After Steve Brinster dropped in his final putt to secure a one stroke victory during the 15th USDGC finale, he let out an emphatic “Yeah! Yeah!” as if a huge weight was lifted from his shoulders.
Making big plays when he needed to, Brinster, of Warwick, N.Y., submitted a 62 (-5) to end at (-31) for the Championship and at long last shed his drought of major tournament victories.
“To finally get a win after 20 years of playing disc golf feels amazing. I’ve always had the game to do it,” said Brinster, who will no doubt relish his new found title of 2013 US Disc Golf Champion.
In a battle royal between Steve Brinster and 2008 US Champ Nate Doss that included several lead changes, Brinster managed to regain control of the 2013 USDGC by one stroke over Doss.
With his 57(-10) Brinster, of Warwick, N.Y., brought his total to (-26), while Doss, of Capitola, Calif., is now at (-25) after his 59. Within striking distance is Steve Rico of Sylmar, Calif. (-23) and defending US Champ Will Schusterick, of Nashville (-22).
3-time US Champ Barry Schultz, of Louisburg, N.C., and Matt Orum, of Mobile, Ala., both at (-21) aren’t out of it yet either.
Thursday at the 2013 United States Disc Golf Championships, 2008 US Champ Nate Doss surged ahead on Thursday with a 57 (-10) that put him at (-17) for the Championship, one stroke ahead of Wednesday’s leader, Steve Brinster, who cooled off a bit today with a 63 (-4).
Behind Doss and Brinster are: Steve Rico, of Sylmar, Calif. (-15), defending US Champ Will Schusterick of Nashville (-14); and Matt Orum, of Mobile, Ala., Jared Roan of Highlands Ranch, Colo., and David Wiggins Jr., of High Point, N.C. are all at (-13).
Consistency was the story for Doss as he hit fairway after fairway which led to manageable birdie putts and few substantial mistakes.
With World Champ Paul McBeth and defending US Champ Will Schusterick having a lukewarm first round, New Yorker Steve Brinster took advantage and now sits atop of the USDGC’s leader board. Not far behind him is 3-time US Champ Barry Schultz.
Brinster leads the Open Flight with a 55 (-12), followed by Schultz of Louisburg, N.C. (-9), David Wiggins Jr., of High Point, N.C. (-8). 2008 US Champ Nate Doss of Capitola Calif., Jared Roan of Highlands Ranch, Colo., and Matt Orum, of Mobile, Ala., are all hanging close at (-7).
The USDGC is all that’s left for World Champ Paul McBeth to run-the-table on this year’s 4 majors – a historic run that’s brought on a discussion of how to define disc golf’s Grand Slam.
This season McBeth has been the talk of the disc golf world with jaw dropping play that’s amounted to record breaking rated-rounds (1132-rated final round at the Memorial Championship and then an 1119-rated final round at the Vibram Open).
“50 in 50”, the final frontier. This is the voyage of Captain Larry Kirk. His 50 day mission: to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new players and new courses, to boldly do what no man has done before.
On August 12, Larry will begin his 50 in 50 disc golf journey of the United States. This will be Larry’s 3rd time traveling to all 50 states, but his first time attempting to play all 50 states in 50 days. Larry mission is to help disc golf become more popular by traveling and spreading his love and ambassadorship for the sport.
Nikko Locastro and Will Schusterick have joined forces to promote the Pocket Disc to the Disc Golf world. Weighing in at 2.2 ounces and measuring eight inches across the Pocket Disc is capable of flying up to fifty yards. Pocket Discs are more portable than a rigid flying disc as they can be stuffed in your pocket or backpack where they wait ready for impromptu disc games of all sorts both indoors or out. “They are great for killing time around the teepad when play on the course in front of you is slow,” says Schusterick. Locastro adds, “When its nasty outside, I like throwing the Pocket Disc at targets in the house...It’s like indoor disc golf almost.”
For the first time since 2007, the USDGC has a repeat champion. Will Schusterick of Nashville, TN, can boast Championship crowns from 2010 and now 2012 after outlasting Ricky Wysocki by two strokes on Saturday.
This time Schusterick had several members of his family in attendance including his mother, sisters and grandparents. “There’s no better feeling in the world than to have family there as I succeed,” said Schusterick.
