PINE MOUNTAIN, GA (May 24, 2008) — During the final rounds of the 16th Junior Masters Water Ski & Wakeboard Tournament, Zack Worden defended the Junior Masters Jump title and earned the Overall title for the first time.

Winning the Junior Men’s Overall Champion title, Zack Worden was followed by Martin Kolman and Thibaut Dailland who earned second and third place overall respectively.

Olivia McDonald was top seed going into the finals this morning; she lived up to the expectations and earned her first Junior Masters Trick title with a score of 5840. Caroline Hensley finished second and Manon Costard placed third. In slalom, Manon Costard finished first with a run of 5.5@32-off followed by Danielle Shipe and Ambre Franc. In Junior Women’s jump, Manon Costard from France jumped 141 feet (43.1m) just squeaking by Shipe by one tenth of a meter for the title while Haley Runion finished third. Costard claimed the female Overall Champion title for 2008 with a total score of 2931.1 points, placing first in slalom and jump. Hensley placed second overall with a score of 2624 followed by McDonald.

In the Junior Men’s tricks competition, Thibaut Dailland was first off the dock and had a stellar performance tricking 8160 earning him the Junior Men’s Trick title. Alexandre Poteau finished second and Adam Pickos placed third. Worden crushed the competition in Junior Men’s slalom with a run of 3@38-off with Michael Mann earning second and Brooks Wilson placing third. In the jump event, Worden launched 177 feet for the title and Alex Paradis and Sandro Ambrosi placed second and third respectively.

In Junior Women’s Wakeboarding, top seed Anna Hajek earned her first Junior Masters Wakeboard title followed by Meagan Eethell and Corrie Dyer. Harley Clifford earned his first Junior Men’s Masters Wakeboard Champion title by less then six points upsetting defending champion, Jimmy LaRiche, who finished second followed by Robert Soven who finished third.

The tournament will continue on Sunday at 9:00 am with the elimination round for Women’s Wakeboard followed by the finals opening ceremonies and the finals.

The 49th Masters is produced by Nautiques by Correct Craft and officially sponsored by Acme Propellers, Callaway Gardens, Clarion, Mona Vie, PCM Marine Engines, Polk Audio, Trailer Boats and Zero Off. An invitation to compete in the annual Masters Water Ski & Wakeboard Tournament is universally considered an acknowledgement of achievement for reaching the pinnacle in a given watersports discipline – only the world’s most elite athletes compete at the Masters. This tournament is IWSF/USA Water Ski and WWA sanctioned. Prize monies, trophies, rings and special event awards total well over $135,000. To watch all of the live action at the 49th Masters, visit www.masterswaterski.com.

Jr. Women’s Tricks Finals
1. Olivia McDonald USA 5840
2. Caroline Hensley USA 5610
3. Manon Costard FRA 5280

Jr. Women’s Slalom Finals
1. Manon Costard FRA 5.5@32(13.00m)
2. Danielle Shipe USA 3@32(13.00m)
3. Ambre Franc FRA 2@32(13.00m)

Jr. Women’s Jump Finals
1. Manon Costard FRA 141’(43.1m)
2. Danielle Shipe USA 141’(42.9m)
3. Haley Runion USA 132’(40.1m)

Jr. Women’s Overall Finals
1. Manon Costard FRA 2931.1
2. Caroline Hensley USA 2624.0
3. Olivia McDonald USA 2415.9

Jr. Women’s Wakeboard Finals

1. Anna Hajek USA 45.33
2. Meagan Ethell USA 42.22
3. Corrie Dyer USA 34.61

Jr. Men’s Tricks Finals

1. Adam Pickos USA 9080
2. Alexandre Poteau FRA 8650
3. Thibaut Dailland FRA 8000

Jr. Men’s Slalom Finals

1. Zack Worden USA 3@38(11.25m)
2. Michael Mann CAN 4@35(12.00m)
3. Brooks Wilson USA 5@22(16.00m)

Jr. Men’s Jump Finals

1. Zack Worden USA 177’(53.9m)
2. Alex Paradis CAN 175’(53.4m)
3. Sandro Ambrosi MEX 167’(51.0m)

Jr. Men’s Overall Finals
1. Zack Worden USA 2740.1
2. Martin Kolman CZE 2526.4
3. Thibaut Dailland FRA 2390.7

Jr. Men’s Wakeboard Finals

1. Harley Clifford AUS 67.33
2. Jimmy Lariche USA 61.67
3. Robert Soven USA 55.00