Frisbeegolf News

Give4way – 4 New Discs

09.10.14

1st Run Thunderbird and 3 More Discs!
We’re having a giveaway to celebrate the release of the Thunderbird! The stability of a TeeBird with the speed of a Valkyrie; it can be described as a seasoned Firebird with less fade. The Thunderbird …

2016 Innova Calendar Contest

8.31.15

Submit your photos for the 2016 Innova Calendar by September 30th, 2015!
Don’t miss your chance to showcase your photographic skill, see your artwork on a custom INNColor disc and have a chance to win a DISCatcher® Sport Target. INNOVA is searching for photographs and original artwork to be featured in our 2016 Innova Disc Golf Calendar.

Submit your photographs featuring a disc golf event, a picturesque course/hole, players in action or other compelling disc golf scene. All photographers whose submissions are selected for inclusion in the 2016 calendar will receive a photo credit, copies of the 2016 calendar, and a Custom INNColor disc with their artwork on it. Photographers that have a photo selected for inclusion in the 2015 calendar will be entered into a drawing for a DISCatcher® Sport Target. Enter early and enter often!

Winners will be announced October 15.

Good luck and happy snapping!

2015 Innova Calendar Contest

8.27.14

Submit your photos for the 2015 Innova Calendar by September 30th, 2014!
Don’t miss your chance to showcase your photographic skill, see your artwork on a custom INNColor disc and have a chance to win a DISCatcher® Sport Target. INNOVA is searching for photographs and original artwork to be featured in our 2015 Innova Disc Golf Calendar.

Submit your photographs featuring a disc golf event, a picturesque course/hole, players in action or other compelling disc golf scene. All photographers whose submissions are selected for inclusion in the 2015 calendar will receive a photo credit, copies of the 2015 calendar, and a Custom INNColor disc with their artwork on it. Photographers that have a photo selected for inclusion in the 2015 calendar will be entered into a drawing for a DISCatcher® Sport Target. Enter early and enter often!

Winners will be announced October 15.

Good luck and happy snapping!

McB3AST 3Peats! 2014 PDGA Worlds MPO recap

08.18.14

The final rounds of the 2014 PDGA World Championships were perhaps the most exciting ever played in Disc Golf history. Throughout the week, Paul McBeth played consistently well, carding scores of 52, 54, 52, 53, 50, and 56 on the first 6 rounds respectively. The other top finishers, Paul Ulibarri, Ricky Wysocki, and Nate Doss were all playing great as well. While McBeth never held the lead, he did manage to stay a handful of strokes behind Ulibarri and Wysocki who traded the lead several times during the week.

The semi-finals were full of excitement. With only 27 holes left in the tournament, it was time to go big or go home. Ulibarri and Doss struggled early, but then came Hole 8. Hole 8 plays to an island green across a small ravine and the fairway is lined with OB left and right. Doss, Ulibarri, and Wysocki all landed safely in bounds on the green. McBeth was not so lucky. Paul threw OB twice off the tee before landing safe. Paul carded a quadruple bogey, 7, while everyone else birdied. The 5 stroke swing put McBeth 7 strokes from the lead with only 19 holes left. Many thought Paul’s chances of a three-peat were slim at this point.

McBeth showed true determination and wasted no time in picking up birdies. However, it wasn’t until the last three holes of the semi-finals that McBeth truly gained momentum. Paul put together an impressive string of seven birdies to finish the round (-10) at -65, while the leader, Wysocki, shot two pars and a bogey on the last three holes. McBeth was now only two strokes back going into the Final 9. The Final 9 was played from the long tees at Blue Lake on Holes 1,2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 13, 14 and 15.

In the Finals, McBeth quickly picked up one stroke on the first hole. After the third hole, McBeth was tied for the lead. By the fifth hole, McBeth was -4 for the round. A low rumbling was heard from the spectators as the group approached the same hole where Paul carded the 7 in the semi-finals.

This time, Paul landed safely in-bounds and in a moment of relief remarked, ”No seven this time”. However, the relief was short lived as the long putt from McBeth slid across the top of the DISCatcher, skipping OB. Wysocki’s putt for birdie fell low, but a drop in par still gave him a stroke on McBeth.With only three holes remaining, Paul was now one stroke behind. Hole 7 of the Final 9 layout is a Par 4 (Blue Lake 13 Long). Wysocki had the box, but threw his side arm uncharacteristically high resulting in an OB. McBeast attacked the opportunity, throwing a shot that put him dead center of the fairway. Wysocki’s approach landed short, skipping OB once more. Paul capitalized with a birdie, while Ricky sank a 50 foot putt to save bogey. The scores swung again, and for the first time in the entire tournament, Paul had the lead all to himself, with only two holes to go.

