2002 Laughlin Memorial Hospital
Tennessee Long Drive Shootout
 and Pro-Am Tournament
Californian Wins Long Drive Tournament

                                                                      
Photo by Phil Gentry as Frank Miller takes his swing during the Tennessee Long Drive Shoot-Out finals at Link Hills Monday afternoon. In the background is local long drive professional Bart Hartsell, one of the organizers of the event. Miller won the second annual event.

By: By WAYNE PHILLIPS/Sports Editor Source: The Greeneville Sun 06-11-2002

A California boy with a golden smile captured the Tennessee Long Drive Shoot-Out at Link Hills Country Club Monday afternoon.

Frank Miller, aptly nicknamed 'Hollywood' although he’s really from Tustin Ranch, Calif., beat defending champion Brian Pavlet of Litchfield Park, Ariz., in a three-ball 'hit-off' after the two were within two inches of each other with their booming drives during competition earlier in the day.

Described by fellow long drive pro Mike Moulton as the Californian with the best smile on the tour, Miller wasn’t really grinning too much after he discovered that he was going to have to win a 'hit-off' with Pavlet, despite the fact his drive had come to rest two inches farther than had Pavlet’s during the competition.

The Long Drivers Association has a rule that says that two balls that stop within two inches of each other are considered a tie and a 'hit-off' must be held to determine the champ. Event organizer Bart Hartsell broke the news to Miller.

'I didn’t know we had that rule in this event,' Miller said. 'I had never been involved in a ‘hit-off’ before. I wanted to hit just one ball in the ‘hit-off’ because I have a lot of confidence in my first shot, but Brian wanted to hit three balls.'

Since each finalist wanted something different, Hartsell had a drawing to determine if the players would hit one ball or three, and three was the winner.

Sure enough, Miller’s first whack with his Titleist driver carried 353 yds. and stayed within the grid at the Link Hills No. 17 fairway. That shot proved to be the winner as all three of Pavlet’s balls bounded out of the grid.

'It all worked out,' Miller said. 'I want to thank everybody who put this tournament on. It was a great event and a very tough one to win because of the number of good players. You had to beat some of the world’s best long drivers to win it.'

Miller earned $7,000 for his first place finish, while Pavlet collected $4,000 as runnerup. Miller will actually pocket only $6,000 for the title, as he gave $1,000 of his winnings back to Laughlin Memorial Hospital’s Infant Toddler Program.

'I had promised Betty (Weemes, director of the Laughlin Health Care Foundation) that if I won this thing, I would give the Infant Toddler Program a thousand dollars, so I’m going to keep my word,' he said when the tension of the 'hit-off' was over.

Miller said he missed last year’s inaugural Tennessee Long Drive Shoot-Out because of a bout with food poisoning, but he tries to attend all the long drive events that come up.

'I’ve been doing this for about 10 years,' he said. 'I’ve been fortunate to win a few.' Miller is the 1991 national champion, has been a finalist seven times in the Re/Max championship, and has been to the World Finals five straight years.

The event brought together three of the top four long drive professionals in the world. Pavlet is ranked No. 2, Brian Nash is No. 3 and Moulton is ranked No. 4. The top 12 professionals advanced to Monday’s finals from qualifying on Sunday afternoon, and a good crowd of fans were on hand to lend support to the event.

Derek 'Big' Foote of Wilmington, N.C., took the early lead by pounding one that stayed inside the grid just over 350 yds. away. That stood up until Brian Pavlet nailed one 372 yds., 1 ft., 11 inches.

Local favorite Bart Hartsell boomed one that carried some 380 yds., but unfortunately it rolled out of bounds along the left side of the grid and didn’t count.

Chad Roberts of Millen, Ga. (366 yds.), Brent Surratt of North Carolina (364 yds.) and the 'Croatian Crusher,' Tomislav Kralj of Dublin, Calif. (368 yds.) also put on a show. Miller then took the lead with his shot of 372 yds., 2 ft. and 1 inch, two inches farther than Pavlet’s shot.

The remaining finalists -- J.D. Nater, Steve McGann and Brian Nash -- were unable to better that feat, so Miller and Pavlet went to the playoff.

The day began early for the professionals as they participated in a pro-am tournament. Revenue from that event will benefit the Infant Toddler Program at Laughlin Hospital.

The Greeneville Federal Bank team of Bobby Wells, Bob Taliaferro, Ralph Boswell and Bryan Ricker won the Pro-Am Tournament. Bart Hartsell shot a 63 to win the professional tournament.

Bobby Wells also won the amateur long drive shoot-out with a drive of 297 yds., edging Brian Stayton and Tim Witt.

More Photographs of the event can be seen at: 
http://billwinters.tripod.com/TennesseeShootout2002/TennesseeShootout2002.htm