News flash:

Long time PFDS supporter Scholl's Bicycle Center has signed on as title sponsor for the 2007 Pittsburgh Flying Disc Open!

Scholl's will add over $1000 of value to the 19th edition of one of the top 50 tournaments in the world.

The Scholl's Bicycle Center Pittsburgh Flying Disc Open will be played July 14-15 on two of the top courses in the world, Knob Hill and Moraine State Park. Player amenities, as always, will be first class, including accomodations at the Comfort Inn - Cranberry and at least $2000 added to the pro purse.

Registration details for this PDGA Supertour, Can-Am Series and MADC event will be posted soon. Check back at www.pfds.org (http://www.pfds.org) for updates.

I like to ride my Bicycle, I like to ride my bike. I like to ride my Bicycle, I like to ride my bike. I like to ride my Bicycle, I like to ride my bike. I like to ride my Bicycle, I like to ride my bike. I like to ride my Bicycle, I like to ride my bike.

Way to go J. Gary.

Gotta love Tim and Dave from Scholls. Hard to believe I have been buying stuff from them since 1982!!!! 25 years later, I still stop in every few weeks. Great guys, great business. What could be better.

J GARY, I have about 4 logos done for the PFDO already. I will send them to you on friday.

Great Chris! Logo proposals must be submitted by Feb. 16 (email to [email protected] and [email protected]), and be in vector format OR .jpg 10 inches in diameter and 300 dpi. Use the attached files in your design, but we will get higher res versions for final logo design.

Let's keep it rolling!

J. Gary

http://www.pfds.org/images/SBCPFDO07.gif


At least $2500 added cash to the pro purse and sweet swag for the am player packages are only the first two reasons you should get yourself registered for the Scholl's Bicycle Centers Pittsburgh Flying Disc Open on July 14th and 15th at Knob Hill and Moraine State Park.

Two world class courses, chances to qualify for the 2008 Am Nationals, and points for the PDGA Supertour, Can-Am and MADC series, are more reasons to bring your bathing suit and summer attitude to Western Pennsylvania this upcoming July.

Our long time supporters at Scholl's have come up big to sponsor this years event, with added cash, discs for the ams, and as always, a sweet bike to be won. The Comfort Inn - Cranberry, is the official tournament hotel and a gold level cash sponsor. (Book your rooms at the Comfort Inn for tournament rate of $65). Dick's Sporting Goods has jumped in with gold level sponsorship and Dunham's Sporting Goods returns as the gold sponsor for the end of tournament Players Picnic. Ameriprise Financial, Playthings Etc, and Elite Finishes are also on board as cash sponsors.

Don't be late, it's gonna be great! Limited field of 90 pros and 90 ams. Use Paypal and don't forget to preorder your lunch delivered by Fairground Market. Details will be posted to the events section of our website in the coming days!

Download & Print the 2007 SBCPFDO Flyer and Pre-Registration Form! (http://www.pfds.org/docs/PFDO2007Flyer.pdf)

From the desk of J Gary Dropcho:

PFDS apologizes for the previous error stating that the field was
limited to 90 pros and 90 ams.
We aim for the best experience for the SBCPFDO player and will limit
the field to foursomes on any hole -- 72 pros and 72 ams, the same as
we always have.

Make your reservations now!

http://www.pfds.org/images/sponsors/comfort_inn_pfdo_logo.gif

We're all about value!

The added cash to the pro purse is up to $3000 and the sweet schwag for the am player packages are only the first two reasons you should get yourself registered for the Scholl's Bicycle Center Pittsburgh Flying Disc Open July 14-15 at Knob Hill and Moraine State Park.

Two world class courses, chances to qualify for the 2008 Am Nationals, and points for the PDGA Supertour, Can-Am and MADC series, are more reasons to bring your bathing suit and summer attitude to Western PA in July.

Long time PFDS supporters at Scholl's have come up big to sponsor this year�s event with added cash, discs for the ams, and as always, a sweet bike to be won. The Comfort Inn--Cranberry is the official tournament hotel and a gold level cash sponsor. (Book your rooms now at the Comfort Inn for a disc golf tournament rate of $65).