McBeth teed off first on the next hole, a 930 foot, par 5 with two large OB islands in the fairway. Paul’s drive floated to the left early, landing him inches from the OB line. McBeth needed another long drive to reach the target from his lie. It skipped a bit long leaving him with a tough shot from behind a tree. Wysocki’s drive was perfect and his second shot made it safely over the OB islands to put him in striking distance. Ricky made the 75 foot putt for an eagle 3, while McBeth settled for a birdie. Paul and Ricky were tied going into the last hole.

Hole 9 of the Finals was an 750 foot dogleg left with a low canopy guardian tree after the turn. Both Paul and Ricky had good drives leaving them with pretty standard approaches and short putts to finish the round with birdies.

Sudden. Death. World. Championships. Few things in the sports world are as exciting as this. Ricky’s sidearm drive on the first tee hit a tree down the fairway. Paul opted for the roller, which pulled right again, coming inches from the OB line. From a knee, Ricky’s sidearm upshot skipped right under the target. McBeast wanted the win here. He lined up for the 75′ putt and nicked the left rim. Both players cleaned up, still tied.

On Hole 2, Ricky’s drive skipped up under the DISCatcher while Paul’s ace run drive landed a little long. Paul would have to make a 30 foot putt to match Ricky’s drop-in. Undaunted, McBeast lined up and drained it, erupting a gallery of cheers. Neither player showed any signs of letting up, matching drives, approaches and monster putts for the next two holes.

On playoff Hole 5 (Blue Lake Hole 7 Long), both players had good tee shots, but Ricky ended up a bit left and had a tough lie with a couple trees guarding the forehand route. He opted to throw forehand and hit a tree only 25 feet away. Ricky’s third shot was on point, allowing for a clean approach to the hill with target a top. McBeth weaved a Roc3 through the low canopy leaving him with a slight anhyzer approach. McBeast pulled out a Nova, set the line, and watched it glide to the pin, hitting the face of the mound and rolling down a couple feet. Ricky gave his approach a chance, only to result in a near identical roll to the bottom of the mound. Ricky cleaned up giving McBeth the chance for the win. Paul approached his lie, undoubtedly feeling the most pressure he’d experienced on a single putt, and nailed it dead center capturing his third Open Disc Golf World Championships and 3peat. Paul joins Ken Climo as the only other player in history to 3peat the World Championships.

Portland was a great host city with excellent courses and friendly hosts. Portland will be remembered fondly for having one of the most exciting finishes in disc golf history. Congratulations to Paul and Ricky for their excellent play and their display of true sportsmanship under pressure.

Congratulations to all the competitors

Other Top 20 finishers:

8th Place – Steve Brinster
10th Place – Philo Brathwaite
15th Place – Nathan Sexton
16th Place – Drew Gibson
17th Place – Kyle Crabtree
19th Place – Josh Childs

Womens Open(FPO)
5th Place – Valarie Jenkins
6th Place – Hannah Leatherman
7th Place – Holly Finley
11th Place – Jessica Weese
16th Place – Des Reading

Masters (MPM recap coming soon):
Champion – Ken Climo
2nd Place – Barry Schultz
3rd Place – Patrick Brown
4th Place – Jay Reading
6th Place – George Smith
7th Place – Kevin McCoy
8th Place – Matt Peckham

Grandmasters
Champion – Jim Oates
4th Place – Mitch McClellan

Master Women
Champion – Carrie Berlogar
2nd Place – Anni Kreml

Senior Grandmasters
Champion – Dr. Rick Voakes

Legends
Champion – Peter Shive

European Masters Coverage from The SpinTV

07.25.14

McBeth Captures European Crown

07.21.14

Congratulations to Paul McBeth and KJ Nybo on their dominant performances at this weekend’s European Masters. In the end it was Paul McBeth who was able to pull ahead and capture the win by four. It was a spectacular finish as a handful of players were in contention on Sunday. But in what has become McBeth’s signature style, Paul saved his best round for last carding a tournament-best 52.

It was an exciting tournament from start to finish. The highlight of the second round was KJ’s EchoStar Destroyer cruising 394′ to crash into the chains for a solid ace on hole 12. SpinTV was there to capture the action, and the clip made YLE’s sports highlight show.