Tied with Monday Qualifier Josh Anthon at the start of the day, the round ended up becoming a battle between Schusterick and Wysocki, who tied Schusterick for Saturday’s round with a 55 (-13).
Josh Anthon of California is holding strong at -35 for the Championship, but now he’s tied with 2010 US Champion Will Schusterick, who surged during Friday’s third round with a course record tying 53 (-15).
Schusterick wasn’t the only player to humble Winthrop Gold on Friday. Jumping into the United States Disc Golf Championship conversation with a blistering 53 were Steve Brinster of New York and Finn Jussi Meresmaa, who had a share of the lead after Round 1.
After Anthon and Schusterick are Ricky Wysocki of South Carolina (-33), Brinster and Meresmaa at (-31), and three others are tied at (-28).
Fireworks were launched from the Pro Flight lead card during Thursday’s Round 2 of the USDGC, when Ricky Wysocki and Josh Anthon shot a lights-out 55 (-13). The pair now find themselves tied atop the leader board at (-24).
Wysocki was in route to tying Anthon’s 2009 course record of 53 (-15), however, he threw OB twice and made bogey on Hole 18. “He was throwing like a genius. He should have shot a 52,” said 2009 US Champion Nikko Locastro, who was also on the lead card and is only two back after Thursday.
Feeling even more like an all-star event, the USDGC Open Flight’s Round 1 – full of big-name groupings – did not disappoint with many players going low, real low. The lowest were 2009 US Champ Nikko Locastro and Finland power house Jussi Meresmaa at 56 (-12).
Others with good showings included Monday qualifier Josh Anthon and Brent Hambrick Memorial champ Ricky Wysocki at (-11). 3-time US Champion Barry Schultz, 2005 US Champion Dave Feldberg, and Matt Orum all finished at (-10).
Locastro wants to add 2-time US Champion before his name and if he keeps up his pace, he just might.
Grandmaster Dean Pfeifer says he only looks old. When it comes to turning in low scores, he plays as young as anyone on the course.
The 56-year-old Philadelphia, MS resident is now headed to his fifth USDGC after winning grandmasters (-8) and later taking one of the last two USDGC spots during a three-way tie-breaker at the Southern National Pro Championships.
Whether it’s heading to Rock Hill after a last minute invite or making the long trip just for the Monday Qualifier, Illinois resident Dana Vicich will take any chance he can get to play the USDGC.
This year he made it easy on himself by qualifying at the Vibram Open (Aug 16-19) in Leicester, MA, with his best finish to date (18th) at the Maple Hill course.
Qualifying for his 13th USDGC was a priority for Brad Schick this year, and after a 3rd place finish at the Brent Hambrick Memorial in his hometown of Columbus, OH, he won’t have to worry about traveling elsewhere to do it.
“I just want to be a part of it. I’m looking forward to it,” said Schick, (-18) who lives in nearby Westerville, OH.
The Beaver State Fling has been Tim Skellenger's ticket to the USDGC in the past, and this year he qualified in style by nearly winning it.
Others making the grade at the NT event (June 15th-17th) in Estacada, OR, were: Paul Oman of Evansville, IN, Don Smith of Santa Cruz, CA, Sean Phillips of Deer Island, OR, and Kevin Rarick of Nashville, TN.
Wanted: A traveling partner for the 2012 USDGC. That’s all Californians Micah Dorius and Shasta Criss need after qualifying for the Pro Flight at the Steady Ed Memorial Masters Cup in Santa Cruz, CA (May 18th-20th).
Also qualifying at the National Tour event were Jeremy Koling of Charlotte (-12), Jere Eshelman of Penn Valley, CA (-10), and Carlo Pelg of San Diego (-8).
Last appearing at Winthrop in 2007 with a uncharacteristic 60th place finish, Dorius is ready to get back to Rock Hill, S.C. for an event he cherishes.
“It’s the closest thing we have to a PGA tour event,” said the San Diego resident, who finished 8th in 2003.
Disc golfers with ratings ranging from 860 to 1000 found a level playing field at the USDGC Extravaganza tournament in Atlanta (May 5-6) to determine Georgia’s state spot for the USDGC Performance Flight.
In a unique twist on Performance Flight qualifying, Georgia PDGA State Coordinator Keith Johnson took the top three players from stroke play and the top three using Performance Scoring from each of the event’s first three rounds for a final round where Performance Scoring determined the state’s spot.
