Frisbeegolf News

Hannah Leatherman Captures US Women’s Championship

09.28.15

Hannah Leatherman proved this weekend that persistence is vital to success. After a neck injury forced Leatherman to withdraw from the World Championships in August, Hannah was determined to go home, rehab the injury, and return quickly to the process of sharpening her game. Hannah did just that.

This weekend Hannah found herself in contention at the US Women’s Championship in Ohio. After two rounds Leatherman was trailing tournament leader Valarie Jenkins by 5 shots. A win was definitely within reach, however chasing down savvy veterans such as Jenkins, Paige Pierce, Sarah Hokom, and Catrina Allen would be no easy task.

Hannah went to work in round three and fired a 52. Not only did that hot score tie Allen for the round’s best, it completely erased Val’s lead. She had done the only thing a competitor can hope to do, which is putting yourself in position to win. Going into the final round Hannah and Val were tied, four shots back of Allen. Pierce was three back. And Hokom was back just one. Game on.

Sunday proved to be a long and close battle. Allen fell off the pace early carding 4 bogies through the first 10 holes. Allen’s struggles left a neck and neck race between Leatherman and Pierce that lasted right down to the final two holes. Ultimately Hannah would emerge victorious after a critical drive by Pierce found the water OB. That sealed the deal and a one shot, Major championship win for Leatherman, the first of her career.

Photo courtesy of Dave Sage

Two more Innova ladies were also in fine form this weekend. Des Reading and Jennifer Allen battled all weekend long at the 10th Annual Four States Open in Joplin, MO. Des Reading was able to maintain the lead from wire-to-wire, but just barely. Allen kept the heat on and would finish in the second spot just one shot back. George Smith also held the lead in Masters from beginning to end, picking up a nice, two shot win.

Other notable finishes from this week:

Madison Walker, US Women’s Championship – 7th Place Open
Erica Johnson, US Women’s Championship – 8th Place Open
Melodie Bailey, US Women’s Championship – 9th Place Open
JD Ramirez, Waxahachie Open – 1st Place Masters

We are now down to the season’s final Major, the United States Disc Golf Championship. Championship Week kicks off this Friday with the US Amateur Doubles contest in Charlotte and Rock Hill. Then on Monday, October 5th, Monday Qualifying rounds are open to the general public and provide one last chance to qualify for the USDGC. The Championship itself begins on Wednesday, October 7th and runs through Saturday, October 10th. For more information visit www.usdgc.com.

Jay Reading and Andrew Fish Deliver A+ Performances

09.21.15

Andrew Fish took down the win at the A-tier Eric Yetter Champions’ Cup in Pennsylvania. Fish was down six shots after round one, in an event that consisted of only three rounds. He blasted right back up in round two, shooting a 1053-rated round of 57 and took the lead. Fish then shot the best final round and claimed a 4-shot win over Jeremy Koling. Fish was also joined atop the leaderboard by teammates Joe Mela who finished in 3rd place, and Mike Moser who finished 4th.

The weekend’s other big A-tier event was the Green Mountain Championship, just up the road in Smuggler’s Notch, Vermont. Jay Reading picked up a nice win in Masters. Reading grabbed the lead in round one with an impressive, 1048-rated round of 56. He would go on to lead wire-to-wire and a 9-shot win. Valarie Jenkins finished in 2nd place, while Des Reading and Hannah Leatherman snagged the 4th and 5th place spots. Steve Brinster lead the way in the Open finishing 5th. Avery Jenkins and Drew Gibson tied for 6th place.

Other notable finishes from this week:

Steve Boylan, Checkered Flag Open – 1st Place Masters
Barry Schultz, Craven Chains Classic – 1st Place Open
Nate Sexton, Craven Chains Classic – 2nd Place Open
Joe Rovere, Johnny Roberts Memorial – 1st Place Open
Jessica Weese, Nevada State DGC – 1st Place Open Women
Sara Lamberson, Middle TN DGA Championship – 1st Place Open Women
Vanessa Van Dyken, La Pura Sangre – 1st Place Open Women

Good luck to all of the ladies heading to Ohio this weekend for the United States Women’s Disc Golf Championships. It is sure to be an exciting event to close out the women’s touring season. The weekend after should be fairly quiet tournament-wise, as players move towards Rock Hill, South Carolina and the 2015 United States Disc Golf Championship. We’ll be there, and hope that you’ll be there too.

NT Series Finale Leads to Excitement

09.16.15

The 2015 National Tour wrapped up this weekend at the Disc Golf Hall of Fame Classic. Paul McBeth once again found himself in contention for the win, however was unable to outlast Michael Johansen in a sudden death playoff. A host of players were in contention all week long but it was “MJ versus McBeast” for all the marbles and it took them extra holes to determine the winner. However, Paul was victorious in the pursuit of his 4th consecutive NT Series Championship title, winning by over 80 points.

As we march towards the season’s final Open Major, the United States Disc Golf Championship, let’s recap some of the season’s top competitive storylines to help set the tone. Perhaps the biggest storyline of them all is Paul McBeth’s run at disc golf’s first, in-season grand slam. McBeth won the Australian Open back in January to claim the season’s first Major. He went on to capture wins at the Scandinavian Open, European Open, and the PDGA World Championships. Paul has only one event left to make history and it will be on a course and at an event, where he has never won.

