Sonartec Golf Congratulates Top PGA Rookies of 2004

Press Release

Posted 2004-12-13

Carlsbad, California - December 9, 2004; Sonartec Golf would like to congratulate the recently named 2004 PGA Tour Rookie of the Year finalists on their superb inaugural season. Both players have much to be proud of following their rookie seasons, as each of them placed in the Top 20 on the final money list, a rare feat on the PGA Tour.

The Rookie of the Year was, in many respects, the best story on Tour in 2004. At 38 years of age, and after several years on the Japan Tour, this player shocked the world when he beat the third-ranked player in the World to capture the 2004 British Open Championship following a thrilling 4-hole playoff. Of course, no one will soon forget the stunning chip shot he carved out with the Sonartec Md transition club to save par on the fourth playoff hole, and eventually capture the Championship.

In addition to his British Open win, the Rookie of the Year also won the Honda Classic and posted a 6th place finish at the WGC American Express Championship. He narrowly missed becoming the first rookie since Jerry Pate (1976) to complete his rookie season in the Top 10 on the money list, ultimately finishing 11th. In recognition of his stellar season, he was also invited to join the other major winners in the Grand Slam of Golf in November.

The runner-up began what looks to be a promising career on Tour by making 24 of 30 cuts in his rookie season. Featuring the SS-03 model fairway wood, he would go on to record 5 Top-10 finishes, including his first Tour victory at the BellSouth Classic. Despite not ranking among the top 200 golfers in the World at the season's onset, the runner up played his way to a 41st over all ranking, and a 19th place finish on the money list. By earning an excess of $2 million for the year, he became only the second player in Tour history to clear that number in his initial season.

In addition to their dependence upon Sonartec clubs, this rookie duo will be forever linked in Tour history by becoming only the second tandem of rookies to earn their way into the Tour Championship. Notah Begay III and Carlos Franco were the last rookies to accomplish this feat when, in 1999, each earned his way into the tournament by finishing the year among the Top 30 on the money list.

Sonartec is a Carlsbad, CA based fairway wood manufacturer. Known for their patented Driving Cavity™ Technology which creates a flat, penetrating ball flight by raising the Center of Gravity in the club head, Sonartec clubs contributed to 17 Tour victories in 2004. With 1231 clubs in play by more than 100 PGA Tour professionals, Sonartec finished the 2004 PGA Tour season as the #3 most-used fairway woods on Tour. For more information on Sonartec and its products, please visit www.sonartec.com.