Ameriprise Financial, Playthings Etc., MADC, Elite Finishes and Ferrigno Chiropractic are also on board as cash sponsors.

Dick's Sporting Goods has jumped in with a gold level sponsorship and Dunham's Sporting Goods returns as the gold sponsor for the end of tournament Players Picnic.

Innova is providing tons of merchandise prizes for the ams and Discraft is spot on with CTPs for everyone. Cliff Bar is our exclusive energy bar sponsor, and Print Tech is providing in-kind contribution of all of the tournament signage and printing.

With food and drink prepared by Fairground Market and North County Brewing Company, you don't want to be late, it's gonna be great! Limited field of 72 pros and 72 ams.

Use Paypal and don't forget to preorder your lunch delivered by Fairground Market. All of the details are at PFDS.org

<font size=8> www.pfds.org (http://www.pfds.org) </font>

http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/1609/pfdofm9.jpg

<font size=8> www.pfds.org (http://www.pfds.org) </font>

J. Gary, don't forget about the basket that remains from the Ironwood Open. Its for the PFDO.

ClifBars arrived today!!

http://img5.glowfoto.com/images/2007/06/19-1837027247T.jpg (http://www.glowfoto.com/viewimage.php?img=19-183702L&amp;y=2007&amp;m=06&amp;t=jpg&amp;rand=7247&amp;srv=img5)

The baskets at Moraine State Park were moved into tournament position today. Here's the layout for this year's PFDO:

1a 2c 3b 4c 5a 6c 7a 8a 9c 10c 11b 12c 13c 14c 15a 16b 17c 18d

Knob Hill pin positions will be posted at a later date.

You can pre-register for this event at www.pfds.org (http://www.pfds.org)

18 D eh? Thats awesome, I was always good at making D's!!!!

Register now!

http://www.pfds.org/events.html

J Gary and I spent 4 1/2 hours at Moraine last night, measuring hole lengths and doing quite a bit of pruning. The storms that rolled through a couple of days ago took down several branches, but there was only one tree which fell on the course (hole 9). I'll email the park management as a chainsaw will be needed to remove this tree from the right side of the fairway.

The course is looking good, however, we have some areas where fallen limbs need to be cleared....holes 2, 12, 16, 17 and 18. If any of the PFDS members play Moraine this week, it would be great if you could spend 10-15 minutes helping to clear debris from any one of these holes. J Gary might be organizing a work day following the Moraine Monthly on July 7. He's purchased a wood chipper which would come in handy on those wooded holes and we could use the wood chips/mulch throughout the course. We'll keep you posted....

The Scholl's Bicycle Center PFDO is just around the corner!


Register now!

http://www.pfds.org/events.html

I got a call from Jerry Gotcher this morning and he says the park service at Moraine is at their beck and call today. He and J. Gary are escorting workers throughout the entire course to prune where needed. Every indication is that the Moraine course will look the best it's ever been!!!

Hey,

Did anyone else notice the 977 rated Advanced player? What a bagger, thats ridiculous. I'm moving down to AM2

He's only finished First 50% of the tourneys he's played...Which means he can be beat 50% of the time.

Oh yeah, i forgot to mention that point. How many tournaments has he won so far? I think I am moving to AM2 so I can win 50% of the time.

Ziggy is going to go win junior worlds and then he is turning pro. Oh and he just turned 15!!

That's Amazing...I wish I knew what Disc Golf was when I was 15. Marcus Ranii-Dropcho will have to step it up at Worlds.

Dude, I'm going to get beat by a 15 year old, doesn't matter, he still should move up after all those wins already. I mean look at Matt Orum and when he moved up.

I bet I get my butt kicked by a 15 year old also. At least I will take second...haha

Relax, guys.

According to his records, this kid has been a PDGA member only since 2006. His first PDGA event EVER was 30-Apr-2006! The kid is 15 years old and looking to win the Junior &lt; 16 Boys division at Am Worlds in Milwaukee later this month.

