JOURNAL SPORTS

Sam Burns and Philip Barbaree Jr. weren’t the only local golf standouts making waves last weekend.

While they drew national headlines at the U.S. Open, Loyola alumnus Jack Smith was a dramatic winner in Endless Summer, the world’s biggest long drive event, at Trillium Wood Golf Club in Belleville, Ontario, Canada.

Saturday’s men’s and women’s finals took place under the lights, with packed stands roaring after every drive.

In the men’s final, Smith, a 2018 Loyola graduate, stunned the field with a 421-yard rocket to defeat 2024 champion Scottie Pearman and take home the Endless Summer crown.

In the women’s division, Canadian Kelly Rudney launched a 347-yard bomb to defeat crowd-favorite Cassandra Meyer and capture her first Endless Summer title.

Nearly 1,500 fans from across Canada and the U.S. packed the venue over two days.

The event kicked off Friday night with the first-ever Military Hitters Showdown, held in partnership with 8 Wing/CFB Trenton. Fans were treated to a dramatic Hercules flypast, a thrilling Skyhawks parachute demonstration, and the main event: Team Canada vs. Team USA.

Smith has won World Long Drive Tour titles in each of the past two years.