PDGA National Tour Makes Turn towards Columbus, Ohio for Brent Hambrick Memorial Open
Brad Schick and Des Reading to Defend 2008 Titles at Hoover Reservoir Courses
by Dr. John G. Duesler, Jr.
The 2009 PDGA National Tour will begin the second half of the schedule this weekend, July 11th and 12th, in Columbus, Ohio at the Brent Hambrick Memorial Open.
Now in it's 12th year, the BHMO is played on the renowned Hoover Reservoir courses, which were immortalized on video when "Crazy" John Brooks' nearly aced an impossible long downhill drive many years ago. The Hoover Reservoir now hosts two outstanding courses where Brad Schick will defend his 2008 BHMO Title against the likes of two-time 2009 NT winner Nate Doss, Avery Jenkins, Dave Feldberg, Ken Franks and Eric McCabe. Schick's talents should not to be underestimated, though, as his 1020-rating and incredibly consistent record over the last decade can attest.
Des Reading will also return to Columbus to defend her 2008 women's title at the Brent Hambrick Memorial Open. Des is bringing great momentum into this weekend's event with five titles and five runner-ups in her 11 events played so far this year. But her nemesis, Val Jenkins, will also be in the field, as she returns to her home state to compete in the BHMO after missing last year's event. Not to be overlooked either is Hall-of-Famer, Elaine King, who has won all four events she's played this year in the women's open division.
Yet, as much as this event is about great competition and disc golf, the main emphasis will be on the memory of Brent Hambrick, who's untimely death from leukemia in 1997 lead to the creation of this tournament.
Past tournament director of the BHMO, Dan Busick shared with us how the event got started in 1997. "Brent had passed away earlier that year...and I thought what could we do to keep his legacy alive. So we started the Brent Hambrick Memorial Open," Busick said. "We wanted to run it the same way Brent ran his tournaments. The first year we had 120 people from around the country," recalled Busick.
That field included the likes of Hall-of-Famers, David Greenwell and Fred Salaz and began the fund-raising machine the BHMO has now become. Again this year, proceeds from the BHMO will go to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and will build on the over $32,000 this event has already raised in Brent's name. This event truly captures the essence of, not only the great competitions we have in disc golf, but the camaraderie as well.
For video highlights, live scoring, and reporting from the Brent Hambrick Memorial Open this weekend, stayed tuned to pdga.com.