The US Championship crown has proven to be difficult to capture over the years. This is especially true for those attempting to pull of the “Kenny Slam”, a phrase that affectionately describes the feat of winning both the World and US titles in the same season. Ken Climo was the first to accomplish the slam in 2000. He did so again in 2002, which gave birth to the Kenny Slam phrase. Barry Schultz is the only other player to win both events in the same year, which he did in 2003. It has not happened since.

Note: The PDGA Championship in Augusta, GA served as the national championship for 2011.

For those who are now weighing Paul McBeth’s odds on the elusive grand slam, consider that the average USDGC finish for the player who won the World title that same year is 6th place. Paul McBeth’s average USDGC finish is 5th place (5.6) for his three years as World Champion. His lifetime average finish at the USDGC is 12th (12.6) place.

Another interesting storyline is how many playoff scenarios we have seen at recent National Tour and Major events. Last year at Pro Worlds we witnessed arguably the greatest final and playoff in World Championship history. Paul McBeth was able to outlast Ricky Wysocki in Portland to defend his World title. Then just two months later it was Will Schusterick, JohnE McCray, and Paul McBeth in overtime at the 2014 USDGC. Will Schusterick was victorious there, capturing his third US title. Shusterick now heads to Winthrop seeking not only to surpass Schultz in US titles, but also to keep McBeth from the grand slam.

Another fact that might have escaped the casual fan relates to Ken Climo and Barry Schultz. Along with Will Schusterick, Ken and Barry are the most decorated US Champions. Climo has five US titles. Barry and Will each have three. However heading into the Hall of Fame Classic, neither Climo or Schultz had even qualified for the 2015 USDGC. Both Ken and Barry delivered a strong message however, playing extremely well in the Open division and punching their tickets to Rock Hill. You can bet that players who are eyeing USDGC Monday Qualifying rounds for a tin cup effort to make the Open, breathed a collective sigh of relief.

There is no doubt Paul McBeth deserves the world’s #1 ranking. He is clearly the player to beat. However recent history might suggest that there are more players than ever heading to Winthrop with a legitimate opportunity to win. If that is not an exciting way to close out a phenomenal tournament season, we don’t know what is.

The upcoming United States Disc Golf Championship is one of the most fan-friendly events on tour. Please visit the tournament website for information, or follow the events live online. It is sure to be an exciting show and we look forward to seeing you there.

We would also like to congratulate Team Innova’s other top performers this past weekend:

Barry Schultz, Disc Golf Hall of Fame Classic – 6th Place Open
Ken Climo, Disc Golf Hall of Fame Classic – 8th Place Open
Valarie Jenkins, Disc Golf Hall of Fame Classic – 2nd Place Open Women
KJ Nybo, Danish Disc Golf Championships – 1st Place Open
Chris Becker, Eugene Disc Golf Celebration – 1st Place Open
Kyle Crabtree, Mountain High Disc Golf Tournament – 1st Place Open
Stephen Miller, Red Oak Rumble – 1st Place Open

Innova Veterans Shine at Selinske US Masters

08.31.15

An extremely talented masters field assembled in Charlotte this weekend for the 2015 Tim Selinske US Masters Championship. The event often referred to simply as “the Selinske” has become one of the most coveted Major titles in disc golf. Innova would like to thank the Charlotte Disc Golf Club, the tournament staff, and each of the 301 competitors who joined us to celebrate Tim’s life through this wonderful competition.

One of those gritty competitors was 4-time US Masters Champion, Barry Schultz. The 2010 US Masters was Barry’s first-ever tournament in the Masters division. He won. Barry was able to slip past Patrick Brown that year in a sudden death playoff. Schultz successfully defended the title in 2011, and again in 2012. Barry added his fourth title in 2014 so he was once again looking at an opportunity to defend.

After skipping Pro Worlds earlier this month, Barry came into this tournament fresh and exceedingly focused. Schultz was especially close to Tim Selinske and was chosen to speak on his behalf at the opening ceremony. Barry provided a warm welcome to competitors and shared some memories of Tim, who passed away in 2009 after a lengthy battle with Langerhans’ Cell Histiocytosis.

Schultz also came out strong on the course. He fired an opening round of 55, landing him just two back of teammate Kevin McCoy. On day two Barry took over the top spot with a 1052-rated round of 51. Barry had plenty of fellow team members to keep him company. McCoy, Patrick Brown, Brian Schweberger, George Smith, and Ken Climo all spent time at or near the top. But in round four Barry posted his best round of the tournament, a 1073-rated 41, which put him in complete control heading into the final day.

Barry played relatively safe on Sunday, cruising to 6-throw win and his 5th US Masters crown. Kevin McCoy locked down the second spot. Patrick Brown hung in to round out the top five. Stan McDaniel was able to edge out Laymon Gray for the win in Grandmasters. Stan now adds a US Masters title to his career resume that includes three Masters World Championship titles in 1994, 1996, and 1997. Stan is also a member of the Disc Golf Hall of Fame.

