PWT Acworth - Day 1 | PWT Acworth - Day 2

Clifford, Marquardt Win Acworth Pro Tour Stop
Tezuka Becomes First Japanese Rider to Win a Pro Tour Event

Acworth, Ga. – Fans packed the shores of Lake Allatoona at Dallas Landing Park today to catch the final rounds of action at the MasterCraft Pro Wakeboard Tour stop in Acworth, Ga. The sport’s top pros spent the day battling it out behind the MasterCraft X-Star for wins in the Jr. Pro Men, Pro Women and Pro Men’s divisions.
 
The Pro Men’s division kicked off the Pro Tour’s last day in Acworth, narrowing the field of 20 riders down to six for the final round of action. Rookie Steel Lafferty and Seattle’s Nick Jones both made their Pro Men finals debut today against several wakeboarding heavyweights, including former Pro Tour titlist Harley Clifford and reigning champ Phillip Soven.
Both newcomers put up a respectable showing, with Lafferty and Jones finishing in third and fourth place, respectively.
 
Top seed Phillip Soven appeared to have an edge on the competition in the finals, but ultimately fell short to winner Harley Clifford, who pulled off the upset to take first place in Acworth.
 
“I’m so stoked to start the season with a win,” said Clifford. “Phil [Soven] is always tough to go up against, but I rode really well today and came out on top.”
 
Today’s win marks Clifford’s second consecutive victory in Acworth.
 
Also walking away a winner in Acworth today is current wakeboard world champion Dean Smith. The 26-year-old Australian won the Rockstar Energy Drink Big-Air Kick Contest, a $1,000 cash prize, after landing a massive hoochie backside 360.
 
In the Pro Women’s division, all eyes were on top seed Amber Wing and former Pro Tour titlist Nicola Butler to see who would come out on top in the finals. But neither favorite would take the win in the six-woman final, as California’s Melissa Marquardt pulled off the upset to claim her first Pro Tour stop victory.
 
“I’m a little shocked, I didn’t expect to win,” said Marquardt. “But now that I have, I’m stoked about it.”
 
Marquardt, 27, of Canyon Lake, Calif. landed a massive back roll to blind and a toeside 540 in her final run to post the winning score of 71.67. Wing and Butler rounded out the top three, respectively.
 
In the Jr. Pro Men’s division, history was made today, as Shota Tezuka became the first Japanese rider ever to win a Pro Tour event. Tezuka, 17, from Gotenba, Japan, blew the competition out of the water in the four-man final, posting a score of 97.00, a 13-point difference from his next closest competitor. Jacob Valdez and Aussie Dylan Prideaux rounded out the Jr. Pro Men’s podium, respectively.
 
“It feels awesome, I’m very excited,” Tezuka commented on his win today. “I rode really well, had fun and won.”
 
In addition to winning the Jr. Pro Men’s finals today, Tezuka turned heads in Acworth, beating out Rusty Malinoski and special guest Parks Bonifay in the Overton’s Double Up Contest. Tezuka took home the $1,000 cash prize for landing a massive heelside frontside 900 off the double up.
 
With the first stop of the season all wrapped up, the MasterCraft Pro Wakeboard Tour, presented by Rockstar Energy Drink will now head to Fort Worth, Tex., on June 2-4. Additional 2011 Pro Tour venues include Colorado Springs, Colo., Monroe, Wash., and Knoxville, Tenn.
 
For more information on the MasterCraft Pro Wakeboard Tour, please visit prowakeboardtour.com or connect with us via Facebook and Twitter.
 
The MasterCraft Pro Wakeboard Tour, presented by Rockstar Energy Drink is organized by World Sports & Marketing of Orlando, Fla., and has the support of the following sponsors: MasterCraft, Rockstar Energy Drink, Overton’s, Indmar, Peavey, Billabong, Hyperlite, CWB, Ronix, Liquid Force, Byerly, Oakley, Sayiwon’t, Epiphone and TransWorld WAKEBOARDING magazine.
 
About MasterCraft
MasterCraft is the exclusive towboat for the Pro Wakeboard Tour, as it has been since the tour’s wakeboarding events began in 1992.
 
