For the second time this season at a PDGA Major, the late afternoon sun began to set as Isaac Robinson flashed a small smile walking down the 18th fairway.
Both times — surrounded by family and friends — he was announced as the champion.
Now with back-to-back victories at the World Championships, Tattar is the 10th FPO player with multiple World titles and the first back-to-back FPO Worlds Champion since Valarie Jenkins in 2009.
Isaac Robinson went to work on Saturday, firing off a 12-under round on Fox Run Meadows to move to spots into the solo lead, which will be four strokes heading into Sunday at Smugglers’ Notch in Vermont.
Welcome to the weekend and what promises to be an incredible finish at Smugglers’ Notch in Vermont.
Cole Redalen dropped a 9-under round from the chase card to jump to the solo lead — a slim one-stroke advantage — in the final round on Brewster Ridge on Friday.
Missy Gannon cut the deficit in half during Round 3 on Thursday. Photos: Justin Anderson / PDGA
The FPO field returned to Brewster Ridge for round 3 of the 2023 PDGA Professional Disc Golf World Championships. While defending World Champion Kristin Tattar seemed to be running away with the tournament with an eight-stroke lead, Missy Gannon made a push on Friday to start closing the gap and turn the competition into a two-horse race.
“We were trading off strokes, getting the same birdies in the beginning,” Gannon said of keeping up with Tattar’s pace on the front 9, “On the back 9 I picked up some crucial birdies and some crucial strokes at the end of it.”
Grady Shue shot one of the hot rounds on Thursday to jump to a share of the lead. Photo: Kevin Huver / DGN
The skies cleared and the birdies dropped Thursday at Smugglers’ Notch.
After six cards officially wrapped the weather-delayed opening round of the 2023 PDGA Professional Disc Golf World Championship presented by L.L.Bean early in the morning, the field returned for their first crack at Fox Run Meadows.
And the field shredded it under sunny skies and wind.
Niklas Anttila jumped to a share of the lead on Thursday. Photo: Justin Anderson / PDGA
While the field fought through heavy rain at Brewster Ridge in the opening round, the open fairways at Fox Run provided windy conditions on day two.
“We had a lot more wind than I was expecting,” said Missy Gannon after shooting the second hottest round of the day, “That always makes Fox hard and that’s the reason why it’s such a good compliment to Brewster.”
The FPO division faced multiple changes to the weather including heavy rain as they made their way through the woods at Brewster Ridge. Despite the difficult conditions and the pressure of the PDGA Major, the top 14 players were able to stay under par for the day.
After 14 Elite Series events and two PDGA Majors, players will now have another shot to win the most prestigious title in professional disc golf. Most players will be looking to join an elite list of world champions and past winners will seek to build their legacy.
The action at Smugglers' Notch Resort kicked off this weekend at the 2023 PDGA Professional Disc Golf World Championships presented by L.L.Bean with Mixed Doubles and Field Events.
Officially kicking off on Wednesday, August 30, 295 of the best players in the world return to Smuggs, five years after the beloved venue hosted its first PDGA Pro Worlds, and it's bigger than ever.
After this weekend’s Disc Golf Pro Tour Playoff – Green Mountain Championship, the next time that the sport’s elite step onto the incredible property at Smugglers’ Notch, it will be to compete in the 2023 PDGA Professional Disc Golf World Championships.
A beloved and anticipated stop on the Elite Series year-in and year-out, Smuggs, as it’s often referred, will play host to Pro Worlds for the first time since 2018.
Pro Worlds is set for Labor Day 2023, running from August 30 through Sunday, September 3.
2022 PDGA Pro Worlds TD Doug Bjerkaas and Shawn Sinclair of the PDGA speak during a recent PDGA visit to Emporia, Kansas. Photo: PDGA
Doug Bjerkaas used words like agile, receptive, and dynamic to describe the ongoing preparation for the return of a PDGA Major to Emporia, Kansas.
Just over eight months away, Bjerkaas and his team are feeling the responsibility that comes with serving as hosts of the 2022 PDGA Professional Disc Golf World Championship and it’s a task that they’re not taking lightly.
Hailey King tees off at Smugglers' Notch, which will host the 2023 PDGA Professional Disc Golf World Championships. Photo: DGPT
PDGA Major Events are the premier national and international competitions for the sport of disc golf each year, featuring the world’s best disc golfers competing for World and National Titles in multiple skill, age, and gender-based divisions. These PDGA marquee events offer any city or town the chance to host an international sporting event in their community, drawing interest and attention to the location, and generating a significant economic impact for local businesses.
James Conrad throws what would become one of the most famous throws in disc golf at the 2021 PDGA Pro World Championship. Photo: Kevin Huver / PDGA
(This interview first appeared in the Fall 2021 issue of DiscGolfer Magazine)
There was a moment before James Conrad threw one of the most iconic shots in disc golf history, a moment when time stood still. You could read the focus on his face. There was no doubt as he lined up his shot: this wasn’t going to be a lay up.
After all, laying up isn’t really a James Conrad move.
Whether it’s with friends, disc golf, juggling or his hair, chances are strong he is going all in.
