of the other division winners include Greg Walker in the 52-plus, Dave Watson in the 60-plus, Britney Bisgrove in the women’s and Tregg Pickup in the junior’s.

Kyle Chappell won the shootout with a chip to within four feet of the cup.

2015 LONG DRIVE FINAL RESULTS

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2015, all rights reserved.

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