The most prestigious disc golf tournament in Europe tees off on Thursday, July 18 with arguably the most talented and competitive field in it's history. The 2013 European Open will once again be a PDGA-sanctioned Major and the four day event will be played on the "Beast" course, a challenging par 64 layout designed by Jussi Meresmaa at Nokia Sports Center DiscGolfPark in Nokia Finland.
As Joey Harrell walked around Hewitt Park, he began noticing some curious stares being cast his way.
After all, he was alternating between wandering around aimlessly and standing still looking at features of the park.
But once he made the motion of throwing a Frisbee, it all started making sense. Harrell wasn’t just some crazy guy with no place to be. He was designing a disc golf course.
At the moment when the final card stepped up to their finishing hole emotions began to surge. Their hearts pounding with nervous excitement. Adrenaline surging through their bodies. The entire week has led up to this hole. Players have played seven full rounds of disc golf in scorching heat combined with a steady wind whipping the courses. Every player experienced the difficulty of the courses on display, and every player battled the Kansas temperatures in July. Only a select few have made it this far.
The week has been a scorcher for every competitor present at the 2013 PDGA Amateur and Junior World Championships and most competitors have battled the heat through Friday. This tournament is a test of both mental and physical endurance from beginning to end. With the title of World Champion on the line pressure of competition adds a new intensity to every round. The Fairways tighten. The air thickens. Decision making in every situation, on every shot becomes the most important matter in their lives.
It was movement day at the 2013 PDGA Amateur and Junior World Championships in Emporia, KS. After the second day shuffle players have begun to get everything rolling. On this day in particular movement was not that common, as the leaders in most divisions held onto and extended their leads.
With the scorching first day over and the opening rounds in the books players have begun to feel the heat of competition. The first day jitters have settled and players are in full throttle for the remainder of the 2013 PDGA Amateur and Junior World Championships.
The day opened with leaders established from first day action but these players were here to make some movement. In fact, these rounds on Wednesday were extremely important because the mid tournament shuffle immediately followed day two’s action.
After a night of refreshment and enjoyment downtown in Emporia, KS players woke up bright and early to begin their first day of competition. With the sunrise came predictions of a day with strong winds and a temperature in the triple digits. This created a vicious environment for multiple rounds of tournament play. By the time the sun hit its apex in the sky thermometers read 105 degrees with a heat index of 111 for the 2013 Amateur and Junior World Championships.
As the doors opened last night to players entering the historic Emporia Granada Theatre in Emporia, KS they were presented with beautiful decor that welcomed them with early 1900s architecture. Its walls were decorated with ornate finishing and dazzeling chandeliers suspended from the ceiling. It held a packed seating area and a mezzanine that could fit the necessary seating capacity to handle every participant, staff member, and family member.
