Rookie Luke Donald Records First Tour Win
With Ben Hogan Apex Tour Ball & Ben Hogan Apex Irons
Chicopee, MA, November 4, 2002

Rookie Luke Donald became the 18th first-time winner on the PGA TOUR this season winning the Southern Farm Bureau Classic, and the third tour professional to win a tournament using the recently launched BEN HOGAN APEX TOUR golf ball.

The 24-year-old Donald finished with a 54-hole total of 15-under-par 201 before heavy weekend rains forced a cancellation at the Annandale Golf Club course. Donald, the 1999 NCAA champion from Northwestern who has played Ben Hogan equipment since his college days, moved into the lead with a masterful third-round of 67 Saturday to earn $468,000 for the win. His previous best finish was at the Sony Open in Hawaii where he finished 13th.

Donald’s first official PGA victory was the third of the season for the four-piece BEN HOGAN APEX TOUR golf ball, which was officially launched June 25. Donald joins Craig Parry who won the WGC-NEC Invitation and Len Mattiace who claimed his second PGA victory of the year at the FedEx St. Jude Classic.

In addition to the BEN HOGAN APEX TOUR golf ball, Donald played with BEN HOGAN APEX irons. He carried a BEN HOGAN bag and wore a BEN HOGAN hat. In addition, he wore the ETONIC AC TOUR glove.

"This win would not have been possible without the combination of the new Ben Hogan Apex Tour ball along with the Hogan Apex irons that I play,” stated Donald. “Hogan's commitment to excellence, and making the best products out there, have made me a very happy golfer and I’m grateful to Spalding for their commitment to me as a player and for making me feel part of a very special team."

“What a great way for Luke to close out his rookie season,” stated Nick Raffaele, director of tour relations for Spalding Sports Worldwide. “Given our relationship with Luke started while he was in college, we knew he was a tremendous talent and we’re pleased to see he’s already making a name for himself on the PGA Tour.”

“Luke’s win caps off a great first season for him and for the BEN HOGAN APEX TOUR ball,” added Lou Tursi, executive vice president of sales, marketing and customer service for Spalding Sports Worldwide. “This victory adds tremendous staying power to the Ben Hogan brand, given our third championship in four months for the BEN HOGAN APEX TOUR ball.”

For 50 years, the Ben Hogan brand has been inspired by Mr. Hogan’s ability to grasp the mechanics of the game and translate them into the finest instruments. The Ben Hogan Company was formed in 1953, with a quest to make golf equipment “as close to perfect as modern tools and technology would allow.” Today the team of Ben Hogan craftsmen continue to build Ben Hogan golf equipment one club at a time, ever mindful of Mr. Hogan’s vision of perfection for the equipment that bears his signature. Ben Hogan Golf manufactures BEN HOGAN APEX, APEX EDGE PRO, APEX EDGE and EDGE CFT irons and BEN HOGAN Special Wedges. In July 2002, the BEN HOGAN APEX TOUR golf ball was introduced. To find more information on Ben Hogan, visit our website at http://www.benhogan.com or call the Consumer Relations Department at 800-SPALDING (772-5346).