Kaenon Polarized

Sophie Gustafson playing in Jetty Tobacco C12, enhanced her prospects of returning to Killeen Castle next September as part of Europe’s Solheim Cup Team as she won a thrilling AIB Ladies Irish Open.

The Swede, who is a seven-time Solheim Cup player, shot a superb final round 66 on a day of perfect scoring conditions to card 12 under par and edge ahead of Norwegian Marianne Skarpnord and South Korean In-Kyung Kim.

Gustafson showed her class by winning her fourth Irish Open following victories in 1998 at Ballyliffin, 2000 at Faithlegg and 2003 at Killarney. It was her sixth title on Irish soil as she also won the 2003 BT Open in Northern Ireland and the TSN World Cup partnering Carin Koch in 2000.

“I love Ireland. This is my sixth win in Ireland if you count the time I won in Northern Ireland in 2003 and at the World Cup in 2000,” said a delighted Gustafson. “I think maybe it’s the people. They are all very friendly and easy going and they have always been very supportive of me.”

The €75,000 first prize is Gustafson’s first winner’s check since the Comunitat Valenciana European Nations Cup, which she won in April partnering Anna Nordqvist. Her win helped her bid to make Alison Nicholas’ 2011 team to take on the United States.

When asked what she thought of The 2011 Solheim Cup venue, the 36-year-old said: “I think my win pretty much says it all: that I like it! I expect to play my way onto the team.”

The 15,000 spectators that attended on the final day would have been impressed as they saw the drama unfold on the course that will host The Solheim Cup from 23-25 September, 2011.

Playing in the penultimate group ahead of the second round leader, Kim, Gustafson played a wedge from 130 yards to 10 feet at the par four closing hole in front of a packed gallery and rolled the ball straight down the hill into the hole to edge one shot clear.

“Being able to make that putt was fantastic because I’ve been struggling with my putting, so that was very, very nice,” Gustafson added. “I think I’ve been playing better than my recent results have shown, so that was very pleasing being able to play so well.”

Gustafson started the final round three shots adrift and was out in 34 but picked up the pace after rolling in a short birdie putt on the par-four ninth, which was playing as the toughest hole on the course.

She came back in 32, with an eagle on the par-five 12th hole, where she hit a four-iron to 15 feet and then birdied holes 14 and 18.

Robert Gamez, wearing Spindle S1 Black Chrome G12 proved he’s not done yet. The former PGA Tour phenom and rookie of the year has been struggling with his career the last couple of years, but showed up and followed through with game last week. He finished T5, 8 under par on the Montreux Golf & Country Club course.

Robert Gamez in golf sunglasses of choice, Spindle S1 G12

Kaenon’s golf pros have been pushing hard this season and have made their collective presence especially evident over the last few weeks. Robert Allenby, playing in his go-to Hard Kore, Black, C50 lens, battled hard and won not only a well-deserved second place at the recent PGA Players Championship, but also glowing accolades from a host of golf writers on his sportsmanship and skill.

A globe trotting Morgan Pressel (wearing her now-beloved Sequence in G12 lens), beat an internationally talented field in the Salonpas Cup on the Japan LPGA Tour.

Brian Gay (Jetty, Matte Black, G12 lens) shot a stunning 7-under 63 in the final round of the HP Byron Nelson PGA tournament to tie for second. What is it that gives these players an edge on the course? Superior vision courtesy of Kaenon’s Light Transmission Levels.

To learn more about our light transmission levels, click here.

Brian Gay, wearing Jetty Matte Black G12 shot a stunning 7-under 63 in the final round to tie for 2nd, his best finish this year.

According to ESPN:
“Gay also continued to adjust and improve his game throughout the weekend before his 63 was Sunday’s best round by three shots.

“‘I’ve been working on a couple things this week, just a little bit with my path,’ Gay said. ‘I was close [earlier in the tournament], [they] were just not quite falling. But I made my share today.’

“The second-place finish was Gay’s best since his win in the St. Jude Classic in June 2009. As he left the course Sunday, he didn’t expect his 8-under finish to put him in contention for the win.”

