Frisbeegolf News

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

McBeth Rolls in Oklahoma

06.01.15

Congratulations to all of our team members in action this past weekend. Paul McBeth stayed close to home and competed in the 37th Annual Norman Pro/Am in Norman, OK. Paul opened the tournament with consecutive rounds of 45 to take a commanding lead on day one.

McBeth backed that up with solid golf on Sunday as well, rolling to a 9-shot win. Nate Sexton finished in second. In Open Women it was Jennifer Allen who put on the dominant performance. Jennifer was down 1 heading into Sunday and then lit it up with back-to-back rounds of 62. She would go on to an even larger margin of victory, winning by 11.

Team Innova also had a strong showing in Portland at the Rose City Open. Kyle Crabtree (Open), Melodie Bailey (Open Women), and Junior Team member Madison Rogers (Rec Women) all took home top honors in their respective divisions. For Kyle is was his second straight win at this event, which always boasts a pretty stout field. Dustin Keegan finished in a tie for 3rd in the Open, and Lacey Brugler finished right behind Madison nabbing 2nd place.

Jessica Weese (Open Women) and Jim Oates (Grandmasters) were victorious at the 2015 Turtle Rock Pro/Am in Markeeville, CA. Jessica successfully defended her title as Turtle Rock Champion. She was the event’s winner in 2014 as well.

Finally, we would like to congratulate everyone who participated in the 2015 Am World Doubles Championship. Everyone had a great time in Texas despite soggy and challenging conditions for most of the weekend. Kudos to Jay and Des Reading, as well as Joe Rotan and Danielle Vargas for their efforts to make the event the best it could be.

Other top performances from this weekend:

Andrew Bohme – 10th Annual Lemmon Drop, 1st Place Open
Joe Rovere, Sakuna Matata, 1st Place Open
Matt Dollar – The Majestic, 4th Place Open
Sarah Cunningham, Magnolia Open, 1st Place Open Women
Barry Schultz, Stoney Creek Crusher, 1st Place Open

Gregg Barsby Joins Team Champion

05.29.15

Gregg Barsby is one of disc golf’s most beloved characters. Hailing from Grass Valley, California, Gregg is known for his wit, charisma, and engaging demeanor on and off the course. Gregg is equally as strong on the course. He has amassed more than 100k in tournament winnings, notched 50+ tour wins, including the Masters Cup National Tour event in 2009.

Gregg has had several sponsors over his career that dates back to 1999. Looking to settle down for the long haul, Gregg recently made the decision to join Innova’s Team Champion. We caught up with him to talk a little more about his decision and life in general.

Welcome to the team, Gregg! We are thrilled to have you officially in the Innova family. How does it feel?

Choosing a sponsor is a big decision that requires more thought than some might think. Was there anything that helped make the decision easier for you?

Have you heard yet from the Iron Leaf himself?

What discs are in your bag at the moment?

What about a putter? That might be the toughest disc to switch up because of the mental part of it.

If you had to tee it up right now, what would you use?

Glad to see you working the Nova. That still seems to be a fairly underappreciated model.

Are you trying any other models that are new to you?

Any old school discs?
 

DX Stingray?

So it sounds like the transition might not be as difficult for you. Is that a fair statement?

So when did you start playing disc golf, and what was your first course?

How many courses have you played since then?

Do you hold any course records?
 

We noticed a Barsby for President post on Facebook. That’s actually not a bad idea. If we made you president of Innova, what would you do on your first day in office?

You have a busy tournament schedule coming up. What are some events you are excited about?

Throughout your travels you have built up a substantial fan base. Tell us a little bit about that.

Is that Barsby Empire, Inc.?

So if you could only play one more round, where and with who would you play?

Is music still an important part of your life?

What kind of music do you like?

What?! CDs… you do know they have music on the Internet now, right?

So no headphones on the course?

You must have a ton of CDs.

That’s awesome, Gregg. Thank you for your time. We wish you the best of luck throughout the year.

Winners Abound on Memorial Holiday Weekend

05.27.15

It was an incredible Memorial Day weekend on a variety of levels. For many of us the weather was delightful and allowed for casual rounds with friends and family on our local courses. There was also plenty of tournament action for those seeking the thrills of competition.

The most notable event was the inaugural, St. Jude Disc Golf Charity Invitational in Seaside, CA. Competition took a back seat to the much larger mission of raising funds for the St. Jude Hospital. Team Innova lead the way raising $34,614 for the cause, and the event as a whole raised $214,708. By all accounts the event was a tremendous success, especially for its debut. There’s still time to donate if you’d like to do so.

What a sick putt for the win!!! Val Jenkins is your first St Jude DG Charity Invitational winner! Congrats! pic.twitter.com/lLK1ENxHY5

— PDGA Live Scoring (@pdgalive) May 24, 2015

Team Innova had a pair of winners on the course as well. Valarie Jenkins won in heroic fashion draining a lengthy jump putt on the third hole of sudden death to slip past Catrina Allen. Jessica Weese was also in the hunt finishing just two shots back and securing the 3rd place spot. Kevin McCoy won Masters in convincing style. He grabbed the lead early and held on to win by five over Bamba Rico.

Paul McBeth cooled off a little this weekend and had to settle for a 2nd place finish. Three time US Champion, Will Schusterick had the hot hand affording him the Open Division win. McBeth did lead the way in fundraising however. Paul alone raised $21,023 helping to ensure everyone was a winner no matter how well they played.

