Inspired by the Topgolf Experience, Nine Co-Ed Teams Battle in Innovative Golf Channel Shotmaking Competition
Shotmakers
Sizzle: www.Shotmakers.com
ORLANDO, Fla., –
Shotmakers, an
innovative new golf competition where precision shotmaking meets
intense strategy in a fast-paced format, was announced today. Premiering
Monday, April 9 at
9 p.m. ET on Golf Channel, Shotmakers will feature the
fun, social experience for which Topgolf is known, blending
entertainment, golf and technology throughout the competition. The
announcement was made today by Phil Piazza, Golf Channel senior
vice president of programming and Topgolf Media President YuChiang
Cheng.
Surrounded by the Topgolf experience in
Las Vegas,
nine co-ed teams of two will pair up in head-to-head
competitions that test precision, distance and control, all while
facing intense pressure and strategic decision-making. The 18
competitors include a former PGA TOUR professional, mini-tour
professional golfers, an Olympian, former collegiate athletes, a former
World No. 1 World Long Drive competitor, a trick-shot artist, decorated
military veterans, and champions from the Topgolf Tour.
“Shotmakers
is a great opportunity to introduce a progressive approach to golf
competition, featuring dynamic personalities from across the sports
landscape,” said Phil Piazza, Golf Channel senior vice president of
programming. “Shotmakers also will showcase
what Topgolf has been doing for 17 years – evolving the narrative around golf and redefining golf participation.”
The competition will utilize
Toptracer
by Topgolf, the leading technology used on PGA TOUR televised
broadcasts that immediately shows players their ball’s flight, speed,
distance and curve on screen, as well as the games made popular at the
41 Topgolf venues around the world. Teams will compete for cash and
prizes in each competition and will be eliminated
until one team is left standing as the champion of Shotmakers.
“Topgolf is proud to partner with Golf Channel for
Shotmakers. This show advances our mutual commitment to growing
the game through original content that inspires and entertains our
audiences,” said Topgolf Media President YuChiang Cheng. “Through
Shotmakers, Topgolf blends our unique brand experience with sports, creating compelling content that can be enjoyed by everyone.”
Shotmakers is co-hosted by 3-time college national player of the year Amanda Blumenherst and golf host Shane
Bacon, along with Golf Channel reporter Chantel McCabe and social media correspondent Alexandra O’Laughlin.
Shotmakers will feature seven rounds of competition airing two
nights a week– Monday and Tuesday nights – at 9 p.m. ET beginning April 9
and concluding April 30. The series will also be distributed across
Golf’s international platforms, airing in more
than 60 countries worldwide.
IMPACT,
sponsored by CDW:
SUSANA BENAVIDES (27, Cochabamba, Bolivia) Professional golfer, only Bolivian-born golfer to compete on the
LPGA Tour, former top-ranked amateur in South America.
TOMMY BIERSHENK (44, Greenville, S.C.) Former PGA TOUR professional, two-time All-American at Clemson University,
golf course owner.
SHARKS,
sponsored by Corona Premier:
TANIA TARE (29, Auckland, New Zealand) Professional golfer, trick-shot artist, record-holder for lowest single
round while competing for Florida International University with a 63.
MAURICE ALLEN (36, Pine Hills, Fla.) Former World No. 1 World Long Drive competitor, 3-time World Long Drive
winner, All-American at Florida A&M in track.
STRIKERS,
sponsored by Travelocity:
VICTORIA LOVELADY (31, Sao Paolo, Brazil) Professional golfer currently competing on the Symetra and Ladies
European Tour, Olympian who represented Brazil in 2016 Rio Olympics.
ROBBIE BIERSHENK (41, Greenville, S.C.) Driving range owner, former mini-tour player, featured on Golf Channel’s
Chasing the Dream series.
LIGHTNING,
sponsored by MGM Grand:
KENZIE O’CONNELL (26, Denver, Colo.) Golf teaching instructor,
Women With Drive ambassador.
CHAD PFEIFER (36, Caldwell, Idaho) Professional golfer, decorated U.S. Army Corporal (retired) who credits
golf saving his life, two-time Warrior Open champion, amputee (lower leg).
SEEKERS,
sponsored by Waste Management
CHRISTINA LECUYER (35, Conway, Ark.) Professional corporate/charity golf host and media personality, two-time
All-American from the University of Central Arkansas, former professional golfer.
