BEAVERTON, Ore. (September 27, 2004) - Nike Golf's Craig Stadler became the first player in more than six years on the senior circuit to win three consecutive Champions Tour starts...all since switching to Nike Golf's new One Black golf ball. Stadler set a tournament record with his 17-under-par total at the SAS Championship in Cary, N.C. this weekend.
Meanwhile on the PGA Tour, Nike Golf's Stewart Cink continued his career-best year by finishing second at the 84 Lumber Classic just a stroke off the lead. Cink overhauled his bag this year, adding Nike Golf's Ignite Driver, Pro Combo Utility Iron and One Black golf ball while testing versions of Nike Golf's new OZ T100 putter throughout the year.
Stadler averaged 285.3 yards off the tee at the SAS Championship, which was among the top four. He has averaged more than 293 yards off the tee in his past 10 rounds, a Tour best, all since switching to the One Black.
In his last start, Stadler led the field at the inaugural First Tee Open at Pebble Beach in scoring with a 15-under par 201, and in driving, averaging 305 yards off the tee. The week prior, Stadler won the Jeld-Wen Classic and led that field in driving distance, as well. However, some would argue that the phenomenal streak he is on did not begin until after the second round of the Jeld-Wen, after Stadler made a switch to the One Black. He upped his driving average by more than 14 yards in the third and fourth rounds versus the first and second rounds. He also overcame a 12-stroke deficit that he faced when he began the third round with One Black in hand.
Stadler, who has now captured five wins on the Champions Tour in 2004, joins fellow Tour Staff players Stephen Ames, Rory Sabbatini, Trevor Immelman, Grace Park, Bo Van Pelt and Cink having tremendous success with Nike Golf's new Nike One Gold and Nike One Black golf balls.
His five wins on the year top his career best from 1982 when he won four times on the PGA Tour. The win also fortified Stadler's lead in the Charles Schwab Cup point standings.
Cink rallied from five strokes back in the final round to close within one of the eventual winner at the 84 Lumber Classic. He now has ten Top 10 finishes on the PGA Tour in 25 starts and is just $150,000 shy of being in the Top 5 on the 2004 Money List.
Cink is having a stellar year with the combination of Nike Golf's 410cc Ignite Driver and the One Black. He also carries the new Pro Combo Utility Iron (20-degree), what Cink refers to as his 2-iron. The hybrid iron has a 70-gram Tungsten weighting in the rear of the head, promoting optimal launch conditions. It will be available in the U.S. beginning October 1.
Rounding out Cink's bag: Pro Combo Forged 3-iron; Nike prototype half-cavity irons (4-9); Nike forged blade pitching wedge; 54-degree and 60-degree Forged Wedges.
The One Black is designed for maximum distance and reduced excess spin while the One Black player places a premium on low-spin and high launch conditions, and prefers a crisp feel with more penetrating trajectory.
The One Black is a three-piece/two-cover golf ball with an oversized Nd catalyzed polybutadiene core, a high repulsion dynaron ionomer inner cover and a high-velocity injected TPU outer cover. The penetrating mid-trajectory of the One Black comes from Nike's exclusive 408 Seamless dimple pattern.
Stadler and Cink were both sporting selections from Nike Golf's Sport Performance footwear collection and had the ultimate performance in hand with Nike Golf's Dri-FIT Tour glove.
Media Contact:
Dean Stoyer - Nike Golf
(503) 532-6018
Dean.Stoyer@nike.com