Another Charlotte legend and Hall of Famer is Alan Beaver. Alan battled hard all weekend and his efforts paid off as well. “Al Birdie” rallied down the stretch and captured his second US Masters title in the Senior Grandmasters division. Debbie Scott lead the way in Masters Women, taking home the second spot behind the venerable Elaine King. Des Reading finished in third.

Other top team performances include:

Karina Nowels, Mello Yellow Challenge – 1st Place Open Women
Chris Sprague, Des Moines Challenge – 1st Place Open
Justin McLuen, Des Moines Challenge – 1st Place Masters
Mike Moser, Pennsylvania State Championship – 1st Place Open
Jessica Weese, Sierra College Pro Am – 1st Place Open Women

Even though the touring season is beginning to wind down there are several extremely important events on the calendar. The final stop on the PDGA National Tour is the Disc Golf Hall of Fame Classic. This event will be held on September 11-13 at the International Disc Golf Center in Appling, GA. The ladies have their last big dance at the US Women’s Championship on September 25-27 in Ohio.

Last but not least comes the season’s finale, the United States Disc Golf Championship. The USDGC will return once again to Winthrop University in Rock Hill, South Carolina on October 7-10. Many eyes will be on Paul McBeth who is chasing history. McBeth is one win away from sweeping every Major championship in the 2015 calendar year. A feat that has not yet been accomplished in the history of Disc Golf.

Paul McBeth 4peats the World Championships

08.10.15

Congratulations to Paul McBeth on his fourth consecutive PDGA World Championship title! Paul won by 9 shots making this year his largest margin of victory to date. At first glance, it might appear Worlds was no sweat for McBeth, however this win was anything but a walk in the park for the defending champion.

The 2015 PDGA World Championships began on Tuesday, August 4th. For the first two days, both Open pools played Moraine Gold once and Slippery Rock Gold twice. After the third round, Pro pools were merged and McBeth found himself on the second card, 8 shots behind Tennessee’s Will Schusterick who was out in front. Paul was facing serious competition and only 54 holes left to fight his way into the finals. Many started to wonder if a comeback was possible. Was McBeast starting to slip? Could he rally to pull off the #4peat?

McBeth himself, had no doubt. He went to work first thing Thursday morning and proceeded to blister Deer Lakes. His round of -15 set a new course record and McBeast Mode had officially been activated. Paul’s round consisted of 13 birdies, 1 eagle, and 4 pars. Just like that he picked up 7 shots on the leader and moved into second place. Fans erupted and began to lick their chops at what appeared to be another epic battle down the stretch. And as one competitor put it on Thursday night, “Paul McBeth broke disc golf”.

Paul was not finished. McBeast Mode had been switched on and McBeth had no intentions of turning it off anytime soon. His hot streak continued Friday at Moraine Gold where Paul carded 15 birdies and 3 pars to set yet another course record! That meant that in just two rounds, McBeth had gone from 8 strokes back to 8 strokes in the lead with just 27 holes to go.

The Semi-Finals were back at Moraine Gold, the same course McBeth had just dominated. With now an 8 stroke lead Paul could relax at bit, and proceeded to gain another 4 strokes on second place, extending his lead to twelve. Steve Brinster shot a bogey free -10 to take the fourth spot in the Final 9.

Paul’s stellar play afforded him what amounted to a victory lap in the Final 9. Steve put on a spectacular show in front of a huge gallery; draining 40+ footers like they were drop-ins. Brinster had secured 4th place, but didn’t stop until the last putt had fallen. McBeth cruised effortlessly on Saturday afternoon to his fourth consecutive World Championship title, which was also his fourth PDGA Major win of the year. McBeth is four for four at the 2015 Majors, winning in Australia, Sweden, Finland, and now the World title here in the US. Paul continues to amaze everyone with consistent play and clutch comebacks when the stakes are highest.

Ken Climo Wins 15th World Title

The Masters leaderboard was topped by Innova team members all week. Jay “Yeti” Reading, Patrick Brown, Ken Climo, Mike Moser, and Tom Carrillo held down top spots all week. As the dust settled on Saturday however, it was Climo who claimed the victory. The win was Ken’s third Masters World title, adding to his twelve Open World Championship crowns. Ken had to a lot of chasing this year. Climo did not grab the tournament lead until halfway through the Final 9. It was a sweet victory for him, made even sweeter by the presence of his wife and daughter who were with him most of the way. Patrick Brown’s brilliant performance earned him the second spot, while Mike Moser and Jay Reading would eventually tie for 3rd place.

Old Guys Rule

Joe Mela aka the “Technician” carved up the demanding Pittsburgh courses to win his second World Championship in the Grandmasters division. While the ageless wonder, Peter Shive, captured his 13th World title in the Legends division. Amazing!

There were countless outstanding performances last week. We could not be more proud of all of Sponsored Athletes and Ambassadors. Here is a breakdown by division of where everyone finished up:

Spectator Guide – 2015 PDGA World Championships

08.07.15

Disc golfers from around the world are enjoying a fabulous week here in the Pittsburgh area. Excellent battles are going down all over the place across multiple divisions. Since Worlds is such a large event we would like to share some information that should prove helpful as we approach the final rounds.

