Lake Buena Vista, FL – Bill Lunde was awarded the 2011 Kodak Challenge today at the Children’s Miracle Network Classic in Lake Buena Vista, FL. Lunde, who has led the PGA TOUR competition for much of the 2011 season, took home the winner-take-all $1 million Kodak Challenge prize.

The Kodak Challenge celebrates beautiful holes and memorable moments on the PGA TOUR and challenges players to perform their best on 30 designated Kodak Challenge holes. The player with the lowest cumulative score on his best 18 Kodak Challenge holes wins the $1 million. The 485-yard, par-4 17^th on the Magnolia Course was the 30^th and final hole of the 2011 Kodak Challenge season.

“It has been an exciting year-long process,” commented Lunde. “The Kodak Challenge is something we’ve been talking about all year.  It adds a lot of fun to the tournaments.  I couldn’t be happier and more thankful to Kodak and the TOUR.”Lunde first grabbed the Kodak Challenge lead at the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard in March, and arrived at the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Classic with a formidable two-shot lead over Cameron Tringale at 19-under-par. Tringale was joined in second place by Fabian Gomez at 17-under-par as Gomez converted par on the Kodak Challenge hole in the first round, eliminating a triple-bogey from his 18-hole scorecard he made earlier in the year at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.

Two shots off the Kodak Challenge lead, the odds of Tringale and Gomez catching Lunde over the weekend were steep, as both players needed an eagle on the par-4 17^th hole to force a potential playoff. Neither player posted an eagle in the final two rounds, clinching the Kodak Challenge title for Lunde at 19-under-par.

With the victory, the San Diego native, who has one PGA Tour win to his credit (2010 Turning Stone Resort Championship), becomes the third PGA TOUR player to capture the Kodak Challenge competition. Last year, Troy Merritt defeated Rickie Fowler and Aaron Baddeley in a playoff. Kevin Streelman won the inaugural Kodak competition in 2009.

“Bill Lunde was tremendously consistent on the Kodak Challenge this season. Week in and week out, he delivered superb shot-making on the greatest scorecard in golf. On behalf of everyone at Kodak, I’d like to thank Bill and all competitors for delivering a season of Kodak Moments,” said Kodak Director of Sports Marketing Steve Powell.  

“The Kodak Challenge is a unique and compelling competition for players and fans and reflects both the heritage of our brand and the continued innovation of the new Kodak. The success of the Kodak Challenge is due to the hard work of many people; from our own Kodak team members, to great partners like our friends here at Disney and the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Classic.”

To honor the winner of the Kodak Challenge, Kodak commissioned the development of a unique multi-media trophy. Designed and fabricated by Tiffany & Co., the award integrates Kodak digital imaging technology with a modern trophy display to create a one-of-a-kind showcase for the Kodak Challenge and Kodak technology. 

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