About Rockstar Energy Drink
ROCKSTAR is the world's most powerful energy drink. Enhanced with the potent herbal blend of Guarana, Ginkgo, Ginseng and Milk Thistle, ROCKSTAR is formulated to provide an incredible energy boost for those who lead active and exhausting lifestyles - from athletes to rock stars. ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK is available in eighteen amazing flavors: Original, Sugar Free, Zero Carb, Juiced Mango Orange Passion Fruit, Juiced Guava, Juiced Pomegranate, Tropical Punched, Punched Citrus, Roasted Mocha, Roasted Latte, Roasted Light Vanilla, Cola, Recovery Lemonade, Recovery Orange, Recovery Grape, Pink, and 2X. ROCKSTAR ENERGY SHOTS are available in Wild Berry and Tropical Punch flavors. ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK is available at convenience and grocery retail outlets across the United States, Canada, Australia, Austria, Belgium, France, Ireland, New Zealand, Japan, Germany, Switzerland, Finland, Spain, The Netherlands, the United Arab Emirates, Greece, Mexico, the Philippines and throughout the United Kingdom. Go to www.rockstar69.com or www.facebook.com/rockstar for athlete and event updates, videos, profiles, and product information.
 
About Indmar
Indmar is the world's largest privately held manufacturer of gasoline powered inboard marine engines. Indmar Marine Engines have led the market on dependability, longevity, and performance for decades.
 
About TransWorld WAKEBOARDING Magazine
TransWorld WAKEBOARDING magazine is the leader in wake-sports media by delivering the best instruction, latest product reviews, insider knowledge and the finest photography. TransWorld WAKEBOARDING accurately defines the wake-riding lifestyle by offering a broad range of content, which helps wake enthusiasts become better riders and enjoy their time on and off the water.
 
May 21 Results
 
Pro Men Final
1. Harley Clifford (AUS) - 85.00
2. Phillip Soven (USA) - 80.00
3. Steel Lafferty (USA) - 60.00
4. Nick Jones (USA) - 57.50
5. Bob Soven (USA) - 55.00
6. Adam Errington (USA) - 45.00
 
Pro Women Final
1. Melissa Marquardt (USA) - 71.67
2. Amber Wing (AUS) - 66.67
3. Nicola Butler (GBR) - 58.33
4. Emily Durham (USA) - 53.33
5. Anna Hajek (USA) - 46.67
6. Raimi Merritt (USA) - 36.67
 
Jr. Pro Men Final
1. Shota Tezuka (JPN) - 97.00
2. Jacob Valdez (USA) - 84.00
3. Dylan Prideaux (AUS) - 83.50
4. Joshua Twelker (USA) - 75.50
 
Pro Men Semifinal (top two in each heat advance)
 
Heat #1
1. Harley Clifford (AUS) - 76.67
2. Adam Errington (USA) - 65.00
===
3. Bob Soven (USA) - 60.17
4. Rusty Malinoski (CAN) - 54.00
5. Corey Bradley (USA) - 48.33
 
Heat #2
1. Phillip Soven (USA) - 73.33
2. Nick Jones (USA) - 60.00
===
3. Steel Lafferty (USA) - 53.33
4. Kyle Rattray CAN 45.00
5. Trevor Hansen (USA) - 40.00
 
Jr. Pro Men Semifinal (top two in each heat advance)
 
Heat #1
1. Shota Tezuka (JPN) - 97.25
2. Joshua Twelker (USA) - 85.75
===
3. Freddie Wayne (USA) - 72.75
4. Gunnar Shuler (USA) - 65.75
5. Michael Dowdy (USA) - 65.00
 
Heat #2
1. Dylan Prideaux (AUS) - 96.25
2. Jacob Valdez (USA) - 89.75
===
3. Kyle Evans (USA) - 76.50
4. Mark Kroon (NED) - 69.50
5. Gordon Harrison (USA) - 68.00
 
Pro Men Quarterfinal (top two in each heat advance)
 
Heat #1
1. Bob Soven (USA) - 74.17
2. Nick Jones (USA) - 73.33
===
3. Andrew Adkison (USA) - 60.00
4. Kirby Liesmann (USA) - 53.33
 
Heat #2
1. Steel Lafferty (USA) - 65.00
2. Adam Errington (USA) - 60.00
===
3. Dean Smith (AUS) - 53.33
4. Olivier Derome (CAN) - 50.00
 
Heat #3
1. Trevor Hansen (USA) - 70.00
2. Rusty Malinoski (CAN) - 56.67
===
3. AJ Racinelli (USA) - 45.00
4. Shaun Murray (USA) - 38.33
 
Heat #4
1. Harley Clifford (AUS) - 80.00
2. Kyle Rattray (CAN) - 70.00
===
3. Jimmy LaRiche (USA) - 58.33
4. Danny Burnstein (USA) - 50.00
 
Heat #5
1. Phillip Soven (USA) - 71.67
2. Corey Bradley (USA) - 63.33
===
3. Austin Hair (USA) - 55.00
4. Phillip Aslinger (USA) - 45.00

PWT Acworth - Day 1 | PWT Acworth - Day 2