Many spectators head straight for the lead group in the Open Division. That was a great call on Thursday as fans were treated to a spectacular, course record-beating round by Paul McBeth at Deer Lakes. Paul began the day eight shots from the lead, yet ended the day only back one. The best players in the world are putting on a show every day so you cannot go wrong following those groups.

There was also quite a show yesterday afternoon in the Masters Division. It was an all-Innova card that featured Ken Climo, Patrick Brown, Mike Moser, and Jay “Yeti” Reading. Patrick began the morning round today with a five shot lead over Climo so the action there is sure to be exciting down the stretch.

In Women’s Open, Valarie Jenkins continues the lead the way for Team Innova. Val currently sits in a tie for 3rd place at +4 for the championship. Val will no doubt be seeking to claw her way to the top in pursuit of her 4th World Championship title. If you have never seen the best women in the world compete, get prepared to be amazed.

Competition will come to a close on Saturday. Open and Women’s Open divisions will play a semi final round at Moraine State Park in the morning, then head to Slippery Rock University for the finals. the Masters will play both their semi final round and finals at Slippery Rock. All semi final rounds begin at 8:00am.

When navigating the courses during tournament play be sure to mute your cell phones or turn them to vibrate. Most people are following PDGA Live Scoring feeds which we highly recommend. Hand-held leaderboards also accompany the event’s top groups. It is also important to do your best to remain behind the competitors to minimize any distractions. Should you find yourself in the sightline of a player making his/her shot, just do your best to remain still. One other important tip is to provide competitors with plenty of space. A distance of 40-50 feet is plenty. This distance also provides room for members of the media who are covering the tournament action.

Be sure to come visit us at Slippery Rock tomorrow. Innova will have a booth right next to the giant PDGA tent that serves as tournament central. We will have a variety of items to sell and plenty of free swag as we celebrate the conclusion of this fantastic event. We look forward to seeing you there!

If you are unable to attend the event be sure to tune into Disc Golf Planet for live video coverage throughout the week. DGP.tv also plans to feature live, disc golf industry workshops to discuss the game’s most important and intriguing issues.

Helpful Links

Innova Instagram Worlds Coverage
Official PDGA Pro Worlds Championships Web Site
PDGA Worlds Information and Coverage
Competition Schedule
Live Scoring
Emerging Sports TV Livestream Coverage

Team Innova Starts Strong at 2015 Worlds

08.05.15

The first day of singles competition is in the books here in Pittsburgh. Many of our sponsored athletes and ambassadors are off to fantastic starts in their respective divisions. Here’s a rundown of those in top positions heading into today’s rounds.

Many eyes will be on the Open lead card today. The A Pool will play two rounds at Slippery Rock University, which is also the site for the finals. This should be a significant moving day on the tournament leaderboard. Fans will also catch a glimpse of what kind of ground can be made, or lost, during Saturday’s final round.

We would like to encourage you to come out and watch this week. The Pittsburgh-area courses are in spectacular condition and are extremely enjoyable to walk. If you are working this week and unable to attend, please consider coming to the finals this Saturday. Here is what you need to know to enjoy the show:

If you are unable to attend the event be sure to tune into Disc Golf Planet for live video coverage throughout the week. DGP.tv also plans to feature live, disc golf industry workshops to discuss the game’s most important and intriguing issues.

Helpful Links

Innova Instagram Worlds Coverage
Official PDGA Pro Worlds Championships Web Site
PDGA Worlds Information and Coverage
Competition Schedule
Live Scoring
Emerging Sports TV Livestream Coverage

The Greatness – Paul McBeth Documentary

08.04.15

The SpinTV presents a series of Disc Golf related short documentaries! These quality videos have been produced by Epic DG Films and highlight interesting players in the sport. Get to know 3x World Champ Paul McBeth in the latest documentary…

Come Join Us at the 2015 PDGA Pro World Championships!

07.30.15

If you are within striking distance of the Pittsburgh area next week, please consider stopping by the 2015 PDGA World Championships. Innova will be in town all week to enjoy the competition and festivities. It is sure to be an exciting and fun-filled week!

Pro World Championships Events:

If you are unable to attend the event be sure to tune into Disc Golf Planet for live video coverage throughout the week. DGP.tv also plans to feature live, disc golf industry workshops to discuss the game’s most important and intriguing issues.

Helpful Links

Official PDGA Pro Worlds Championships Web Site
PDGA Worlds Information and Coverage
Competition Schedule
Regatta Information

Anthony Barela and Kaylee Campbell Capture World Championship Titles

07.27.15

What an amazing week at the 2015 PDGA Am Worlds and Junior Championships in Kalamazoo, MI. Congratulations to all of the tournament competitors who traveled from around the world, as well as the tournament staff and countless volunteers who made the event a success.

Team Innova was well represented in six different divisions at Am Worlds. Here’s a breakdown of how everyone finished in their respective divisions:

Exciting battles were taking place everywhere, but none more so than the one between Anthony Barela and Izak McDonald. These two had already put on a fireworks show in June at the US Amateur, where Barela (age 15) became the youngest player in history to capture the amateur crown. McDonald (age 14) finished a close second to Barela, and therefore came into Am Worlds even more determined to capture the win.

