****** Harley Clifford Wins Men’s Pro at MasterCraft Pro Wakeboard Tour Knoxville, Claims Season Title**
Knoxville, TN. – Déjà vu and nervous excitement were prevailing themes throughout the day at the MasterCraft Pro Wakeboard Tour presented by Rockstar Energy Drink, with the season title once again came down to Phillip Soven and Harley Clifford’s performances in the final event of the year. The sport’s greatest rivalry lived up to the hype, with all-out final-round performances by both riders culminating in a narrow victory by Clifford, clinching another prestigious Pro Wakeboard Tour season championship for the world-class athlete.
The title is the second of Clifford’s young career and solidifies his position as one of the sport’s brightest stars.
“I couldn’t be more stoked to walk away with another Pro Tour championship today,” said Clifford. “The 2012 season has been one of the most competitive ever with so many talented riders on tour. Phil put the pressure on me all season long and I’m just happy to claim the crown.”
Stakes were also high in the Junior Pro Men’s division today with the MasterCraft Junior Pro Wakeboard Tour season title on the line, as well as the Overton’s Junior Pro series title up for grabs. Mike Dowdy put on a pro-worthy performance in the finals to clinch the win in Knoxville as well the season long titles. The victory puts Dowdy in prime position for a leap up to the big leagues in the near future.
The highly-competitive Women’s Pro division also took to the water at Volunteer Landing today and gave the thousands of fans lining the river plenty of reasons to cheer. In a neck-to-neck showdown, Aussie-phenom Hayley Smith edged out fellow countrywoman Amber Wing to claim top honors.
Following the MasterCraft Pro Wakeboard Tour divisional heats, fans were treated to the jaw-dropping Sony Big Air Contest and Rockstar Double Up. Launching off the MasterCraft XStar’s massive wake, the top Men’s Pro athletes stuck gravity-defying tricks that are rarely pulled off in a traditional contest setting. The performances of the event came from Dean Smith who took first place in Big Air by sticking a backside 720 and Phillip Soven who wowed the crowd with a huge switch nose grab crow mobe to claim victory in the Double Up.
For more information on the MasterCraft Pro Wakeboard Tour, please visit: KingofWake.com
The MasterCraft Pro Wakeboard Tour, presented by ROCKSTAR is organized by World Sports & Marketing of Orlando, Fla., and has the support of the following sponsors: MasterCraft, Rockstar Energy Drink, Overton’s, Indmar, Peavey, Billabong, Hyperlite, CWB, Ronix, Liquid Force, Byerly, Oakley, Sayiwon’t, Epiphone and TransWorld WAKEBOARDING magazine.
MasterCraft Pro Wakeboard Tour Knoxville Results (Athletes in Bold Advance):
Men’s Pro Finals
1. Harley Clifford 92.50
2. Phillip Soven 89.00
3. Dean Smith 80.67
4. Shota Tezuka 71.67
5. Steel Lafferty 68.50
6. Tony Carroll 65.83
7. Andrew Adkison 63.33
8. Phillip Aslinger 58.33
9. Rusty Malinoski 40.00
10. Bradley Smeele 30.00
Women’s Pro Finals
1. Hayley Smith 70.00
2. Amber Wing 66.00
3. Taylor McCullough 60.00
4. Mellissa Marquardt 53.33
5. Raimi Merritt 46.67
6. Meagan Ethell 35.00
Junior Pro Men Finals
1. Mike Dowdy 85.75 (Tie broken by most first place finishes)
2. Noah Flegel 85.75
3. Tony Iacconi 76.50
4. Massi Piffaretti 74.00
5. Freddie Wayne 70.00
6. Parker Siegele 58.00
Junior Pro Men Semis Heat 2
1. **Massi Piffaretti 90.50
2. Freddie Wayne 87.75
3. Mike Dowdy 86.25**
4. Christian Primrose 73.50
5. Kennan Allen 48.50
Junior Pro Men Semis Heat 1
1. **Noah Flegel 96.50
2. Tony Iacconi 82.00
3. Parker Siegele 76.50**
4. Jacob Valdez 74.25
5. Gordon Harrison 70.75
Women’s Pro Semifinals Heat 2
1. **Amber Wing 65.00
2. Mellissa Marquardt 56.67
3. Meagan Ethell 50.00**
4. Miku Asai 45.00
5. Corrie Dyer 35.00
Women’s Pro Semifinals Heat 1
1. **Raimi Merritt 63.33
2. Hayley Smith 60.00
3. Taylor McCullough 51.67**
4. Nicola Butler 47.33
5. Tarah Mikacich 40.00
Men’s Pro Quarterfinals Heat 5
1. **Harley Clifford 80.00
2. Shota Tezuka 71.67**
3. Jimmy Lariche 61.67
4. Kyle Rattray 50.00
Men’s Pro Quarterfinals Heat 4
1. **Phillip Soven 80.00
2. Bradley Smeele 71.67**
3. JD Webb 66.67
4. Joey Bradley 56.67
5. Daniel Powers 46.67
Men’s Pro Quarterfinals Heat 3
1. **Andrew Adkison 73.33
2. Rusty Malinoski 68.33**
3. Austin Hair 60.00
4. Josh Palma 50.00
5. AJ Racinelli 40.00
Men’s Pro Quarterfinals Heat 2
1. **Steel Lafferty 81.67
2. Dean Smith 75.00**
3. Danny Thollander 60.00
4. Zane Schwenk 48.33
5. Chad Sharpe 38.33
Men’s Pro Quarterfinals Heat 1
1. **Tony Carroll 75.00
2. Phillip Aslinger 61.67**
3. Oliver Derome 51.67
4. Adam Errington 40.00
5. Aaron Rathy 31.67
6. Kirby Liesmann 23.33
