What an exciting week this has been!  Kevin Streelman headed in to the finale hole - #17 at the Children's Miracle Network Classic on Disney's Magnolia Golf Course - with a 2-stroke lead over Bo Van Pelt, J.J. Henry and Nathan Green. Given that hole #17 is a 485-yard par 4, over water and large trees - that hadn't seen an eagle since 1988 - this seemed to be a lock, but Kevin Streelman was not taking anything for granted. Bo Van Pelt was in the field and he wasn't going to let the win go without a fight (Henry and Green did not play CMN).

The Kodak Challenge hole itself looked amazing!  Disney did such a wonderful job highlighting the hole, the competition and the Kodak Moments.


The excitement started almost immediately on Thursday because while both Kevin and Bo were playing Palm course that day - Charles Warren scored EAGLE on the Kodak Challenge hole for the first time in 11 years!  Surely this made both Kevin and Bo take notice!  Bo had chance at an eagle on Friday and the only way Kevin could seal the deal right away would be to birdie the hole.

As we stood there in the Kodak Challenge tent waiting for Kevin's approach shot, I was filled with excitement and anticipation that after so long we may finally have a winner - and having met Kevin and his wife Courtney earlier in the year, knew that it would go to a gracious, deserving person.

Kevin was down mid fairway, I looked away for a second and then, UGH - a ball hit the bleachers to the left of the green.  My heart sank a bit, he'd have to wait another day to try for the win... then I came to my senses - of course that WASN'T Kevin's shot!  It was Johnny Damon!  The NY Yankees superstar - who was one of the amateurs playing with Kevin in the pro-am - had hit what in baseball might have been a home run.  WHEW!  Kevin hit next and it landed very near the hole - within four feet.  The Kodak tent went wild with cheers!!  Excellent birdie opportunity here!

Kevin waited patiently for the other players to finish, then lined up his putt with the help of his caddy, Michael Collins. Breath held. Putt... going... going.. IT'S IN!!! WOO HOO!! The crowd went wild!  Kevin did some fist pumps, hi fived his caddy, then - as he heard the whoops coming from the Kodak tent (myself included) he ran over, jumped up and hi fived all of us!  It was a picture perfect Kodak Moment! 


After finishing his play for the day, Kevin emerged from the scoring tent to cheers, hugs from family and the awarding of the Kodak Challenge trophy and "giant check".

After the trophy was awarded, Kevin headed to the press room to talk about the win.  I had the chance to talk to Kevin, along with his caddy Michael Collins, on the win.





It's been an amazing year with a very exciting finish. As Kodak's Steve Powell said, "We very pleased with the tremendous success of the Kodak Challenge in just its first year.  I don't think we could ask for a better ambassador than Kevin Streelman as our very first champion.  We're excited for Kevin and very happy to have him associated with Kodak."

Kevin's name will always be the very first on that beautiful trophy, a well deserved win for a great champion!

For more, viisit the website, fan us on Facebook, and follow @KodakChallenge on Twitter as we head in to 2010.

• KodakChallenge.com
• Kodak Challenge Fan Page on Facebook
• @KodakChallenge Twitter
• PGATOUR.com Kodak Challenge Arena

I arrived at Disney for the Children's Miracle Network Classic today in preparation for the Kodak Challenge finale this week and the buzz about Kodak Challenge is everywhere! On the shuttle ride over, the other riders were talking about the Kodak Challenge finale, very excited that Kevin Streelman is going in with a 2-stroke lead.  On twitter, Kevin's caddy Michael Collins (@funnycaddy) is tweeting about it - "The money doesn't mean anything. It's the chance to be the FIRST of something... That opportunity is what it is really all about. Money is like Doritos, you can make more. Family, friends, and history THAT'S forever."  On Facebook, Kevin's friends are cheering him on and wishing him luck.

And then I headed to the finale hole - hole #17 on the Magnolia course - WOW! Everyone knows Disney knows how to make everything look great and feel magical - and they've done just that with the Kodak Challenge hole.  Huge signs and flags everywhere...

and then the extra Disney touch - lions, giraffes and flowers, OH MY!

This week is the finale of the Kodak Challenge, where a winner will be crowned on hole #17 at Disney's Magnolia Course at Children's Miracle Network Classic.  From the start at the Mercedes-Benz Classic, through 29 of the most beautiful holes and memorable moments in golf, players have carded scores hoping that their best 18 will be enough to win the $1M prize and the historic title of the very first Kodak Challenge winner.

With the Viking Classic cancelled, Kevin Streelman goes into the finale with a very strong 2-stroke lead, looking likely to be that winner.  Hole #17 on Disney's Magnolia golf course hasn't seen an eagle in years, so there's a very good chance Kevin will be the one grasping the spectacular Kodak Challenge trophy, designed by Tiffany.  The trophy won't be revealed until the winner is crowned - and will have a special added "Kodak" touch - but here's a sneak peek:



Kevin has had some very memorable moments this year, most recently with a dramatic a 41 foot putt for eagle on hole #16 at TPC Summerlin at the Justin Timberlake Shriner's Hospitals for Children Open.  That eagle allowed him to retake the Kodak Challenge lead from J.J. Henry, who had eagled #16 during round 2 to tie Streelman at 14-under-par.   Earlier in the week, Kevin had stopped by the Kodak Fan Photo Zone to visit with fans.  Check out the interview with Kevin from the booth.  Since then, Kevin extended his lead at Frys.com Open.




