WLD Open Division champion Will Hogue (left) and Phillis Meti, WLD Women's Division champion with their trophies. Photo courtesy of The Ak-Chin O’odham Runner newspaper.
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Photo courtesy of the Ak-Chin O’odham Runner Newspaper
Top golf competitors came to the Ak-Chin Indian Community in May for the first-ever World Long Drive Ak-Chin Smash in the Sun event. Crowds of spectators also came to view the event. World Long Drive (WLD) contests bring golfers from around the country and the world, all trying their best to hit the golf ball as far and as straight as possible. “It’s like the home run derby for golf,” said Brady Wilson, general manager for Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club, according to The Ak-Chin O’odham Runner newspaper. The World Long Drive is now one of three nationally televised golf events in Arizona along with the Champions Tour events and the Waste Management Phoenix Open. Each WLD contestant paid $40 each and had eight swings to show his/her ability in the preliminary rounds, which sold out both days. The competition began Friday, May 11 with the Open Division preliminary and final qualifying, which continued into Saturday. Saturday also hosted the Masters Division preliminary, semifinals, and finals. The Finals, held on Tuesday, were televised live on Golf Channel. This was the Ak-Chin Indian Community’s first nationally televised event according to The Ak-Chin O’odham Runner newspaper.
Photo courtesy of The Ak-Chin O’odham Runner newspaper
Ak-Chin Southern Dunes hosted a Pro-Am golf tournament Tuesday morning, and back at Ak-Chin Circle Field, the Women’s Division preliminary and qualifying rounds were held, with the competition ultimately featuring 32 male and 16 female contestants. This year’s male winner was Will Hogue, a firefighter from Memphis, Tennessee, and the female winner was Phillis Meti from Auckland, New Zealand. This event was hosted at the Ak-Chin Circle Field next to the UltraStar Multi-tainment Center at Ak-Chin Circle on a natural grass grid specifically designed for the event. The Ak-Chin Indian Community has committed, along with Golf Channel, to host the World Long Drive tour event next year as well. If you missed this year’s event, make sure to come out and experience the excitement in 2019![/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
Photo courtesy of the Ak-Chin O'odham Runner Newspaper
WLD Open Division champion Will Hogue (left) and Phillis Meti, WLD Women's Division champion with their trophies. Photo courtesy of The Ak-Chin O’odham Runner newspaper.
Photo courtesy of The Ak-Chin O’odham Runner newspaper
Carolyn Sostrom is a long-time Arizona resident who loves desert sunsets, warm weather, Zumba, and the Western lifestyle. She attended Saguaro High School in Scottsdale and then Arizona State University, earning a bachelor’s degree in journalism. Similarly to the protagonist in *The Devil Wears Prada*, Carolyn moved to New York City right after college. She started working for the fashion magazine company Conde Nast but never transitioned to the dark side. After a few years, she left New York in the rearview mirror and returned to her home state, taking a reporter job at the *Apache Junction Independent*. With over 30 years of freelance writing experience, Carolyn especially enjoys writing about community events and profiling individuals who are making a difference in their communities. She had the pleasure of interviewing a variety of cowboy personalities for an article she wrote for the *Scottsdale Independent* about the history of DC Ranch and its roots as a working ranch. Now, her Western adventures with CLN have her diving into the rugged automotive scene, exploring the trucks and rigs cowboys rely on for work, home, and play, a niche where grit meets horsepower. She works at Raising Special Kids, a nonprofit resource center for families of children with disabilities and special healthcare needs. Carolyn also volunteers with the Autism Society of Greater Phoenix. Carolyn believes that everyone has a story, and she loves connecting with others to hear their stories. She’s dedicated to ethical journalism and accurate reporting, which shines through in her storytelling.
