Monica Lieving wins World Long Drive Championship to cap magical rookie season

Lakewood resident Monica Lieving celebrates her victory in the World Long Drive Women’s Division Championship at Bobby Jones Golf Course in Atlanta, GA, on Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023. (Photo Courtesy of World Long Drive)

One talented Colorado woman has claimed the crown on the tee box.

Lakewood resident Monica Lieving emerged as the champion of the World Long Drive Championship at Bobby Jones Golf Course in Atlanta on Sunday. This remarkable win solidified Lieving as the new face of women’s long drive golf, all within just a year of taking the sport seriously by seeking professional coaching and acquiring proper equipment.

“This feels absolutely incredible,” remarked Lieving to reporters after her victory. “I remained true to myself and blocked out all distractions. Now, I’m the one wearing the belt, so I’m feeling pretty darn good.”

Despite entering the tournament as the second-ranked female golfer in the world, Lieving outperformed top-ranked Phillis Meti in the finals, securing the WLD belt and a $25,000 prize with a 288-yard drive. Meti failed to hit the grid during the round, giving Lieving the opportunity to come out on top.

“Knowing that I needed to get a ball in play after Meti’s miss and that it didn’t need to be my farthest, I adapted to the situation,” explained Lieving. “In this game, you have to be flexible, and that’s exactly what I did.

“I couldn’t have scripted a better ending to this victory. Facing Meti was incredible, and I wanted to compete against her. The matchup unfolded exactly as I imagined in my mind.”

In the quarterfinals, Lieving opened her Sunday campaign with a 319-yard shot, defeating Kelly Rudney. She followed it up with a powerful 349-yard drive, eliminating Alexis Belton in the semifinals. Meanwhile, Meti’s 382-yard quarterfinal drive stood as the longest by a female golfer in the tour this year. Unfortunately for the Atlanta resident, that same energy didn’t carry over into the finals.

As a result, Lieving secured her third victory on the tour during her debut season, propelling her back to the top-ranking position she held earlier in the year.

“Meti’s 382-yard drive was certainly intimidating,” admitted Lieving. “However, in this sport, what happens in one set doesn’t dictate the next. So, even though she had that impressive drive, it didn’t mean we would have the same conditions in the finals. I stayed focused on myself, aimed for my best shot, and knew I had it in me.”

This triumph may just be the start of Lieving’s reign in this niche sport. As a former Division I golfer at Arkansas State, Lieving has already hit her longest career drive of 375 yards during a WLD event at Bigfoot Turf Farm in La Salle. Prior to upsetting Meti, a three-time champion, on Sunday, Lieving had already clinched victory in the tour’s first two events this year.