Anthony and Izak moved to the top of the leader board and it quickly became clear that they would be tough to catch. Both players held the lead numerous times, only to find themselves tied heading into the showcase Final 9. Gavin Rathbun also clawed his way into the finals, along with North Carolinian, Mark Huether. All four played well down the stretch, however it was Barela and McDonald who stole the show once again.

The lead continued to change hands throughout the finals as the pair launched jaw-dropping tee shots and drained clutch putts, including a 60-footer by McDonald for an eagle on Hole 7 which gave him a one shot lead. Both players carded birdies on Hole 8 and arrived at the final hole with Izak still up one. The group had to wait atop Hole 9 for about 10 minutes while the group ahead of them putted out, adding to the intensity of the moment. Izak had honors and proceeded to rip his drive down the 810’ final hole, but it flipped over and drifted way right, finding OB. This opened the door for Barela who marched right on through, sticking his drive within about 20 feet of the pin and a look at eagle. Barela’s eagle putt lipped out but birdie would be plenty to earn “AB” the first world title of his promising career.

Izak was devastated to have come but one errant tee shot from getting the win himself. To his credit, he gathered himself prior to the award ceremony and delivered a speech that rivaled the quality of his performance on the course. Both players acknowledged each others outstanding play, hoisted their trophies, and demonstrated class and composure well beyond their years.

Kaylee Campbell was also able to hold off serious competition among the Junior Girls U19. She fought her way to a 7-shot win over teammate Alexis Mandujano and a host of other talented young ladies, to capture her first world title as well. Jacob “Cupcake” Courtis lead the charge in Boys U13. Jacob was unable to catch Sweden’s Adrian Werme for the win, but he did knock down a second place finish, as well as a DQ Blizzard right before the finals began.

With Am Worlds behind us, we now all turn our attention to the PDGA Professional World Championships, which begin August 4th in Pittsburgh, PA. Many eyes will undoubtedly be on Paul McBeth as he looks to win his 4th consecutive world title, and his 4th Major of the 2015 season. We wish everyone headed that way safe travels and good luck, and look forward to seeing you in Pittsburgh!

Other top team performances include:

Juliana Korver – World Overall Disc Golf Championships, 1st Open Women
Tita Ugalde – World Overall Disc Golf Championships, 3rd Open Women
Steve Boylan – Central Illinois Disc Golf Championship, 1st Masters
Hannah Leatherman – Delaware Disc Golf Challenge, 2nd Open Women
Mike Moser – Delaware Disc Golf Challenge, 3rd Open
Andrew Fish and Devin Frederick – Delaware Disc Golf Challenge, T-5th Open
Bob Cannon – Delaware Disc Golf Challenge, 4th Masters
Justin McLuen – Pro Flight Open, 1st Masters
Chris Sprague – Pro Flight Open, 2nd Masters

Paul McBeth Does It Again: European Open Champion

07.20.15

Paul McBeth continues to show us why he is the best in the world. The past two weeks, he proved it in Europe in a big way. Yesterday he defended his title at the European Open against a hard pressing Ricky Wysocki. The European Open is in a class of its own, with over 10,000 spectators, live wrap-up shows, and the final holes broadcast live on Finnish national TV.

Paul carved the course up on Thursday and Friday, giving him a 6-stroke lead over Karl Johan Nybo in second. During the round on Saturday, Paul slipped, injuring his back. Paul lost a bit of his lead to Ricky Wysocki, but still held on to a three stroke lead going into Sunday’s final round. The final round was another epic battle between the top two players in the sport with Ricky tying it up with just 4 holes to play. However, just two holes later, on Hole 16, Ricky was unable to land his approach shots on the island green. He finally made the island green on the fourth attempt, but it cost him three crucial strokes. With only 2 holes to go, Paul only needed to par out for his third PDGA Major win in 2015.

Also finishing strong was Karl Johan Nybo, who was on the lead card most of the tournament, finishing in 5th place. Drew Gibson had his best finish at a Major, landing in 10th. Valarie Jenkins settled into third place in the Open Womens division early and held that spot all the way to the podium.

Presidents Cup

Following last week’s win at the Scandinavian Open, Paul and the rest of the American team battled the best of Europe in the President’s Cup. Paul and the rest of the American Team won their 7th consecutive President’s Cup. With tons of spectators on the course (estimated at 2500), Paul and the American Team held onto the title with a win of 29.5 to 22.5 points (Match play). It was a great start to the week!

2015 PDGA Am and Junior World Championships

Paul McBeth and Nate Sexton will be leaving Europe and heading to the PDGA Am and Junior Worlds in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Paul will be coaching and accompanying the INNOVA Junior Team Members during their rounds at Am Worlds. INNOVA team members Jay and Des Reading are also in Kalamazoo this week running the EDGE Skillshot Event and hosting instructional clinics for the players. Kevin McCoy will also be volunteering at Am Worlds as a PDGA Marshal. After the week at Am Worlds, these team members will be traveling to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to begin practice for the 2015 PDGA Pro World Championships. Best of luck to all the players this week in Kalamazoo.