MATT COUSENS (26, London, England) PGA teaching professional, 2017 Topgolf Tour Championship runner-up with
fellow Shotmakers competitor Brad Barnes.
WARRIORS,
sponsored by Avis:
NIKKI BONDURA (25, Sacramento, Calif.) Golf lifestyle blogger, co-owner of
Women With Drive.
BRAD BARNES (23, London, England) 2017 Topgolf Tour Championship runner-up with fellow
Shotmakers competitor Matt Cousens.
ACES,
sponsored by Topgolf:
TISHA ABREA (24, Murrieta, Calif.) Professional golfer competing on the mini-tours in 2018, co-owner of
Women With Drive.
JAMIE PUTERBAUGH (33, Carlsbad, Calif.) PGA of America professional and teaching instructor, 2016-17 Topgolf
Tour Championship finalist with fellow Shotmakers competitor Peter Campbell.
RINGERS,
sponsored by Massage Envy:
HAILEY OSTROM (24, Phoenix, Ariz.) Professional golfer currently competing on mini tours.
ANDREW BACHELDER (36, Fort Worth, Texas) 2015 Warrior Open champion, decorated U.S. Marine Corps Sergeant
(retired) who credits golf with saving his life.
HAWKS,
sponsored by Topgolf:
CHELSEA PEZZOLA (25, Scottsdale, Ariz.) Professional golfer, standout junior golfer at IMG Academy, two-time
Academic All-Big Ten at University of Michigan.
PETER CAMPBELL (33, Carlsbad, Calif.) Former PGA TOUR professional, golf instructor, 2016-17 Topgolf Tour
Championship finalist with fellow Shotmakers competitor Jamie Puterbaugh.
About Topgolf
Topgolf
pioneered a technology to make golf more fun and engaging. It has since
emerged as a global sports and entertainment community focused on
connecting people in meaningful ways. Today,
Topgolf continues to blend technology and entertainment, golfers and
non-golfers, children and adults – to create an experience that makes
socializing a sport for everyone. No matter the occasion or who you
share it with, we believe every great time starts
with play, is fueled by food and beverage, moved by music and made
possible through community. Every Topgolf venue features dozens of
high-tech, climate-controlled hitting bays for year-round comfort, a
chef-inspired menu for year-round deliciousness and hundreds
of Associates eager to help create the moments that matter. Topgolf is
truly everyone’s game, with 41 venues entertaining more than 13 million
Guests annually, original content shows, next-gen simulator lounges
through Topgolf Swing Suite, the global Topgolf
Tour competition, pop-up experiences like Topgolf Crush, Toptracer
technology as seen on TV, and the world’s largest digital golf audience.
For more information about Topgolf, including corporate sponsorships,
hospitality opportunities or to learn about and
view exclusive digital content, please visit topgolf.com.
About Golf Channel
Golf
Channel is a multimedia, golf entertainment and services company based
in Orlando, Fla. Serving the most-affluent audience in all of
television, Golf Channel – co-founded by Arnold Palmer
in 1995 and now part of NBC Sports Group – is available to nearly 500
million viewers in 78 countries and nine languages around the world.
Golf Channel features more live golf coverage than all other networks
combined, including tournament action from the
PGA TOUR, LPGA Tour, The Open, Olympics, and Ryder Cup, as well as
high-quality news, instruction and original programming. Delivering
unmatched coverage of the world of golf, fans are able to enjoy 24/7
live streaming of Golf Channel content through
Golf Channel Digital
and the
NBC Sports App, powered by Playmaker Media. In addition,
Golf Channel connects the world to golf through a wide array of digital and lifestyle services including
Golf Channel Mobile,
a comprehensive app covering golf’s latest headlines, scores and analysis;
GolfNow, the world’s
largest online tee time booking platform and golf course technology partner, which includes the
GolfNow Mobile App, featuring on-course
GPS tracking, in-round scoring and game tracking; Revolution Golf,
the largest direct-to-consumer digital platform in golf ; GolfAdvisor.com,
the world’s largest golf course ratings and review resource for golfers, by golfers; a North American network of
Golf Channel Academy instructional
facilities; and Golf Channel Am Tour,
the world’s largest amateur golf tour; and as the Official Media Partner of
St. Andrews Links, the Home of Golf.
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