Innova had two other pairs of winners over the weekend. Des Reading won Open Women at the Des Moines Challenge in Iowa, while teammate Justin McLuen took care of business in Masters. Then in North Carolina Barry Schultz and Brian Schweberger were marching to victory at the King’s Cup in Kinston. Barry took home the Open title and Brian was tops in Masters.

Two other nice wins were earned by KJ Nybo and JD Ramirez. KJ won the Oslo Open in Norway in an Open field that had 100 total competitors. That is stout competition for a PDGA sanctioned B-tier event! JD Ramirez got the win in his home state of Texas. He earned the Masters title at the Dogwood Classic in Tyler, TX.

The PDGA National Tour will be back in action June 12-14 for the Beaver State Fling. The event is held in Estacada, OR just outside of Portland. If you are in the area come on out. We look forward to seeing you there!

St. Jude Disc Golf Charity Invitational

05.22.15

Memorial Day weekend is almost upon us. This weekend the disc golf world will descend on Monterey, California for the St. Jude Disc Golf Charity Invitational. This event is raising money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, which fights to save children with cancer and other catastrophic illnesses.

The inaugural St. Jude Disc Golf Charity Invitational will bring together a unique partnership between St. Jude, the Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA) and the international disc golf community. Proceeds from this event will benefit St. Jude, where no family ever receives a bill for treatment, travel, housing or food. The invitational will also honor the legacy of disc golf pioneer “Steady Ed” Headrick, who led the way for disc golf to become one of the fastest-growing sports in the world.

The SpinTV has a preview the jaw dropping Headrick Course assembled on the Bayonet Golf Course. Meet the course designer Jussi Meresmaa and see him play the key holes!

About St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

Founded by the late entertainer Danny Thomas, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital opened in 1962 with the purpose of finding cures and saving children with cancer and other catastrophic illnesses. Since that time, St. Jude has emerged as the world’s premier pediatric cancer research and treatment center. St. Jude has a unique mission: to serve as a national and international resource in the fight against pediatric cancer and other catastrophic childhood illnesses. Learn more at stjude.org.

Paul McBeth Remains on Top of the World

05.18.15

Paul McBeth simply continues to roll. As the PDGA National Tour made its stop in Santa Cruz this weekend, all eyes were on Paul as the man to beat. Not only is McBeth the world’s #1 ranked player, he was also coming into this event as the 3-time (2012, 2013, and 2014) and defending Masters Cup Champion. Beating McBeth at DeLa would be no easy task.

One of those who came prepared for the task was Nate Doss. Nate would match Paul’s opening round of 63 which would tie them for the lead. Doss is no stranger to DeLaveaga. Not only did he grow up in the area, Nate won his third World Championship title in Santa Cruz back in 2011. While Doss has not won a Masters Cup in his career, he certainly has the game and the experience to get it done.

Photo courtesy of PDGA.com

Doss managed to pull ahead of McBeth by one with a second round of 66, setting the stage for an exciting final round showdown. On Sunday McBeth applied immediate pressure with birdies on 6 of the first 9 holes. A string of 5 consecutive gave Paul a 3 shot lead. Doss played well however and narrowed the gap to just 1 throw with 2 holes to play. The two matched birdies on the next to last hole, then strode to the tee of the iconic Hole 27, known as “Top of the World”.

Nate held the tee and thus a chance to apply some pressure of his own. His drive landed about 75 feet short so absent some heroics he would have to settle for par. McBeth responded by launching a sidearm Star Destroyer that came to rest well within his comfortable putting range. Paul would nail that putt for his 11th birdie of the round and a 2-shot win.

It is always a pleasure competing with Nate. That is one person who is genuinely happy to be in a great battle, win or lose.

“It is always a pleasure competing with Nate. That is one person who is genuinely happy to be in a great battle, win or lose.”, said McBeth after the round. Admiration for Doss peaked at the tournament’s close, as the crowd sang happy birthday. Nate celebrated his 30th birthday this weekend, which coincided with the tournament’s 30th anniversary.

Photo courtesy of PDGA.com

Paul was joined on the awards stage by teammates Patrick Brown who continued his hot streak as well over in Masters. Patrick held off some hard chargers in the final round to claim a 1-shot win and his second NT win in a row. “Learning how to win at DeLaveaga is one of the biggest achievements of my disc golf career. This track takes patience, perseverance, and a bit of DeLa love!”, said Brown.

Learning how to win at DeLaveaga is one of the biggest achievements of my disc golf career. This track takes patience, perseverance, and a bit of DeLa love!

Jim Oates earned another win at DeLa, this time in the Grandmasters Division. Jim is a two-time Masters Division Champion, winning in 1997 and 2011. Top team honors among Open Women this year go to Valarie Doss and Jessica Weese who finished 2nd and 4th respectively.

Photo courtesy of PDGA.com

The next stop on the 2015 PDGA National Tour is the Beaver State Fling in Portland, Oregon. We look forward to seeing you there!

Other strong performances this weekend included:

Joe Rovere, 303 Open – 1st Place Open
Casey Wright, 25th Annual Capital of Texas Open – 1st Place Open
Barry Schultz, 15th Annual Tarheel Tournament – 1st Place Open
Matt Peckham, Hotlanta 2015 – 1st Place Masters
George Smith, 2015 Paradise Diamond – 1st Place Masters
Steve Boylan, Madisonville Open – 1st Place Masters
Dean Tannock, Madisonville Open – 1st Place Grandmasters