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At the end of round 2, KJ and Paul were tied for 1st. KJ carded a 56, while Paul repeated his 55 from round 1. The action didn’t stop there as KJ shot a hot 3rd round of 54, pulling ahead of McBeth by two strokes. Ricky Wysocki made a charge in the third round, carding a 53 which put him 2 strokes behind Paul. With only 4 strokes separating these players, it was anyone’s game heading into the finals. In true McBeast fashion, Paul shot a 1075 rated (unofficial) round of 52, propelling him to a 4 stroke victory. KJ finished a strong final round, managing to keep 3 strokes ahead of Wysocki. McBeth didn’t have much time to celebrate. He’s zipping back from Sweden to attend tomorrow night’s Am Worlds flymart in Minneapolis.

On the women’s side, Valarie Jenkins finished in a tie for third place with current World Champion, Paige Pierce. Catrina Allen and Sweden’s Ragna Bygde took down the top two spots in comfortable fashion.

Across the Pond

Back in the states a host of Innova players were taking care of business. Nate Sexton recently moved from Oregon to North Carolina and has wasted no time making his presence known. Nate took down a host of regional talent, including teammate and Carolina legend, Brian Schweberger, at the Raleigh Disc Golf Championship. Down the road in Macon, GA, Josh Childs grabbed another win at the Jones Zen for Chains. Innova Ambassador, Steve Boylan, was also victorious. Steve grabbed a nice win in Masters at the 32nd Illinois State Championships in Joliet.

This was also a weekend where our entire Junior Team, along with Nick Duran and Nate Corder were making their way to the 2014 Amateur World Championships. We would like to wish each of them the very best of luck!

Men’s Advanced – Anthony Barela
Boys U19 – Matt Kashima, Nick Duran, and Nate Corder
Boys U16 – Joel Maury-Holmes and Randon Latta
Girls U16 – Madison Rogers
Boys U13 – Jacob Courtis
Girls U13 – Lacey Brugler

If you happen to be in Minneapolis this week, please come see us, meet Paul McBeth and grab an autograph at the Am Worlds Fly Mart on Tuesday night. The event will take place at the Clarion Hotel and Conference Center at 6:00pm. We look forward to seeing you there!

2014 European Masters

07.16.14

The stage is set now set for Europe’s biggest disc golf event of the season, the 2014 European Masters. This PDGA Major event will be held at the Jarva Discgolf Park in Stockholm, Sweden. Competition begins this Thursday, July 17 and will feature the game’s brightest disc golf stars.

It should be a competitive contest as top American professionals such as Paul McBeth and Ricky Wysocki square off against international heavyweights, including the 2013 European Champion, Simon Lizotte. This will also give fans a great idea of what to expect next month, as the world’s best will meet at the PDGA Professional World Championships in Portland.

There are a variety of ways to follow the European Masters throughout the week. Complete details on event coverage are available at the European Masters web site. In particular you will want to follow the official PDGA Leader Board and use the hashtag #MastersDiscGolf for Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

$10,000 Toss at the MLU Championship!

07.10.14

Philadelphia, PA – At the MLU Championship Game, Major League Ultimate, Innova, and the PDGA will present the $10,000 Toss; a chance for ten fans to ace for $10,000, on Saturday July 19th. Ten contestants will be chosen at random from a pool of qualified individuals. The finalists will have one chance to throw an Innova golf disc at a DISCatcher® Pro 28, 150 feet away during halftime at PPL Park.

In order to participate in the challenge, contestants must purchase three qualifying attempts for $5.00 at the MLU Fan Zone tailgate section beginning at 2:00 p.m. Participants will receive one (1) raffle ticket for each attempt that lands in the qualification range. That ticket enters them in a drawing to be one of the 10 contestants to attempt the $10,000 Toss at halftime. Fans can enter as many times as they like but are only eligible for one halftime throw.

If no contestant makes the throw, the closest to the pin will get to take home the DISCatcher® Pro 28. If the $10,000 Toss is completed, the target will go to the person with the next closest throw as the consolation prize.

The $10,000 Toss is one of many events at the MLU Championship at PPL Park, a weekend full of entertainment, family fun and ultimate frisbee’s biggest game of the season.

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Paul McBeth Repeats as KC Wide Open Champion

06.23.14

Congratulations to Paul McBeth on another outstanding performance at the Kansas City Wide Open. Paul grabbed the lead in Round 2 and did not look back. A bogey free, 1080-rated round of 49 in Round 3 made it smooth sailing down the stretch as McBeth went on to capture his second consecutive KCWO title by 7 strokes over Ricky Wysocki.

