Nov 28, 2012 2 min read

Aaron Mansfield’s success in the Long Drivers of America was not measured in just feet and yards.

It’s also measured in points.

Mansfield, a senior accounting major at Waynesburg University, was named Player of the Year on the Long Drivers of America tour this year.

Mansfield accumulated 3,150 points, exactly 200 more than Ben Tua’one, who finished in second place. Mansfield had five top-12 finishes, including a victory in the Endless Summer Invitational in Orange County, Calif., in June, to earn the title. He drove his golf ball more than 400 yards on back-to-back drives to win that event.

“This was definitely my best year,” said Mansfield. “It’s my first full year on the Long Drivers tour. This was also the best year for money.”

Mansfield finished first on the tour’s money list with $25,450, including the $10,000 winner’s check for the Endless Summer event.

“I was the only one on the tour who competed in six events,” said Mansfield. “The others were either seven or five. This was the first year they gave a trophy for the tour winner.”

Mansfield said most of his earnings were used to offset the expense of competing in events that range from California to Pennsylvania.

“There is not a ton of money in Long Drivers,” Mansfield said. “The sponsors you get are from the world championships.”

This year’s Long Drivers World Championships were held in Mesquite, Nev., and Mansfield failed to finish in the money.

“I hit the ball very good,” he said, “but the wind conditions kicked me out. I also didn’t do myself any good by going out of bounds in the second round.”

Ryan Winther defeated Tim Burke in the open finals with a drive of 343 yards, eight more than Burke’s best.