In a thrilling finish to The Players Championship at The TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Robert Allenby wearing Kaenon Polarized Sunglasses in Hard Kore Black C50, finished in second place, one shot behind the winner Tim Clark. Considered the sport’s unofficial “5th Major” and the richest tournament purse on Tour, Allenby battled hard down the stretch and stayed in the fray as the rest of the field withered in the closing holes of a course that will challenge the nerves, particularly at the famous island green 17th hole where Allenby saw his birdie putt hang on the lip in agonizing fashion, leaving him one behind going into the final hole, instead of tied for the lead.

Davis Love III also placed well finishing tied for 4th place after a strong closing round.

Kaenon enjoyed massive coverage for all four days of the tournament between Robert Allenby and Davis Love III who both played in Hard Kore.

Sunglasses are integral to upping your golf game, and the May issue of GOLF features a selection of shades, including the Hard Kore Black C50, also known as Robert Allenby’s go-to eyewear.

Kaenon Polarized got some Fresh Press recently compliments of Golf Tips magazine. The Arlo is featured in the 2010 Buyers Guide as must-have shades for serious golfers. Check out the Buyers Guide on newsstands now.

Arlo

The women’s first Major Championship of the year and Kaenon Polarized was fortunate to see our top players keen and excited to showcase many of our newest women’s sunglasses: Sequence Gold G12 on Morgan Pressel, Leila Havana C12 on Sophie Gustafson and Joss Black G12 on Carin Koch.

Morgan Pressel wearing Sequence Gold G12 creating a mini Metal Revolution on the ladies Tour. She was on the leader board all weekend but couldn’t stay in the top 10, finishing 19th.

Carin Koch wearing Joss Black G12 – who is playing mostly on the European Ladies Tour now that she moved back to her native Sweden, permanently, had a good showing despite living in the snow now.

Sophie Gustafson wearing the brand new Leila Havana C12 finished 10th.

The Women’s LPGA Tour made its 2010 American debut in Southern California at the La Costa Resort and Spa last week, as did Kaenon’s newest metal style from the 2010 collection, the Sequence™. LPGA star Morgan Pressel showcased the brand new Sequence Gold Grey12 in its first public showing, playing all four rounds wearing the new aviator-inspired metal frame. Proving that Sequence embodies true Luxury Performance™ right out of the box, Morgan Pressel finished sixth, starting off her season in style and validating the design and technical superiority of Kaenon Polarized eyewear.

Test-driving Sequence in the Pro-Am earlier in the week, Morgan automatically fell in love with the newest full-metal frame to compliment the Kaenon Polarized metals collection. She put it in play for Round 1, and subsequently wore Sequence all four days throughout the tournament.

Sophie Gustafson played in the new Jetty Havana C28, while Anna Rawson played in the new Leila Havana C12 and Nicole Hage in the relaunched Delite Black G12. All players underscored the fact that Kaenon Polarized offers genuine Luxury Performance in frame designs and lens tints to match every player’s personality, look and personal preference.

Sequence will be available in finer eyewear retailers and on Kaenon.com this Spring!

Kevin Streelman is having a strong start to his 2010 PGA Tour campaign, finishing seventh at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, wearing the brand new Kanvas Matte Black G12 for all four rounds of play. To further explain the versatility of SR-91® lenses and each athlete’s personalized approach to vision, Robert Allenby—who has also opened this season on the PGA Tour extremely well, wore the semi-rimless Hard Kore Black C50 at the Invitational. Two top players on the PGA Tour, in the same tournament, on the same days, sharing the same course—yet both chose different frame designs and different SR-91® polarized lens tints that span the spectrum of tint and Light Transmission Levels that Kaenon Polarized sunglasses are known for.

Golf lenses and designs are based on personal preference, and require inherent technology and engineering of high quality. Only Kaenon Polarized can offer the variety of performance frames with patented SR-91 polarized lenses, for both men and women, to meet the requirements of the world’s best golfers—and demands of world class athletes across the spectrum of sport.

Kaenon Polarized On The Tour This Week

Robert Allenby wearing Kaenon Polarized sunglasses in Hard Kore, C50 lens at the WGC-CA Championship with his hole-in-one at the 13th hole on the TPC Blue Monster.