The PDGA World Rankings held true to form in Women’s Open as Valarie Jenkins, Paige Pierce, and Catrina Allen were once again locking down the top card on the National Tour. Val would settle for second this time around, finishing 4 shots back of Paige and 3 shots ahead of Catrina. Duane CD Steiner defended his home turf, capturing the title in Men’s Grandmasters.

Kyle Crabtree rallied from behind at the Battle of Seattle after teammate Nathan Sexton jumped out to an early lead. Kyle’s 73 was easily the hottest final round score and propelled him to a 4 shot win. Jessica Weese and Patrick Brown claimed the top spots in Women’s Open and Men’s Masters at the 20th Frying Pan Open. And in Texas, it was the young phenom from Round Rock, Nate Corder, who picked up his first Open Division win at the Boxcar Bash. Way to go, Nate!

1st Run TeeBird3 Giveaway!

06.19.14

Win a 1st Run TeeBird3 & 2 More GStar Discs
We’re having a giveaway to celebrate the release of the TeeBird3! The TeeBird3 is faster with less glide, and has the same trusted turn and fade flight ratings as the original TeeBird. Many p…

FloydFest Ticket Giveaway!

06.11.14

2 Pairs of Tickets Up For Grabs!
Two lucky fans will each get two 5-day tickets to one of the premier festivals on the east coast. Come join us for 5 days of incredible music, disc golf and many other outdoor adventures. This years line-up…

Valarie Jenkins Wins 4th Japan Open Title

06.11.14

Valarie Jenkins was already one of the most decorated competitors in disc golf. This past weekend Val extended her legacy even further by capturing the women’s crown at the 2014 Japan Open. The win is Val’s 4th at the Japan Open (2006, 2008, 2010, and 2014) and her 14th PDGA Major Championship title.

Jenkins grabbed an early, four shot lead in Round 1 with an impressive 59. Des Reading and Paige Pierce were not far off the pace with solid rounds of 63. Val pushed her lead to eight in Rounds 2 and 3, however Pierce came charging back in Round 4 to erase Val’s lead completely. It was officially “game on” heading into the event’s final two rounds.

Photo courtesy of Japan Open Disc Golf

Val vs Paige has become one of the more anticipated matchups in recent years. Val finished second to Pierce at the World Championships in 2011 and 2013. The two are typically battling it out on the PDGA Tour and are consistently ranked among the best in the world. This time around it was Jenkins who emerged victorious. Val moved ahead by one shot in Round 5, then added two more shots to her lead in the final round to win by three.

Photo courtesy of Japan Open Disc Golf

In similar fashion, Paul McBeth and Ricky Wysocki have been trading blows all season. Coming into the Japan Open, Ricky has the head-to-head advantage over Paul 3-2. Both players needed 4 rounds to work their way to the top of the leaderboard as savvy veterans like Nikko Locastro, Jussi Meresmaa, Ken Climo, and Dave Feldberg were all scoring well despite the soggy conditions.

Photo courtesy of Japan Open Disc Golf

Since the Japan Open was cancelled in 2012 due to the tragic 2011 Tsunami, Locastro was essentially defending his title from 2010 where he beat Feldberg in a sudden death playoff. Dave Feldberg won the previous Japan Open, in 2008, the year Ricky began his career as a 15-year old amateur from Ohio. Needless to say, Ricky has come along way since then racking up more than 60 professional wins and more than 100k in tournament winnings.

Wysocki extended his two shot lead to four in round 5, affording him a bit of breathing room for the final. Ricky would finish the event at -11, four shots clear of McBeth and Locastro who tied for second place. Dave Feldberg and Nate Doss rounded out the top 5 at -1 and +1 respectively.

Despite the rainy weather, this year’s Japan Open was, as always, a remarkable success. It’s pageantry and overall player experience is second to none. Be sure to check out the photo galleries as well as MPO Final Round Coverage from SpinTV.

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2014 Japan Open: It Begins Thursday

06.03.14

We would like to wish everyone well as they prepare for this week’s PDGA Major Championship: the 2014 Japan Open. Held in beautiful Nasu Highlands, Tochigi, Japan, the Japan Open remains one of the most prized and coveted experiences on the PDGA Tour by players and spectators alike.

Not only will players enjoy a world-class course set in the mountains of Nasu Shiobara, they will experience the wonders of Japan and the Japanese culture. Tournament Director Kozo Shimbo and Innova President Dave Dunipace are bringing new surprises to this year’s event by transforming the Robert Trent Jones designed ball golf course, into two 18-hole disc golf courses.