All photos provided by European Open, copyright 2015.

Team USA, 7-time Presidents Cup Champions

07.15.15

Team USA retained the Presidents Cup in Nokia, Finland today, winning by a score of 29.5 to 22.5 over Team Europe. This match play event is an ideal prelude to tomorrow’s opening rounds of the European Open, the season’s 3rd PDGA Major Championship. An impressive gallery was on hand at The Beast, one of the most famous and prestigious disc golf courses in the world.

Fans were treated to spectacular play by both teams as players attempted to “tame the Beast” under ideal scoring conditions. For complete coverage of todays action and the European Open be sure to subscribe to the SpinTV’s youtube channel, which will be releasing a live broadcast summarizing the day’s events. The ”Insider Show” will feature live studio interviews with the players, news from the course and high-definition footage from the event. Take a step inside the ropes from Wednesday to Sunday!

Paul McBeth Wins the Scandinavian Open

07.13.15

Congratulations to Paul McBeth on an incredible performance at the Scandinavian Open. His round of 52 (PDGA Round Rating: 1086) consisted of fifteen birdies and three pars, and propelled him to a 6-throw lead. If there was any hope of catching Paul in the final round it probably faded quickly for those behind him.

McBeth came out firing once again and was -7 through the first nine holes. He finished the final round at -11 and captured his second PDGA Major of the season. Valarie Jenkins lead the way for Team Innova on the women’s side. Val would finish at +20 for the event, good enough to secure her a solid, 3rd place finish.

The season’s next Major begins on Thursday at the highly anticipated, European Open. Paul McBeth is the defending European Open Champion having won the biennial event back in 2013. The European Open is sure to be an exciting preview of what to expect at the PDGA Professional World Championships in August. There are a variety of ways to follow the EO this year, so be sure to visit the “How to Follow” section of the event’s official tournament web site.

This Wednesday be sure to tune into coverage of the Presidents Cup, a team-based event between Team USA and Team Europe. Team USA has won all six of the previous President Cup events, however this year stands to be the most competitive to date. Here is a look at this year’s rosters:

Team USA: Eric McCabe (Captain), Paige Pierce, Catrina Allen, Paul McBeth, Nathan Doss, David Feldberg, Paul Ulibarri, Ricky Wysocki, Will Schusterick, and Steve Rico on reserve

Team Europe: Derek Robins (Captain), Camilla Grunden, Natalie Hollokoi, Karl Johan Nybo, Simon Lizotte, Pasi Koivu, Jalle Stoor, Seppo Paju, Juho Parviainen, and Henrik Johansen on reserve.

We wish both Presidents Cup teams, as well as all competitors in the 2015 European Open the very best of success throughout the week!

Other notable team finishes this past weekend include:

Steve Boylan, Silver Cup – 1st Place Masters
Jay Reading, Silver Cup – 2nd Place Open
Izak McDonald, Silver Cup – 13th Place Open (Junior Team!)
Holly Finley, Silver Cup – 2nd Place Open Women
Des Reading, Silver Cup – 4th Place Open Women
Brian Schweberger, Sandhills Hybrid Invitational – 1st Place Masters
Alan Beaver, Sandhills Hybrid Invitational – 1st Place Grand Masters (Career win #200!)
Andrew Fish, Sandhills Hybrid Invitational – 2nd Place Open
Debbie Scott, Sandhills Hybrid Invitational – 2nd Place Open Women
Calvin Heimburg, Daytona Open – 1st Place Open
Chris Becker, Columbia Redviviva Open – 2nd Place Open

Maple Hill Open 2015

06.29.15

Soggy. Windy. Chilly. Not the most favorable of tournament conditions, however that is what competitors faced for Sunday’s final round at the Maple Hill Open. Paul McBeth had held the lead through the first three rounds but then struggled down the home stretch. One of those who passed McBeth was teammate Gregg Barsby.

Gregg fired the hottest final round score (55) which vaulted him into a two-man race with Ricky Wysocki. Ricky pulled ahead to win by 3 but Gregg notched his best NT finish so far this year. McBeth wound up in the 3rd spot, which was his lowest NT finish of the season.

Team Innova members finishing in the top ten were Joe Rovere (6th), Nate Sexton (T-7th), and David Wiggins Jr. (9th). Jessica Weese and Valarie Jenkins lead the way in Open Women. The two would eventually tie for 3rd place. Teammates joining them in the top ten were Des Reading (7th), Sarah Cunningham and Hannah Leatherman (T-8th), and Madison Walker (10th).

Many of these players now travel to Sweden for the season’s next PDGA Major, the Scandinavian Open. Then the very next week, Team Europe and Team USA square off in the President’s Cup, a match play event that precedes the European Open in Nokia, Finland. Almost immediately after the EO, competitors travel back to the US for the 2015 PDGA Pro World Championships in Pittsburgh. Three Majors in three countries, just in the next 40 days. Be sure to check out pdga.com for complete coverage and we will see you on the course!