GOLF – Northern Trust Open, Pacific Palisades, CA

The weather didn’t provide much sun last week, but Kaenon’s golfers braved the elements and thanks to the range of Kaenon performance lens tints, played through the tough weather at the famed Riviera Country Club in the Northern Trust Los Angeles Open. Robert Allenby lives in Hard Kore C50 lens, rain or shine, and battled conditions more similar to St. Andrews Scotland than to LA, as the area saw heavy rain throughout the tournament.

Kevin Stadler wearing the new Klay Matte Black G12 finished 10th. Allenby continued his streak of solid play collecting a top 30, as did Rod Pampling in Hard Kore G28 Rx.

Davis Love III wore Hard Kore G28, Nick O’Hern was in Hard Kore C28 (he frequently changes lens tints according to sun conditions), and Kevin Streelman played in Hard Kore Black G12.

The AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am tees off on Thursday, February 11th in scenic Monterey, California, where Kaenon golfers will be vying for the $6,200,000 purse.

GOLF

Wearing Kaenon Polarized Sunglasses at the Nedbank Golf Challenge in Sun City, South Africa—as he does every round of golf — Robert Allenby (Hard Kore Black Copper 50) beat Henrik Stenson after three holes of sudden death to take to take the South African PGA Tour’s richest tournament. Allenby is the first Australian in 29 years to win this tournament.

He started the final round two back, paired in the last grouping, and came up 18 with a one-shot lead—par, he wins.  He bogeyed 18 which forced a playoff with Stenson.

Disappointed with himself not to finish it in regulation, Allenby was determined to take the win after several close calls in 2009, and the $1.2million winner’s check.  ”I thought we were going to be there all night,” Allenby said. “But I’m proud to be the first Australian to win this title, and I knew once Henrik pushed his approach out right (on the final playoff hole), I had a chance if I could hit the green in regulation.”

GOLF
Morgan Pressel, wearing her favorite women’s sunglasses in Georgia G12 had a strong Sunday final round to finish 3rd overall at the Orena Ochoa Invitational in Guadalajara, Mexico.

Watch for Morgan as she plays in the season-ending LPGA Tour Championship this weekend.

GOLF

Playing in Hard Kore Tobacco with G12 lenses PGA Tour player Kevin Streelman clinched the inaugural $1million Kodak Challenge – winner take all format – with a birdie on the 17th hole at the Children’s Miracle Network Classic in Orlando, Florida. A new, unique format that extends through most of the PGA Tour, Kevin claimed the Kodak Challenge million-dollars via a separate, PGA Tour KODAK-sponsored prize for the most birdies made during a certain stretch.

Steven Powell, director of the Kodak Challenge noted, “I don’t think we could ask for a better ambassador than Kevin Streelman as our very first champion.”

Kevin’s caddie Michael Collins also is an avid backer of the Kaenon Hard Kore in Black G12 on and off the course.

Check out the video to see what just transpired a few hours ago at the PGA event in Orlando.

GOLF – VOLVO MATCH PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP – CASARES, SPAIN
Wearing Hard Kore C50 Sunglasses, Robert Allenby cruised his way through the brackets of the Volvo Match Play Championship in Spain, last weekend, setting up the grudge match of the year against American Anthony Kim in the Semi-Finals. The winner advancing to the championship match. Allenby won the Petit-Finals giving him 3rd overall and he went undefeated wearing Hard Kore Black C50, until the semi’s.

GOLF – VERONA, NY
Cold weather and rain early in the week ushered in the Fall Championship on the PGA Tour at the Turning Stone Resort Championships. Rod Pampling finished 7T in Hard Kore Rx G28 golf sunglasses.

GOLF – PRATTVILLE, AL
Sophie Gustafson continued her good play finishing 8T wearing her lucky Jetty Tobacco C28. Morgan Pressel, in Georgia, Kaenon’s best selling women’s sunglasses took top 20.

GOLF – LPGA TOUR – CVS/pharmacy LPGA CHALLENGE – Danville, CA

Sophie Gustafson Wins!
Wearing Jetty Tobacco C28 for every single shot of her 20-under victory, Sophie Gustafson is a winner again, this time wire-wire by 4 shots over world #1 Lorena Ochoa at the sun-drenched CVS / pharmacy LPGA Challenge. Morgan Pressel playing in Georgia Olive Crystal G12 and Christina Kim wearing Klemm G12 tied for 9th, putting three Kaenon Polarized players in the top 10 of this LPGA Tour event held in the suburbs of the California capitol, Sacramento. The 35-year-old Swede shot a final round four-under-par 68 at Blackhawk Country Club and finished at 20-under 268 to win her first title since the 2003 Samsung World Championship. She takes home the $165,000 first prize for her fifth career tour victory. She beamed while walking across the bridge to the 18th green as she soaked up the crowd’s appreciation, even high-fiving a tournament official. Once it was official, she shared a long embrace with her caddie – allowing four days of controlled emotions finally out, texting Sunday night to say, “this was really, really cool!”

