Burke Wins World Long Drive Championship


Tim Burke powered a 427-yard shot at a critical time to win the RE/MAX World Long Drive Championship. The annual event was held for the first time at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Nevada.

Burke, a 26-year-old from Orlando, was among eight contestants. In the final, Burke beat Englishman, 2010 champion and No. 1 seed Joe Miller to take home the winner-take-all $250,000 prize.

Miller set the mark at 381 yards in the first round of three balls, but Burke bested it by 24 yards with his third drive. Miller stayed alive in the final round of three, matching Burke's 405 yards and setting the stage for Burke's final three chances.

In front of a raucous crowd, Burke's next shot flew well by Miller's ball, settling on the grid at a finals-record 427 yards and giving Burke his first title.

"That was the longest ball I think I ever hit under this kind of pressure," said Burke. "This was the best time and the biggest moment of my life, and I'm thankful to be able to come here and get the job done."

The finals standings for the semifinals and finals were:

Tim Burke, 26, Orlando, Fla.
Joe Miller, 28, London, England
Will Hogue, 27, Collierville, Tenn.
Tyler Kellett, 33,Scottsdale, Ariz.

Not advancing beyond the second set:

Aaron Mansfield, 22, Washington, Pa.
Patrick Hopper, 26, Columbia, S.C.
Jamie Sadlowski, 25, St. Paul, Alberta, Canada
Matt Hanger, 29, Anaheim, Calif.