If you were one of the fortunate attendees at the ING Fall Forum in beautiful Mesquite Oct. 15-18, you know how blessed you are.
If you passed it up this year, you best make plans to be there next year, when the event will move into early November.
Why all the fuss? Along with the terrific networking, educational and golf elements that go into your typical ING gathering, the Fall Forum was attached to an event that those of us who attended will not soon forget.
The ParaLong Drive Worlds were conducted on the Long Drive Grid in Mesquite. Competitors from around the world, with various physical challenges – leg and arm amputees, vision-impaired, wheel-chaired bound – fired long drives over four days until champions were crowned in 16 divisions.
The Open Division and overall champion was defending champion Jared Brentz, a double-leg-amputee who blasted a 344-yarder to take home the trophy. Everybody who competed can feel like a winner in this special event.
Mesquite, also home to the Re/Max World Long Drive Championships, is a gem of a golf destination located one hour north of Las Vegas off Highway 15. Four hotels, three casinos and seven outstanding golf courses with spectacular views make Mesquite a perfect getaway for golf groups and couples, especially when you compare the pricing to other resort destinations.
Held in conjunction with the ParaLong Drive Worlds was the ING Fall Forum, hosted by the beautiful Casablanca Resort-Casino-Golf-Spa, A group of media and business leaders competed in two golf events at the Oasis Canyons and Falcon Ridge courses, and attended a technology summit featuring the latest equipment to assist disabled golfers.
For a video interview with event creator Dean Jarvis, click here:
http://www.kutv.com/news/features/top-stories/stories/18-year-old-gives-athletes-a-second-chance-with-robotic-limbs-51253.shtml#.VEMD2igRHLA
For more results, photos and player bios go to:
http://paralongdrive.org/results/
https://www.facebook.com/MesquiteNVParaLongDrive
Results of the 2014 Mesquite NV ParaLong Drive Worlds, Oct. 15-17 presented by Eureka Casino Resort and produced by the Mesquite NV Local Organizing Committee
ParaLong Drive 
World Champion Open Division: Jared Brentz, Nashville, Tenn.
Open Division Title Match: Brentz, 340 yards vs. Tim Herrmann, Belle Plaine, Minn. 334 yards. Open Division Semi-Final (Top six drives): First group–Herrmann 325 (winner advances); Brendon Jacks, Prescott Valley, Ariz. 314, Scott Aughtry, Hot Springs Village, Ark. 288; Second group-Brentz 352 (winner advances); Josh Williams, Kitchener, Canada 345; J. Dee Marinko, New Castle, Okla. 316.
Divisional World Champions
Triple Amputee: Paul Hebert, St. Albert, Alberta, Canada 239
Traumatic Brain Injury: Humberto Reyna, Liberty, N.C. 255
Hypermobile: Rene Olgers, Aalsmeer, Netherlands 296
Women-One-Arm Unassisted: Kellie Valentine, Erie, Pa. 224
Women-One-Arm Assisted: Tineke Loogman, Aalsmeer, Netherlands 217
Women-One-Leg Below Knee: Kim Moore, South Bend, Ind. 242
Wheelchair: Dave Sawtell, Queensland, Australia 199
Paramobile, 1-Arm: Matt Farmen, Denver, Colo. 201
Paramobile, 2-Arm: Anthony Netto, Capetown, South Africa/San Diego 289
Blind/Vision Impaired: Scott Aughtry, Hot Springs Village, Ark. 313
One-Arm & Leg: Bill Frey, Goshen, Ky. 245
One-Arm Unassisted: Alan Gentry, Louisville, Ky. 275
One-Arm Assisted: John Rogers, Apopka, Fla. 285
One-Leg Above Knee: Christian Sidebottom, Phoenix, Ariz. 252
Two-Leg Below Knee: Jared Brentz, Nashville, Tenn. 360
One-Leg Below Knee: Josh Williams, Kitchener, Canada 322
Category Champions
Military-wounded in action: Ivgi Shlomo, Netanya, Israel 225
Age 45-49: Rene Olgers, Aalsmeer, Netherlands 296
Age 50-54: Anthony Netto, Capetown, South Africa/San Diego 297
Age 55+: Bill Davis, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. 290