Sunday, September 27, 2009 – Playing in the Kaenon Polarized Jetty frame style with Copper 28 SR-91 polarized lenses, Sophie Gustafson led wire-wire for her first win on the LPGA Tour since 2003. Shooting a final round 68, Sophie won by 4 shots. Morgan Pressel in Georgia Olive Crystal G12 golf sunglasses and Christina Kim playing in Klemm G12 finished tied for 9th, putting three Kaenon Polarized players in the top 10 at the CVS / Pharmacy LPGA Challenge.

Saturday, September 26, 2009 – Sophie Gustafson continues to lead the LPGA Tour stop this week in Northern California wearing Kaenon’s Jetty Tobacco C28 SR-91 polarized lenses. She’s 1 shot clear going into the weekend at the CVS/pharmacy LPGA Challenge. Sophie shot a 7-under 65 on Thursday to take a two-stroke lead after the first round. After two rounds, she managed a 3-under 69 to take a one-stroke lead at 10-under 134 in the CVS/pharmacy LPGA Challenge. Today, Sophie Gustafson shot a 3rd round 66.  She’s tied for the lead with Lorena Ochoa, six shots clear of the field at the CVS/pharmacy LPGA Challenge going into tomorrow’s final round.  Morgan Pressel climbed into a tie for 5th wearing Kaenon’s hottest style among women’s sunglasses, Georgia in Olive Crystal with Grey 12 lenses.

GOLF – CHICAGO, IL

FEDEXCUP PLAYOFF Round 3
Brian Gay, wearing Jetty Matte Black G12, was unable to kick it into a higher gear to leave himself in contention for the $10m FedexCup first prize. Gay is the only Kaenon player to make the final 30 players to play in the Tour Championship in Atlanta this week – where the winner of the FedexCup Playoff Series will be determined.

GOLF – CALGARY, CANADA
LPGA TOUR – CANADIAN WOMEN’S OPEN
Morgan Pressel, playing in Kaenon’s women’s sunglasses style, Georgia Olive Crystal, shot a final round 66 to share 2nd place in this lucrative LPGA Tour event.

GOLF – BOSTON, MA
PGA TOUR – FEDEX CUP PLAYOFFS – DEUTSCHE BANK CHAMPIONSHIP

Brian Gay wearing Jetty Matte Black G12 golf sunglasses will advance to the 3rd round of the Fedex Cup next week outside Chicago with solid play this week. He stays in the top 10 in points.

GOLF – Sugar Grove, IL

The American side took their third victory in a row over the European side in the women’s most prestigious team / country event – the Solheim Cup.

The US Team was led by Morgan Pressel in Georgia Olive Crystal G12 golf sunglasses and her victory-clinching singles match yesterday in the final Sunday singles play.

Christina Kim playing in Klemm, also won her singles match Sunday and played extremely well all weekend, as well as emerging as a vocal team leader.

Sophie Gustafson wore Jetty Tobacco C28 and played well for the European side.

GOLF – Greensboro, NC
Kevin Stadler (aka Baby Walrus), playing in Lewi Black Pearl G12 golf sunglasses, tied for the win after regulation, but lost on the 3rd playoff hole just missing his first PGA Tour victory – settling for 2nd. “I knew I was three (strokes) back and needed to do something,” Stadler said. “I thought I was just stuck in neutral and the next (leaderboard) I saw, I was only one back.”

GOLF PGA TOUR – BRIDGESTONE INVITATIONAL – AKRON, OH

Robert Allenby wearing Kaenon’s Hard Kore Black C50, a top selection for golf sunglasses finished 2nd right behind Tiger, who won his 70th career Tour event!

Last Major championship of the year is this week, the PGA Championship to be held at the famed Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minnesota.