Team Sweep at the Kansas City Wide Open

06.22.15

Team Innova continues to gain momentum heading into the heart of the tournament season. This past weekend was another good showing, particularly at the 33rd Kansas City Wide Open. Paul McBeth was dominant once again in Open, successfully holding off the young Discmania phenom, Eagle Wynne McMahon. Gregg Barsby was also solid locking down the third spot.

Jennifer Allen lead wire-to-wire and captured the Open Women’s division. And putting the icing on cake were George Smith who won Masters, and Duane CD Steiner who won Grandmasters. Congratulations to everyone who was in Kansas City for a team sweep of all professional divisions.

Everyone will now turn their attention to the next PDGA National Tour event, the Maple Hill Open which kicks off this Thursday. Be sure to tune into the PDGA website and PDGA Live for complete tournament coverage. This will give fans one last chance to see who has their games dialed in before the summer series of Majors; the Scandinavian Open, European Open, and Pro World Championships.

Watch the Final 9 here

Other top performances from this weekend:

Jessica Weese – King of the Lake 2015, 1st Place Open Women
Jim Oates – King of the Lake 2015, 1st Place Grandmasters
Melodie Bailey – Wheat City Throwdown, 1st Place Open Women
Steve Loyd – Wheat City Throwdown, 1st Place Masters
Adam Hunt – Long Island Open, 1st Place Open
Joe Rotan – Abilene DGA’s Wild Hair – 1st Place Masters

Team Sweep at the Kansas City Wide Open

06.22.15

Team Innova continues to gain momentum heading into the heart of the tournament season. This past weekend was another good showing, particularly at the 33rd Kansas City Wide Open. Paul McBeth was dominant once again in Open, successfully holding off the young Discmania phenom, Eagle Wynne McMahon. Gregg Barsby was also solid locking down the third spot.

Jennifer Allen lead wire-to-wire and captured the Open Women’s division. And putting the icing on cake were George Smith who won Masters, and Duane CD Steiner who won Grandmasters. Congratulations to everyone who was in Kansas City for a team sweep of all professional divisions.

Everyone will now turn their attention to the next PDGA National Tour event, the Maple Hill Open which kicks off this Thursday. Be sure to tune into the PDGA website and PDGA Live for complete tournament coverage. This will give fans one last chance to see who has their games dialed in before the summer series of Majors; the Scandinavian Open, European Open, and Pro World Championships.

Watch the Final 9 here

Other top performances from this weekend:

Jessica Weese – King of the Lake 2015, 1st Place Open Women
Jim Oates – King of the Lake 2015, 1st Place Grandmasters
Melodie Bailey – Wheat City Throwdown, 1st Place Open Women
Steve Loyd – Wheat City Throwdown, 1st Place Masters
Adam Hunt – Long Island Open, 1st Place Open
Joe Rotan – Abilene DGA’s Wild Hair – 1st Place Masters

McBeth Takes Beaver State Fling in Sudden Death!

06.15.15

Estacada, OR – Paul McBeth needed extra holes to get it done yesterday but ultimately found a way to capture his third PDGA National Tour win of the season. McBeth found himself in relatively unusual territory at the Beaver State Fling; for Sunday’s final round Paul was not on the lead card. McBeth instead, was four shots back of 2014 United States Champion, Will Schusterick with 18 holes to play.

Schusterick put down a strong final round but McBeth carded back-to-back eagles on Holes 9 and 10 to get within one shot of the lead. The pressure was cranked up immediately and the gallery was pumped for the home stretch. Will extended his lead back to two shots on Hole 14 but gave one right back on Hole 15. Then a costly bogey on Hole 17 left them deadlocked with one hole remaining.

Paul and Will are both former Beaver State Fling Champions. McBeth captured the title in 2011 but would follow that up with a 28th place finish in 2012 and a 15th place finish in 2013. Paul rebounded in 2014 winning his third consecutive World Championship title on these very same courses. Schusterick on the other hand, was the 2013 BSF Champion and had not finished lower than 4th at this event. After both players parred the 72nd hole this time around, the pair remained in a tie and the playoff stage was set.

Both players needed clutch putts to birdie the opening two playoff holes. Both of them delivered and it was on to Hole 3. At this point in the match even the slightest mistake would make the difference. Schusterick’s drive came up short, leaving him with a difficult birdie attempt which he failed to convert. McBeth’s drive landed outside the circle long, but still in good position for birdie. Will could only watch and hope for another chance. Known for his excellent putting, particularly when the stakes are high, McBeth drilled the 30+ footer for the win and yet another legendary performance.

Jessica Weese picked up her first career NT win in Open Women. Jessica and Valarie Jenkins were tied for the lead after impressive opening rounds of 61. Jessica outpaced Val in round two to take a four shot lead. Val responded in round three by picking up all four of those shots, leaving them tied once again heading into the final round. Jessica had a steady round that included 2 birdies and 2 pars, which was enough to take down the win by one.

