Oct. 27, 2006

MESQUITE, Nev. - Former Gonzaga University golfer and men's basketball player Colin Floyd will compete in the RE/MAX World Long Drive Championship at The Palms Golf Course.

Floyd qualified earlier this summer through district qualifying tournaments and will begin play Friday. He is in group seven and will face Kevin King in the first round.

Much like men's basketball and the NCAA Tournament, there are 128 golfers competing in eight brackets for the $125,000 first prize. There are 16 golfers per bracket with the eight bracket winners being featured Dec. 24 on a 90-minute special top air on ESPN. Each competitor gets six drives with the winner advancing in the bracket. Floyd is playing in the open division.

The longest winning drive is 412+ yards, the shortest winning drive is 315 yards and the longest qualifying drive is 510 yards in an event celebrating its 10th anniversary this year.

"I don't know how I'll do," Floyd said. "Hopefully I'll go out, perform well and get my name out in front of some sponsors."

Floyd said he qualified with a drive of 374 yards.

2006 RE/MAX World Long Drive Championship
Prize Money Breakdown

OPEN DIVISION
 1st	$125,000
 2nd	$50,000
 3rd	$27,500
 4th	$27,500
 5th	$12,500
 6th	$12,500
 7th	$12,500
 8th	$12,500
 9th	$6,250
10th	$6,250
11th	$6,250
12th	$6,250
13th	$3,000
14th	$3,000
15th	$3,000
16th	$3,000
17th	$3,000
18th	$3,000
19th	$3,000
20th	$3,000
21st	$3,000
22nd	$3,000
23rd	$3,000
24th	$3,000