Taking to the Tee with the New Zealand Long Blacks Nelson Golf Club welcomed the New Zealand Long Blacks and XDL competitors to the annual XDL South Island Championship over the weekend. Last year’s long lockdown in Auckland postponed the event from taking place so the 2021 title was held on Sunday 10th April just in time for the NEW season to start. The Club has been working with our National Team of big drivers since 2020 just before the global pandemic hit. The New Zealand Long Blacks owner Olna Ford has shown her commitment to the club through investing as Major Sponsor to the Nelson Pro Am since 2020 and looks to continue building her relationship with Nelson making this the destination of one of her biggest XDL events. The IGANZ North vs South Island Championship has been a feature on the sporting calendar since 2017 and marks history for the sport of Long Drive and with the New Zealand Long Blacks. The North Island Champion Sam Jones took to the tee vs South Island Champion Grieg Mooney, for the New Zealand title 2021, with a fierce playoff. IGANZ Golden Cap, Sam Jones took out the New Horizon XDL New Zealand Championship 2021 title driving a giant 318 metres against South Island Champion Mr Grieg Mooney, who drove 313 metres. Sam Jones is known as the 1st New Zealand Long Black and the 1st IGANZ Long Drive Champion 2017. The Masters division win went to New Zealand Long Blacks Captain and current North Island Champion, Paul West who automatically named the New Horizon XDL (Masters) New Zealand Championship 2021 after winning the South Island title with a 304 metre drive against runner up Ben Crawford. Phillis Meti, current North Island XDL Champion and Captain of the New Zealand Long Blacks (Women’s team) automatically took the New Horizon XDL (Women’s) New Zealand 2021 title after winning the South Island XDL Champs. Phillis received a Queen’s Honour on February 17th and the New Zealand Long Blacks were nominated for a Halberg (team of the year) seen in media last December, so the team are making waves for the sport both Nationally and Internationally. IGANZ Xtreme Drivers League is set to bring more attention to the sport with a bigger National XDL Championship planned in 2022. The help of local sponsors will certainly get the ball rolling and with pandemic restrictions lifting the players are eager to get into the swing of the 2022 season, starting this Easter weekend. South Island XDL Championship 2021 Results; Men’s Open - Greig Mooney - Winner Nick Hanna - 2nd Sam Jones - 3rd Sam Jones - New Zealand XDL Men’s Open Champion 2021 Masters - Paul West - Winner Ben Crawford - 2nd Ewen Milne - 3rd Paul West - New Zealand XDL Masters Champion 2021 Women’s - Phillis Meti -Winner Susan Rooney - 2nd Lily Broadbridge - 3rd Phillis Meti - New Zealand XDL Women’s Champion 2021 New Horizon XDL New Zealand Champion (Playoff) Sam Jones (North Island XDL Champion 2021 vs Grieg Mooney (South Island XDL Champion 2021) Winner and New Horizon 2021 New Zealand Champion - Sam Jones (318 meters)