Patrick Brown continued his stellar play in Masters and clawed his way into a playoff of his own. Patrick came up short however, losing in sudden death to the Colorado veteran, Scott Stokely. Jim Oates continued his Oregon dominance with a repeat win in Grandmasters. Oates won the Grandmasters World Championship title in 2014, and was the Beaver State Fling Champion in 2012 and 2013. Other top team performances at the BSF were Nathan Sexton (7th Place MPO), Drew Gibson and Kyle Crabtree (T-10th Place MPO), and Jennifer Allen (5th Place FPO).

Other top performances from this weekend:

Calvin Heimburg – Tallahassee Open, 1st Place Open
Espen Møkkelgjerd – Sula Open, 1st Place Open
Barry Schultz – Zebulon Cha’Ching and Zing, 1st Place Open
Steve Boylan – Plastic Addicts Frenzy and Three Rivers Open, 1st Place Masters at both
Kealan Dunne – Maple Hill Am Side, 1st Place Men’s Advanced

Anthony Barela Wins 2015 US Amateur, Youngest in History

06.08.15

Congratulations to Innova Junior Team member, Anthony Barela, on his record-breaking performance at the 2015 United States Amateur Championship. Barela won the event with a score of -22, which was lowest in tournament history. Anthony is also just 15-years old, making him the youngest player to ever hold the US Amateur crown.

“I was a little nervous going into the event because I wanted to win so badly”, Anthony said after the tournament. “I finished tied for 38th here last year. This time I just refused to lose”, added Barela. Anthony credits his Destroyers for the distance he needed off the tee on the long courses. He also used Discmania’s P2 Psycho for upshots, which really was about all he needed. “I carry the Roc3 for my mid-range, but I didn’t need them much this weekend”, said Barela.

Anthony’s father, Jason, was a glowing and proud papa. “It was an awesome and amazing experience”, Jason said. “There were moments when I had to turn away because it was just too much. The putts he knocked down… I couldn’t believe it.” Jason has pushed Anthony on the baseball field, however disc golf has come naturally to Anthony. “He plays baseball for the high school and they practice all the time. I have pushed him in that but he has picked up disc golf on his own. He started coming out and playing with us and got real good, real quick”, Jason said.

Barela and teammate Matt Kashima sat atop the tournament leader board all weekend, pushing each other hard into the final round. Barela held a one shot lead going into Sunday’s final round and proceeded to calmly shoot 55, tying two other players for the hottest final round score. This would be enough to pull ahead of the pack and secure a five shot win.

Anthony can probably expect to see a boost in his PDGA player rating in the near future. He is currently rated 990, but his weekend round ratings of 1030, 1011, and 1016 average out to 1019, a full 29 points higher than his rating. That kind of consistency is what it takes to excel in the professional ranks, which Barela clearly has in his sights.

Team Innova was also well represented at six different A-tier events during the weekend. Nathan Sexton picked up his first A-tier win of the season and the sixth of his career, at the Ft. Steilacoom Open in Lakewood, Washington. Nate trailed leader Ricky Wysocki by two going into the final hole. Nate put his drive about 45 feet short with a chance to make birdie.

Wysocki was the last to tee and grip-locked his drive, yanking it right and missing a mandatory. He then had to re-tee. Wysocki’s second attempt flipped over and landed out-of-bounds, opening the door wide open for Nate to march through. No longer needing a birdie to win, Nate pitched his upshot under the pin for an easy tap in three, and a one shot win over Wysocki and Dave Feldberg.

Patrick Brown was also victorious in Washington grabbing the win in Masters. Brown is hoping his season’s hot streak will continue this weekend at the Beaver State Fling, the next stop on the PDGA National Tour.

Joe Rovere and Tom Carrillo pulled off an Open/Masters sweep of their own in Colorado. Joe took home the top Open spot at the High Plains Challenge, successfully defending his title from 2014. Carrillo fell one throw short of winning the 2014 High Plains Masters title so the win was extra sweet for him as well.

Pasi Koivu lead the charge across the pond at the Grip EQ – Tour Kaatis in Finland. Pasi came from behind in the final round to win against a very strong field. His final round of 57 was five shots better than the next best score, and vaulted him into the tournament’s top spot.

Other top performances from this weekend:

Matt Kashima – United States Amateur Championship, 2nd Place Men’s Advanced
Christian Dietrich – Zoo Town Open, 2nd Place Open
Jessica Weese – Zoo Town Open, 2nd Place Open Women
Des Reading – 16th Nacogdoches Open, 1st Place Open Women
Casey Wright – 16th Nacogdoches Open, 2nd Place Open
Debbie Scott – Wilkesboro Wide Open, 1st Place Open Women
Steve Brinster – Tinicum Open, 1st Place Open
Barry Schultz – Big Valley Challenge, 1st Place Open
Brian McRee – Big Valley Open, 1st Place Masters
Philo Brathwaite – Canon Ball Run, 1st Place Open
Chris Brophy – Canon Ball Run, 1st Place Masters
Erica Johnson – Dragan Disc Golf Classic, 1st Place Open Women
Kevin McCoy – The Ham & The Hog, 1st Place Open
Steve Boylan – LIS: SOHO Open, 1st Place Masters
Karina Nowels – Riverpark Open, 1st Place Open Women
Lacey Brugler – 2015 Disc Girls Gone Wild, 1st Place Girls U16