Main Menu

1000+ Years of Disc Golf!

1000+ Years of Disc Golf!

Friday, May 17, 2013 - 23:12

The 2013 Tim Selinske United States Masters Championship has 53 Pro Members of the Professional Disc Golf Association competing in four divisions.  Counted amongst those ranks are nineteen PDGA numbers of the four-digit variety (that’s 50,000 membership numbers ago) and seven of those nineteen also have a four-digit (1000+) PDGA Player Rating – yikes!  Of the 126 Amateur PDGA Members in attendance, there are another eleven four-digit PDGA numbers to be found.  All in all, these 30 PDGA Members alone, represent about 1,000 years of collective disc golf experience.  Attempt to add in the years of experience from the other 149 competitors in the tournament and you will quickly realize that the huge amount of talent and experience on display in this single event is truly stunning.

The Pros played a single round with tee times today on the Rock Creek course, while the Amateur divisions flipped-flopped two rounds on the Cedarock and Wellspring courses.  All three Cedarock Park disc golf courses are simply amazing.  The two permanent courses have been in the ground for nearly three decades without much modification.  A third temporary course was added for the 2013 Tim Selinske US Masters Championships not only to accommodate the nearly 200 person field in attendance, but also to add another set of challenges to the competitors in the tournament.  Each course has an entirely different personality.  Cedarock is the widest open of the three, but plays quite long for a par 58 and requires some precise navigation around some strategically placed trees.  The Wellspring course is the second of the two permanent courses, and is much more wooded.  The par 55 layout demands precision, as the course winds through the oaks and pines of the Carolina forest.  The temporary course, Rock Creek, is a player favorite.  It is the most challenging of the three, complete with creeks, trees, open fairways, and elevation changes and boasts an ornery par of 66.  But with conditions close to perfect today, it is no surprise that the players lit up the entire place.

In the Masters division, Patrick Brown (#25713) of San Francisco, CA shot a 1065-rated 14-under 52 to take a 1-throw lead over fan and player-favorite Brian Schweberger (#12989) of Tarboro, NC.  2011 World Masters Champion Jon Baldwin (#18114) of Scotts Valley, CA is one throw further back in third, and tied for fourth place another further throw back are Ken “The Champ” Climo (#4297) of Clearwater, FL who is a twelve-time Open World Champion 1990-1998, 2000, 2002 & 2006; five-time US Champion (1999-2000, 2002, 2004, & 2007), and the reigning 2012 Masters World Champion, and Jay Reading (#15864) of Wimberly, TX who is a many time World Doubles Champion, US Putting Champion, World Putting Champion, and most likely Universe Putting Champion as well.

In Masters Women, defending 2012 US Masters Champion Elaine King (#3090) of Durham, NC who is also a six-time World Champion (Open - 1991-1994 & 1997; Masters – 2009) and a two-time US Champion (Open – 2005 & 2007) is tied with Des Reading (#15863) of Wimberly, TX who is a three-time World Champion (2002 & 2005-2006) and a four-time US Champion winning the Open division in 2002-2004 and the Masters division last year in Huntsville, AL.  Michelle Horn (#9545) of Louisburg, NC is the reigning Women’s Advanced Amateur Master World Champion stepping up to play with the “big gals” and she brought game as she shot 35 points above her Player Rating to hang in only 5 throws back. 

The Grandmasters division is also tied with Johnny Sias (#1700) of Lavalette, WV and Dean Tannock (#4028) of Toney, AL in the lead having shot nine-down on the Par 66 Rock Creek Gold course.  Neither player has ever won a US Masters title, but Johnny is a two-time World Champion having won the Open title way back in 1986 and then the Grandmasters title just last year in Charlotte. Dean also holds a World title as he is the 2005 Masters World Champion.  However, hot on their heels is a definite threat - Jim Oates (#3351) of Orangevale, CA a three-time World Champion (Masters -1999 & 2007; Grandmasters - 2011) and two-time US Masters Champion (Masters – 2007 & 2009).

Like the Masters Women, the Senior Grandmasters division has only three competitors this weekend, but what a group of competitors they are.  Alan Beaver (#1213 – Disc Golf Hall of Famer) of Chapin, SC holds a two-throw lead on John Porter (#2826) of Kernersville, NC.  Charlie Mead (#1980) of Birmingham, England who was recently awarded the DGA “Steady” Ed Memorial Trophy (over on the other US coast,) fills out the division only another three throws back.  The eventual winner will reach a new career height as none of these gentlemen have previously won a US Masters title.

In the Advanced Masters (Amateur) division, Jerry Dobbins (#28843) of Lexington, KY took the lead at 12 under par.  Marty Adams (#46188) of Chapel Hill, NC and Todd Hardesty (#19381) of Charlotte, NC are tied for second place 2 throws back.

In Amateur Advanced Grandmasters, David Muntean Jr. (#37376) of Tallahassee, FL appears to be the man to beat. David had both hot rounds on Friday, including a 1007-rated 47 in Round 1 giving him a 5-throw lead over David Wehrenberg (#33971) of Roxboro, NC.

In Advanced Senior Grandmasters, it is a barn-burner between Chuck Hornsby (#25232) of Augusta, GA who won this division in the 2010 US Masters as well as the 2011 World Championships, holding a one throw lead over Jim Banbury (#33708) of Charlotte, NC who won this division at the World Championships in his hometown last year.  Third place is 7 throws further back.

The Amateur players will have tee times starting at 8AM on Saturday while the Pros will start their first round of the day with a shotgun start at 9AM.

Between the three absolutely pristine courses provided by our wonderful hosts from the Alamance County Recreation and Parks Department in a single location at beautiful Cedarock Park, and the unbelievable level of experience and talent embodied in the players in attendance, this is a "must-see" event for both disc golf aficionados, as well as those who are new to the sport.  Come on out for live music, disc golf and food vendors, and some truly awe-inspiring disc golf action in this beautiful setting.  See Cedarock Park - Alamance County for directions.

Those who live too far away to enjoy this awesome event in-person, should tune into PDGA.com for all the stories and live scoring throughout the weekend.

Visit PDGA on Flickr to view photos of the action.

Visit 2013 Tim Selinske US Masters Championship for the full results.