In a recent article by PDGA member, Das Loomis, the Japan Open was described like this:

Das’ complete article is available online at The Japan Open: Are You Going? We would encourage you take a moment and enjoy the piece, as it delves deeper into the Japan Open’s rich history which dates back to 1985. For additional tournament information please visit:

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2014 Japan Open Official Web Site – www.japanopen.info
PDGA Tournament Leader Board – http://www.pdga.com/tour/event/15768

We would also like to congratulate the following Innova sponsored athletes on their recent victories:

• Espen Møkkelgjerd – Arendal Open, Eydehaven, Norway
• Nathan Sexton & Melodie Bailey – Lilac City Open, Spokane, WA
• Jay Reading and Des Reading – Des Moines Challenge, Des Moines, IA
• Paul McBeth – 36th Annual Norman Pro/Am, Norman, OK
• Chris Brophy – Evergreen Open, Santa Barbara, CA
• Joe Rovere – Sakuna Matata, Colorado Springs, CO
• Barry Schultz – Stoney Creek Crusher, Goldsboro, NC
• Jessica Weese – Turtle Rock Pro/Am, Markleeville, CA
• Brian Schweberger – The King’s Cup, Kinston, NC
• Chris Becker – The Lynx, Cottage Grove, OR
• Alan Beaver – Crooked Creek Classic, Chapin, SC
• Kevin McCoy & Sandy Gast – Peach Basket Invitational, Macon, GA
• Matt Kern & Dr. Rick Voakes – Holler in the Hills, Brownsville, KY

Threepeat: McBeth Wins His Third Masters Cup

05.19.14

An incredible weekend of tournament action concluded last night in Santa Cruz, where Paul McBeth emerged victorious from what was so far, the season’s most dramatic National Tour finish. Teammate Patrick Brown also earned the Masters division crown, outlasting defending Masters Cup Champion, Jonathan Baldwin, as well as teammates Micah Dorius and Chris Brophy.

The most intense action however, was definitely in the Open as Paul McBeth, Tim Skellenger, Ricky Wysocki, Steve Rico, JohnE McCray, and Simon Lizotte all found themselves in contention on Sunday afternoon. McBeth entered the final round with a 3-shot lead over Skellenger, who had a pack of heavy-hitters right on his heels. The course at DeLaveaga is known for its incredible beauty, but also for the potential danger on nearly every hole. Virtually no lead is safe at “DeLa”.

McBeth began his 24-hole final round slowly and carefully. His fellow competitors were not so patient, attacking the course with a sense of urgency. By mid-round it was clear that McBeth was not going to pull away. Paul was able to keep calm and string together 3 birdies on holes 19-21, followed by three pars to cap off a solid round of 68. Wysocki and Rico both posted rounds of 66 to finish 2nd and 3rd, as did Philo Brathwaite who jumped up to claim 6th.

For McBeth this was a hat-trick at DeLa. He won the Masters Cup in both 2012 and 2013 but this one was extra special. Paul described Sunday’s round as the “most epic” he had ever been a part of. Considering Paul is the highest rated player in history, owns the highest rated round in history, and back-to-back World Championship titles, that is an impressive statement.

Valarie Jenkins and Jessica Weese finished 2nd and 3rd in Women’s Open. It was smiles all around for both ladies. Val is fresh off her win of the Women’s Global Event last weekend, an event that drew more than 1100 women world-wide. Jess has been on a mission to prove herself atop the women’s game, so she was elated to capture the best NT finish of her young career.

One of the other great headlines from this weekend was Matt Dollar’s win at Hotlanta 2014. Matt won by two over teammate James Cole and picked up his first A-tier victory. Courtney McCoy won the Hotlanta title in Women’s Open, while husband Kevin McCoy clawed his way to a second place finish in Masters.

In Colorado it was Joe Rovere picking up his second straight A-tier win. Joe won the 303 Open in Denver in impressive fashion. He entered the final round with a 5-shot lead which he was able to pad down the stretch for a 7-shot win and a $1000 payday.

Other weekend winners include:

Kyle Crabtree – Rose City Open, Portland, OR
Barry Schultz – Tarheel Tournament, Chapel Hill, NC
Stephen Miller – King of the Hill, Newark, DE
Stephen Miller – Patapsco Punisher, Marriottsville, MD
Steve Brinster – Skylands Invasion, Warwick, NY
Jay Reading – Legion of Doom, Marion, IA

Simon Lizotte Wins Big at GBO

05.05.14

Congratulations to Simon Lizotte on an impressive win at the 2014 Glass Blown Open. Simon hails from Bremen, Germany but this year is touring the United States extensively with Discmania teammate, Avery Jenkins. So far Simon has finished no lower than 7th, quickly proving to be one of the most tenacious international players to compete full time in the US.

