Maurice Allen (golfer)

Maurice Allen (born November 20, 1981) is a World Long Drive Competitor, currently ranked No. 2 in the world. Allen competes in events that are sanctioned by the World Long Drive Association, which is owned by Golf Channel, part of the NBC Sports Group, and a division of Comcast. The season-long schedule features events airing live on Golf Channel, culminating in the Volvik World Long Drive Championship in September.

Allen grew up in Pine Hills, Fla., a unincorporated subdivision in West Orlando, where he attended Maynard Evans High School. During his high school years, Allen played Varsity Football, Varsity Volleyball and excelled in Track & Field.

Allen won the 2018 Volvik World Long Drive Championship on Sept. 5 at WinStar World Casino & Resort in Thackerville, Okla. Allen blasted a 393-yard drive in the championship match against Justin Moose (Columbia, S.C.) to claim his first Volvik World Long Drive Championship title.[1]

World Long Drive Career

Allen has been competing in long drive events around the world since 2010, where he essentially picked up golf for the first time at age 28. Two years later, he set a then-Guinness world record for the fastest ball speed (211 mph) [2] and in 2015 won three long drive events in Europe (Belgium, Italy, Sweden). In 2016 Allen won events in the Czech Republic, The Netherlands, New Zealand and Slovenia. Allen also won in New Zealand in 2017 and 2018, along with Japan in 2018.

Allen's breakout World Long Drive Association season came in 2017, when he captured championships at the Catawba Classic (North Caroline), Tennessee Shootout, and Mile HighShowdown (Colorado). Allen also ascended to No. 1 in the World Long Drive rankings leading up to the 2017 Volvik World Long Drive Championship.

In 2018, Allen reached the quarterfinals in two events (Atlantic City Boardwalk Bash and Bluff City Shootout) but then capped off his season with his victory in the Open Division at the Volvik World Long Drive Championship in Thackerville. [3]

Viral Moments with lots of "Flair"

Allen’s win in Denver at the 2017 Mile High Showdown came with a viral moment that introduced himself to many sports fans around the United States. His post-match interview and victory celebration included a flamboyant impersonation of professional wrestling superstar Ric Flair. [4]

Another viral moment for Allen came during the 2018 Clash in the Canyon (Nevada) on Golf Channel, when he made the claim that World Long Drive competitors are ‘the best athletes on earth.’[5]

Before World Long Drive

A former sprinter, Allen initially walked on the football team as a wide receiver at the University of South Florida. He was set to compete in the U.S. Olympic trials in track and field in 2004 before tearing his hamstring.

Allen was a biology/chemistry double-major at Florida A&M University, where he earned his degree. He was working toward his doctorate in the chiropractic field at Life University before ultimately turning to World Long Drive on a full-time basis. Maurice Allen has one child, a son.

Community Work

Allen is a First Tee ambassador, and Boys & Girls Club ambassador of golf. Following his 2018 World Championship win, he was the subject of a proclamation from the Orange County (Orlando) mayor, who declared it “Maurice Allen day” in the community, in response to Allen’s decision to create four $5,000 scholarships at Evans High School in Orlando, Allen’s alma mater.[6]

References
  1. "2018 World Long Drive: Maurice Allen drive to win title". Golf Channel. Retrieved 2019-03-04.
  2. https://www.hagginoaks.com/blog/maurice-allen-smashes-guinness-world-record-for-driver-ball-speed-using-a-fairway-wood/. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  3. "Maurice Allen uses vibrant personality, insane drive to rise to No. 1 in World Long Drive". Golfweek. 2017-09-03. Retrieved 2019-03-04.
  4. "Maurice Allen uses vibrant personality, insane drive to rise to No. 1 in World Long Drive". Golfweek. 2017-09-03. Retrieved 2019-03-04.
  5. "Pro long drive golfer claims long drivers are best athletes: 'I don't care about the NBA Finals'". For The Win. 2017-06-07. Retrieved 2019-03-04.
  6. Hudak, Stephen. "Orange County honors Pine Hills' Maurice Allen, who can drive a golf ball the length of 4 football fields". OrlandoSentinel.com. Retrieved 2019-03-04.
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