There are guys who have established histories of years and years of sandbagging. This kid isn't one of them.

Great Job Guys...Even though I played like i never picked up a disc before, I had a blast. I'm going to let everyone know openly that, YES Alanna beat my score at Moraine from the blue tees. So let the jokes begin, i deserve it. I do think it's pretty sweet that the Advanced Women stepped it up and requested to play the blues at Moraine even though they didn't have to. One question, since my "Better" half won her division does that mean she qualifies for 2008 AM Nationals?

Once again thanks to all who were involved!!!!

I'm glad that the Advanced Women stepped up to the blue tees at Moraine because THEY GOT GAME. 3 out of the 4 Advanced Women shot above their ratings on the Blue tees at Moraine. In fact, the best rated round of the weekend by an Advanced woman was Alanna's 78 from the Blue tees which was rated 859.

Team Jenkins Sweeps Pro Open divisions;
111 players soak up sun, schwag, and so much fun at 19th Scholl's Bicycle Center Pittsburgh Flying Disc Open.

Avery Jenkins began the tournament with two rounds of 59 at the par 66 Lakeview course at Moraine State Park and led the Male Pro Open field wire to wire, while sister Valarie shot a 1003 rated third round at Knob Hill to take the lead and cruised to a seven stroke win in the Female Pro division.

Kyle Crabtree blistered Knob Hill from the White tees with a 47 (1063 rating) in the final round to jump from the second card to second place in the Pro Open division. Former PFDO champ Mike Moser also brought the heat in the final round to finish third.

Current World Women Pro champ Des Reading lead after the first day, but couldn't stay with Val and finished second. Carrie "Burl" Berloger finished strong for third.

The field was stacked with half of the Open field carrying 1000+ ratings, three former world professional champions in the Pro Masters field, and three of the five Pro women being current or former World Champs.

Joe Mela successfully defended his Pro Masters title, winning by two over Jim Myers and 7 over Linc Morgan.

Jay Gobrecht won pro Grandmasters for the third consecutive year. Team Jenkins' papa Leroy finished a strong second and Tournament Co-Director J. Gary Dropcho was third.

$3000 was added to the pro purse, with major contributions from title sponsor Scholl's Bicycle Center, host club Pittsburgh Flying Disc Society, host hotel Comfort Inn Cranberry, Dick's Sporting Goods, Dunham's Sporting Goods, as well as Ameriprise Financial, Playthings Etc, the Mid-Atlantic Disc Club, Ferrigno Chiropractic and Elite Finishes.

The total pro purse of $7030 PLUS the pro player packages, end of tournament picnic, trophies and CTP prizes made the event worth 203% of their entry fees. Now that's value!

Sixteen year old Ziggy Bierikoven shot -4 under par for the tournament (including a 998 rated final round) to win the Advanced division by two shots over Jeff Vacha. Dan Hollingshead was third. The top 20% of the Advanced Field (nine places) qualified and will receive invites via email for the 2008 Am Nationals.

The tournament has many good stories, (including pro Master player Jerry Gotcher who visited a hospital emergency room two days before the tourney with an allergic reaction that swelled his hands and face to painful proportions but came back to cash in his division) but one of the best is about two intermediate women, Amanda Rabatin and Heather Eng, who stepped up to play with the Advanced women and shot above their player ratings. Alanna Houck, who won a paid entry to the Womens National Championship at the College Lodge in May, also shot over her player rating for the first three rounds to win by 8 over Amanda. Karen Farrell was third.

All the am players got a bag-o-stuff and belly-0-food with their entry, plus a photo of their play by professional photographer John West. West's other photos of the event can be seen and purchased at two galleries at his website:
http://www.printroom.com/ViewGallery.asp?userid=westsyde&amp;gallery_id=763962
http://www.printroom.com/ViewGallery.asp?userid=westsyde&amp;gallery_id=766317

The value of the Am event, including prizes, trophies, CTPs, player packages, and the picnic was worth $4801, 153% of the am entry fees.