Make no mistake about it, Simon is no rookie on the global disc golf scene. Nicknamed “The Wunderkind”, Simon has been playing disc golf since he was 2 years old. The biggest win of his career came in 2012 at the Disc Golf European Championships. He followed that up with a very consistent 2013 season in which he earned the title of EuroTour Champion.

Simon’s first win in America came last weekend at the Eagle Eye Open, a B-tier event in Georgia. Prior to that he notched top ten finishes on the PDGA National Tour; 7th place at the Memorial Championship and the 2nd place at the Texas State Championships. With results like that, big-time tournament wins are just a matter of time.

While not a part of the PDGA National Tour, the Glass Blown Open boasts an equally impressive Open field. Simon had his hands full with US heavyweights such as Paul McBeth, Jeremy Koling, Ricky Wysocki, and Will Schusterick. Simon moved into the lead in round two posting the hot score of 49. He then pulled away in the third and final round with a solid 52. McBeth trailed Simon closely with a closing 53, but had to settle for a 2nd place tie with Jeremy Koling, a full 5 shots back of Lizotte.

Team Innova claimed a six pack of wins on the weekend as well, including Valarie Jenkins’ and Nathan Sexton’s sweep at the North Umpqua Invitational in Glide, OR. Nate’s opening round 43 set a new course record and carried a PDGA rating of 1077. He closed out the win, on his birthday no less, with a 1064-rated round of 47.

Gregg Hosfeld and Sandy Gast added a sweep of their own at the Orlando Open in Florida. Just up I-95 Brian Schweberger and Stephen Miller finished 1-2 in Men’s Open at the 2014 Tour De Richmond in Richmond, VA. And last but not least, Devin Frederick took down his fourth consecutive, Men’s Open title at the People’s Championship in Lehigh Valley, PA.

After only two years, an invite to the Georgia Team Invitational is becoming very sought-after commodity. Matt Dollar and Keith Johnson have teamed up with North Georgia Canopy Tours to offer a unique event on a beautiful and challenging course. Team “Charlottans” were honored to take home the win, one of the Spirit Awards, and both male and female MVPs. Austin Turner won Male MVP, winning all his matches and carding an ace. Also on the team were Alan Beaver and Innovites Henry Childres, Josh Day, and Matt Peckham.

We have two exciting weekends of tournament action ahead. This weekend we will watch as more than 1000 women will participate in Women’s Global Event tournaments around the world. The 2014 WGE stands to be one of the most significant occasions in the history of women’s disc golf.

Then on May 16th the National Tour returns to one of the country’s most beloved venues, DeLaveaga DGC in Santa Cruz, CA. Will Simon Lizotte maintain his momentum and grab his first NT? Will Paul McBeth win his third consecutive Masters Cup title? One thing is for sure… the 2014 tournament season is as competitive as we’ve ever seen so you better stay tuned.

Mister Masters

4.29.14

Barry Schultz may not have captured the US title last year, but he came charging back to take the title for the fourth time in five years. His stellar play in the typical windy conditions of Tulsa left him with a seven stroke margin of victory.

Barry Schultz grabbed the early lead at the Tim Selinske US Masters Championships over teammate Brian Schweberger. Barry fired a 1065-rated opening round of 48 that would propel him to his 4th (2010, 2011, 2012, and 2014) US Masters title. Barry adds just one more highlight to his brilliant competitive career. Other top finishers include Patrick Brown (3rd), Ken Climo (4th), and defending US Masters Champion, Brian Schweberger (5th). Kevin McCoy finished a solid 8th, most impressive after working hard to help prep courses for this PDGA Major event.

Along with Barry’s US Masters win, Team Innova had a host of impressive performances around the world this past weekend.
Paul McBeth emerged victorious at the The Rumble held across three cities; Bettendorf, Davenport, & Moline, IA/IL. He too grabbed the lead in round one and put it on cruise, notching a comfortable 7-throw win. McBeth continues to fine tune his game as he eyes the season’s next PDGA National Tour event, The Masters Cup in Santa Cruz, CA.

