TEAM ITALY WINS IN RECORD FASHION

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of the 2010 tournament.

The 2010 Jack Nicklaus International Invitational (JNII) concluded with its international final October 17 – 20 on Jack’s home course, The Bear’s Club in Jupiter, Florida. The international final, known as the Tournament of Champions, brings together the winners of all JNII national tournaments from around the world. The winner of the Tournament of Champions is crowned the year’s Grand Championship. This is the fifth year for this unique team golf event sponsored by Jack Nicklaus Apparel International. The 2010 JNII raised over $500,000 for local charities. Qualifying for national tournaments began in February 2010 in eight countries on five continents.

The tournament is a two-person team competition for amateur golf enthusiasts. Golfers enter JNII events in their country and vie for their national championship. The JNII promotes camaraderie, interest in the game of golf and is intended for players of all skill levels. Entrants receive an opportunity to play top courses in tournament-like conditions with a chance to win great prizes, including a VIP trip to play for their country in the Tournament of Champions on Jack’s home course. The event format gives all players a fair chance at winning valuable prizes while enjoying great golf.

At the Tournament of Champions, each player is awarded the Golden Bear Champions Blazer signifying them as their country’s national champion. They are pampered and indulged upon like golf superstars throughout their expense-paid, 6-day stay in south Florida. Their prize package includes: round trip air transportation; luxury ocean front accommodations; VIP hospitality; world-class golf on The Bear’s Club; and, mementoes to remember this once in a lifetime experience.

Ask you local Jack Nicklaus apparel representative or email info@jniigolf.com about how you can play in the 2011 event.

The final competition of the JNII is an 18-hole, two-man Scramble. The 2010 Grand Champion is the team of Gianluca Bolla and Marco Bussinello representing Italy who shot a 61 gross for a net 59.7. The Italians playing in the first group made eagle on the 18th hole in dramatic fashion to post their record score setting the bar for the other competitors. However the outcome wasn’t settled until the very last group finished. In the final pairing and with four holes to play, the teams from Indonesia and New Zealand were within one stroke of the Italians who anxiously waited in the clubhouse. While Indonesia played gallantly, they withered under the pressure down the stretch. The Kiwis wearing all black like their beloved national rugby team, came to the 525-yard, par 5 finishing hole needing birdie for the championship.

The men in black hitting their approach to the eighteenth’s island green from an almost identical spot as the “Azzurri” couldn’t duplicate the magnificent winning shot of Italian Gianluca Bolla – 200 yards out; all-water carry to a pin a mere 10 paces in from the water’s edge. Bolla stuck a 4-iron within 3 feet followed up with a testy putt for eagle.

The game New Zealanders’ shot feel just short into the water soaking their dreams of a championship. In fact, the New Zealand team seemed snake bit from the onset. They rattled the pin flag for a near ace on the par 3 third hole. The hole-in-one would have won the team US $50,000 plus given them the one stroke they needed at the end.

2010 Tournament of Champions Scoreboard

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