In total the 2007 SBCPFDO was worth $13,083, but how can you put a dollar figure on the smiles seen, hugs given and received, and howls of joys heard echoing on the most glorious of summer weather weekends of the year? All of this was played out on two groomed and gorgeous world class courses that tested the mettle of every players' game.

Thanks to PFDS members and volunteers, including Tournament Co-Directors KB Clark., J. Gary Dropcho and Greg Meitus, Tournament Official Sharon Jenkins, Fundraisers extraordinaire Jerry Gotcher and Jeremiah Libby, graphics and publication whizzes Craig McCloud, Mike Hoeg and Chris Deitzel, Webmaster Flash Larry Gioia, food and water service by Tim Wright and Scott Heintzleman and many many others who put time and effort into making this event great.

Here's a newspaper article (http://www.yournorthhills.com/mcknightjournal/article/84565/Nothing-can-stop-dedicated-disc-golfers-from-competing/) from the McKnight Journal about last month's Scholl's Bicycle Centers ~ Pittsburgh Flying Disc Open:



Nothing can stop dedicated disc golfers from competing

Jeff Rickel
Contributing Writer
Wednesday, July 25, 2007

The 19th Scholl's Bicycle Center Pittsburgh Flying Disc Open, which took place the weekend of July 14 and 15, was a success, with 111 players coming from across the United States and Canada to play the courses at Moraine State Park and Knob Hill. One player even participated after being in the emergency room the day before the tournament began.

Jerry Gotcher, one of the promoters for the Lakeview Disc Golf Course at Moraine State Park, woke up Friday and could hardly open his eyes because of swelling. His hands were also swollen and his body was covered in hives. He had been preparing the course Wednesday afternoon and had an allergic reaction to an unknown source. His wife quickly took him to the emergency room and Gotcher thought he wouldn't be able to play in the tournament. Fortunately, by Saturday the swelling had gone down and Gotcher was able to compete.

"On the way home from the hospital I stopped [by Knob Hill] to tell a few friends I wouldn't be able to play," Gotcher explained. "But thanks to modern day medicine I almost completely cleared up by Saturday so I decided to play."

Gotcher went on to finish sixth in the Masters division, which was the last place to earn a payout.

The tournament itself was also a success and has come a long way, boasting a draw of competitors that included 10 former or current disc golf champions.

"These courses are some of the best in the world," tournament director J. Gary Dropcho said. "Nineteen years ago we had 50 players and it was held in Frick Park. Now it's one of the best tournaments on tour."

Dropcho, who finished third and in the payout in the Grandmasters division, explained that the courses have evolved with the game of disc golf. Since the sport was invented in 1975, technology has allowed competitors to throw farther with more accuracy. The par 66 Moraine State Park course and the par 60 Knob Hill course are long courses that challenge players.

"These courses are designed for today's players and equipment," Dropcho said. "They have par 3's, 4's and 5's, and lots of elevation. Knob Hill also has a lot of hills and the disc can roll away, leaving players with tougher shots than their last one."

"What's wonderful about Lakeview (Moraine State Park) is it's designed for the top pros," Gotcher said. "Most courses are designed for recreation, but this one is one of the most challenging in the world."

Earning most of the attention was the Jenkins family, with two first place finishes and a second place. Avery Jenkins won the Men's Open division with a 25-under-par performance. Avery is also a member of the national tour and is one of the world leaders in distance. His sister, Valarie Jenkins, won the Women's Open division with nine-over-par, seven shots ahead of the next player. Their father, Leroy Jenkins, took second place in the Grandmasters division with a one-over-par performance.

"Leroy has been playing for 20 years," Gotcher explained. "And his kids have become some of the top players in the world, so it was special to have them at the tournament and do so well."

Dropcho was very pleased with the way the tournament turned out and is looking forward to next year's milestone.

"It was excellent, we had incredible support from our sponsors and communities," Dropcho said.

"The tournament has grown quite a bit and we're really excited for next year, which will be the 20th year of the tournament."