Across the pond it was Pasi Koivu and KJ Nybo dominating the field at the Copenhagen Open in Denmark. KJ held the lead early, however it was Pasi who turned up the heat down the stretch and took home the win. In addition, both players secured invitations to the 2014 United States Disc Golf Championship this October.

Joe Rovere picked up a nice win at the Pendaries Spring Classic in New Mexico, outlasting Ricky Wysocki who has been white-hot as of late. Joe found himself up one with three holes to play. A birdie on Hole 16 earned him another stroke advantage. He then needed only to play it safe on 17 & 18, which he did successfully to win by two. Teammate Jared Roan also placed well finishing in 5th.

Later this summer, Portland will host the 2014 PDGA Professional World Championships. Veteran promoters in the area have their hands full with event preparations, however not too full to run a ”Lite” version of the esteemed Beaver State Fling in nearby Estacada. Nate Sexton and Valarie Jenkins won Men’s and Women’s Open respectively; wins that will no doubt provide confidence when they return to the same courses in August.

Other top performances this weekend include:
Mike Moser – Seneca Creek Soiree, Gaithersburg, MD (1st Place Mens Open)
Christian Dietrich – Kooky Noosa Challenge, Libby, MT (1st Place Mens Open)
Bobby Musick – Lakeside Battle at La Mirada, La Mirada, CA (1st Place Mens Open)

Another incredible weekend of tournament action awaits as more than 500 golfers converge on Emporia, KS for the annual Glass Blown Open. Host city for the 2013 Amateur World Championships, Emporia truly embraces the disc golf community and provides a world-class disc golf experience.

For a complete list of upcoming PDGA events visit http://www.pdga.com/tour/events

Women’s Global Event- Boosting Female Participation

4.15.14

How to gain more female disc golfers remains to be a tough question, but the PDGA Women’s Global Event along with other all-women events and leagues are helping to bridge the gulf between the number of male and female disc golfers.

In what has become one of the PDGA’s most visible tools to promote female disc golf participation, women and girls will join together on May 10th at the 2014 WGE through dozens of participating tournaments across the U.S. and several countries. Participants of all ages and skill levels will earn a ‘global score’ from the first two rounds of their local tournament so they can see how they compare to females across the globe.

It’s a rare chance to see so many females from so many divisions gather all at once in a sport that sees so few women during regular co-ed tournaments.
”I think it’s really cool – for especially new girls – to go to a tournament that gives them a place to start and see where they fit in the world as far as their game,” said Erin Oakley, of Lansing, Mich., who is organizing a WGE tournament in Michigan.

The inaugural WGE in 2012 saw 636 registered players and broke history as the largest PDGA event for a single demographic. PDGA Women’s Committee Chair Valarie Jenkins, whose website Discgolf4women.com has been instrumental in WGE communication, said the 2012 WGE boosted female participation in disc golf and inspired female event directors to push forward.
”I considered it a success when I was getting emails from players that had never played in a tournament – and some that never played disc golf – looking for more info and wanting to sign up,” said Jenkins in an email.

Taking a page from the first Global Event in 2011 (co-ed), the WGE (run every other year) was organized by the PDGA’s Women’s Committee, which aims to attract and retain females to organized disc golf events.

WGE Tournament Director Karolyn O’Cull’s goal is to run a smooth event and increase turnout. Her team is off to a good start. Current registration has already well surpassed last year’s registrants.
When asked if the WGE would reach 1,000 players this year, O’Cull replied in an email, ”Of course, but I think it is a more reasonable goal for 2016.”

The more WGE participants, the better. Disc golf can use the exposure to boost female participation. Of the 8,304 active PDGA members in 2003, 625 or 7.5 % were females. Flash forward 10 years and of the active 20,587 members in 2013, the female percentage is virtually the same at 7.4%. Total up every member to sign up since 1976 (more than 62,000), females still account for only 7%.
”We’re growing rapidly, but the number of men compared to the number of women is not changing at all,” said PDGA Memberships Manager Sara Nicholson, who also acts as the PDGA staff representative to the Women’s Committee.

So what’s keeping more females from playing disc golf?
”This is a great question and I am not sure there is one right answer,” wrote O’Cull, who is on the PDGA Board of Directors and acts as the board’s liaison to the Women’s Committee.
Many feel the same way, but there are recurring clues as to why females aren’t playing including:

• A sport with so few females isn’t initially attractive.
• It can be intimidating to play alongside men, especially for beginner females.
• Women are generally the caregivers of children, so it’s challenging for mothers to find the time.