Hole #17 at Disney is a very difficult Par 4.  I had the opportunity to walk the hole earlier this year, so here is a little video overview of the hole:


Along with the finale action at CMN, Kodak will have a Kodak Fan Photo Zone on Hole #17 where fans can get free souvenir pictures.

Back at home, be sure to tune in to the action on Golf Channel, where fans can play the Photo Challenge and Text-to-win for chances to win great prizes from Kodak, Disney and Golf Channel.



Visit the website, fan us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter to stay up on all the action.

• KodakChallenge.com
• Kodak Challenge Fan Page on Facebook
• @KodakChallenge Twitter
• PGATOUR.com Kodak Challenge Arena
• Kodak Challenge Fantasy Pick'em Game
• Golf Channel Photo Challenge
  

As part of the pre-conference activites for the 140 Characters Conference at the Kodak Theatre in LA, Kodak presents Great Web Videos Made EASY.

The 3 hour workshop will be taught by video blogging expert Steve Garfield. As a guru in the art of making video on the web, Steve is the founder of Boston Media Makers and has just come out with a new book, "Get Seen: Online Video Secrets to Building your Business".

Steve consults for many Fortune 500 Companies as a video expert. He has a very informative vlog highlighting product tests, sample video, equipment and more.  Here Steve unboxes his Kodak Zi8 and tests an external mic.

 

You can find many more informative videos on Steve's video blog.

With the workshop, Steve will teach tips & tricks for great videos, including how to tell a story, think like an editor, plan your shots, create interviews and B-roll, determine the best sound and microphone placement and use existing and artificial light.

Along with Steve's expert insights, the $349 workshop fee includes a includes Kodak Zi8 HD Pocket Video Camera and an SD Memory Card (retail value $185).

With the included Zi8, you'll learn about capturing video, editing techniques, adding music and sound effects, creating titles and credits, exporting your video for uploading and various hosting choices (YouTube, Facebook, Blip.tv, Vimeo, etc.).

The workshop is Monday, Oct 26 1-4pm at Renaissance Hotel Hollywood.  Register now as seating is limited.

After a short hiatus during the PGA TOUR Playoffs, the Kodak Challenge is back and is a major part of the Fall Series.  The next five PGA TOUR events all feature a Kodak Challenge hole, culminating with the finale at the Children's Miracle Network Classic at Disney.  The 17th hole at Disney's Magnolia Golf Course will determine who is awarded the Kodak Challenge trophy and the giant check for $1M.

FANS CAN WIN TOO!
But this Fall Series is not just about the pros.  This fall, on Golf Channel, as part of "Golf's Photo Finish presented by Kodak", fans can win great prizes from Kodak, Disney and Golf Channel during coverage of the PGA TOUR Tournaments and Big Break Disney Golf.


Been wanting a KODAK Zi8 Pocket Video Camera?  Golf Channel will be giving away one Zi8 each hour of coverage of the tournaments with a Text-to-Win contest. They will also have the "Photo Challenge presented by Kodak" trivia contest with more great prizes, including a Grand Prize Disney Golf vacation! Watch the Golf Channel during their PGA TOUR coverage and "Big Break Disney Golf" show to win.  Go to GOLFCHANNEL.com to learn more about how to win.


Kodak will also be on site at each of the Fall Series PGA TOUR Tournaments with giveaways and free souvenir photos at the Kodak Photo Zone.  If you'll be attending any of the tournaments, be sure to stop by!

KODAK CHALLENGE LEADERS VISIT ROCHESTER
As we readied for the start of the Fall Series, we had the pleasure of welcoming two of the leaders in the Kodak Challenge to Rochester for a visit.  Kevin Streelman and Nicholas Thompson met with Kodak employees, gave some golf tips, signed autographs and more.  Kevin currently has a one stroke lead at 13-under through 16 holes and Nicholas is two off Kevin's lead at 11-under through 20 holes.  Check out the full leaderboard on PGATOUR.com.

I had the opportunity to head down to NJ this weekend to see all the action around the Kodak Challenge at The Barclays at Liberty National Golf Course.  Though the weather was rainy for some of the time, it was great golf and breathtaking views.

Along with the Kodak tent on hole #14 - the Kodak Challenge hole - we also had a Kodak Photo Zone where fans could get a souvenir picture taken with the Statue of Liberty in the background.  On the days where it was raining, we used a greenscreen backdrop inside the tent and a little Kodak magic to continue to give fans a great picture that had them appear to be standing at hole #14, with that same beautiful lady in the background.



Over at the Kodak tent, some amazing golf was playing out on the par three Kodak Challenge hole.  While it was great to watch Tiger, Padraig, Ernie and others get birdie - and very exciting to see Zach Johnson's tee shot hit the pin for a near Ace - the Kodak crowd was most excited to watch Kevin Streelman, the current leader, play the hole.  Kevin hit a great tee shot that looked like it might go in - we were on the edge of our seats!  Kevin didn't ace, but sank a short putt for his second birdie in a row on that hole (Kevin's birdies also helped me get a nice score on my Kodak Challenge Fantasy Pick'em - as one of my team picks last week).



I also talked with fans and customers and asked them what makes them smile.