Though Nicholson agrees there’s no magic answer, she does find female growth in areas like Michigan that develop women’s leagues and clinics that foster female camaraderie and support.

Erin Oakley, also a Women’s Committee member, has had an average total of about 40 females the last few years in her female disc golf league in Lansing and she believes more should take the plunge.
”I hear so many times that girls don’t want to play in a women’s league because they’re not good enough. That’s not the case,” said Oakley, later adding that once women join they find that they’re actually better than they thought.

Genevieve Belanger, a member of the Charlotte Disc Golf Club Womens League, says she enjoys playing with women because they’re encouraging and they play at her speed. Plus, it’s not hyper-competitive says Belanger.
”It’s all about getting together and having a good time and improving your game,” said Belanger.

Though female golfers are the minority in regular PDGA events, given the right circumstances they become much more visible. By playing in their local WGE tournament, many of which are all-female, it’s easier for women to participate and feel they’re a part of something bigger.
”You can use the Women’s Global (Event) to grow the sport in so many ways,” said Nicholson, who is leading a WGE tourney at the International Disc Golf Center in Appling, Ga.

Glancing at the current WGE registered players there are all skill levels including many recreational and novice players. Plus, once you pay your local tourney entry fee, this year there’s no further cost to participate in the WGE.

Belanger, of Concord, NC, hadn’t been playing long before she played in the 2012 WGE in nearby Charlotte, which she said was a great experience. At the tournament, she was able to play with similarly skilled women, learn tips, and give advice to younger females. She’s playing again this year and helped encourage a woman new to disc golf to join her.

The WGE, which includes junior divisions, could also be that first step for school-aged girls since many are unaware of disc golf.

Can you imagine the PDGA without 3-time World Champ Valarie Jenkins? When asked if she would’ve found disc golf if her parents hadn’t been so involved in the sport Jenkins replied:
”I don’t know. In the town that I lived in, it (disc golf) wasn’t a huge influence. My parents were the ones driving the sport. I don’t think I would if my parents weren’t so involved and so much of a driving force,” said Jenkins.

You can see why O’Cull believes disc golf has to find girls much sooner through early education. Through a grant, the PDGA supports the EDGE program, which incorporates disc golf into the school curriculum. Disc golf can also find girls through Girl Scouts, homeschooling groups, and clinics, says O’Cull.

Females 25 through 39 years old make up 52% of the PDGA’s female membership, but there’s plenty of room for growth. Women only events like Oakley’s Disc Girls Gone Wild (in its 8th year) with its friendly atmosphere, sweet player’s pack, and female camaraderie have become a yearly female destination and help new women get hooked on the sport.

Sometimes women’s leagues fizzle-out because of low turnout, but Oakley urges league directors to be patient. She said it took two years for her league (with an average age of 30-ish) to show life and it took four years for her main event, Disc Girls Gone Wild to get going.

Stephanie Vincent, who co-directs Women Throwing Frisbees – a Central Texas women’s league, says she’s struggled to maintain strong weekly attendance since a lot of her members are mothers and find it difficult to play regularly.

Although league attendance is important, Vincent’s main goal is just to get females to meet and play whenever they can, and posting informal tee times on the Women Throwing Frisbee’s Facebook page is great for that.
”I’m basically just acting as a link for women to get up and talk to each other,” said Vincent, another Women’s Committee member.

Vincent encourages mothers to bring their children along to disc golf outings if they’re able. ”We’re trying to make it kid friendly,” said Vincent, who hopes disc golf promoters look closer into child care at events as a way to attract more females.

To find even more adult female disc golfers, promoters will likely have to go beyond the course. Oakley plans on passing out free disc golf promo bags to female strangers this year, while Vincent’s league Facebook page and websites like Discgolf4women.com as well as PDGA.com/women and their Facebook pages continue to reel-in new females from the web.

The effects of this year’s WGE will most likely add to the ranks of female disc golfers and may encourage others to play more seriously. It did for Belanger, who said she sought out more tournaments after her 2012 experience.

The emergence of all-female event series like the Poppy Series in Northern California and Oakley’s new Michigan series this year could be the competitive atmosphere more women need to take disc golf a step further.
Jenkins thinks these women’s series, which she says statistically get more women competitors than co-ed events, could be the look of the future.

Right now, though, the focus is on this year’s WGE. Who knows how many females will find the love for disc golf after playing the event? A more gender balanced disc golf won’t happen overnight, but the WGE is making steps toward that.
”It’s a great introduction to try a new sport,” said Jenkins.

Todd Harrell – Innova Disc Golf

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