Story originally published by Ultiworld Disc Golf. Photo by Stu Mullenberg (The Flight Record).
A crash of chains, then an audible groan of agony from the gallery.
Another crash, this time followed by a guttural scream of “Let’s go!”
Then, celebration.
After 54 holes weren’t enough to decide the Ed Headrick Disc Golf Hall of Fame Classic, it was only fitting that the event came down to a playoff between two surefire future Hall of Famers.
Story originally publoished by Ultiworld Disc Golf. Photo by Stu Mullenburg - The Flight Record.
If Catrina Allen’s first round was “Steady,” her second round at the Ed Headrick Disc Golf Hall of Fame Classic’s W.R. Jackson Memorial Course was scorching by comparison. Not only was her 1000-rated performance the best in the field, giving her a nine-stroke advantage over second place, but it was also the only to register under par on the event’s second day.
Story originally published by Ultiworld Disc Golf. Photo by The Flight Record.
After tangling with the ropes of Winthrop Gold last weekend on the way to a season-low 64th place showing at the United States Disc Golf Championship, James Conrad was ready to return to his natural habitat.
“I was obviously not stoked on how I finished out there,” the 27-year-old Virginia pro said. “I was looking forward to getting back into the woods — courses I like a little more.”
Story originally published by Ultiworld Disc Golf. Photo by Alyssa Van Lanen.
Catrina Allen managed to live up to the nickname of disc golf’s founder at the event and course named in his honor, keeping things “Steady” as she took the lead after the first day of the Ed Headrick Disc Golf Hall of Fame Classic.
Story originally published by Ultiworld Disc Golf. Photo by Alyssa Van Lanen.
Paige Pierce’s hold on the Vibram Open continues, as she won her fourth straight at Maple Hill with an impressive 1005-rated round in inclement conditions to secure a comeback win over Valarie Jenkins on Sunday. The victory marks Pierce’s 17th of the season, with the four-digit round also coming as her 17th on the year.
Story originally published by Ultiworld Disc Golf. Photo by Alyssa Van Lanen.
Though it wasn’t fourth and goal from the one-yard line, or even the two-minute warning, yesterday was disc golf’s equivalent of the end of the third quarter at the Vibram Open. And Ricky Wysocki was feeling the pressure.
“I knew I had to do something,” Wysocki said. “It was so tight, and I knew I needed to make the move.”
Pack up the vans and bring in the muscle, because Wysocki delivered.
Story originally published by Ultiworld Disc Golf. Photo by Alyssa Van Lanen.
Valarie Jenkins’ lead at the Vibram Open was down to three strokes at the halfway point, but after a 980-rated third round she’s doubled that total and looked nearly untouchable in the process.
Story originally published by Ultiworld Disc Golf. Photo by Alyssa Van Lanen.
Now in his 15th season as a pro, Gregg Barsby more than qualified as the most senior player on yesterday’s Vibram Open lead card. At only 30 years old, though, he’s not old, by any stretch of the imagination. He’s just experienced.
“I feel like the elder guy in a sense, just because they know [how long I’ve played], and I know,” Barsby said. “But it’s not like that.”
Story originally published by Ultiworld Disc Golf. Photo by Alyssa Van Lanen.
The difficult Maple Hill course wasn’t the only challenge facing the Open Women’s competitors during the second round of the Vibram Open yesterday: Their early morning tee times featured temperatures in the 40s and strong winds that even penetrated the heavily wooded section of the course.
Story originally published by Ultiworld Disc Golf. Photo by Matt Gregoire, PDGA Media Manager.
Catrina Allen entered the final round of the Pittsburgh Flying Disc Open with just a two-stroke advantage over Paige Pierce, but left with an eight-stroke win after a 1008-rated performance. The victory is her first on the PDGA National Tour in 2017 and comes just over a month after her biggest win of the season at the European Open.
Story originally published by Ultiworld Disc Golf. Photo by Matt Gregoire, PDGA Media Manager.
One stroke.
That was all that separated Paul McBeth from a chasing Michael Johansen through 13 holes of the final round of the Pittsburgh Flying Disc Open. The four-time PDGA World Champion had just finished a stretch in which he parred five straight holes, and his momentum had evaporated, along with his lead.
“I mean, there was a wake-up call,” McBeth said. “I was telling myself, ‘I got to get this second wind.’ I can’t just par out. I need to birdie.”
During round one of the Pittsburgh Flying Disc Open, reigning PDGA World Champion Ricky Wysocki took comfort in the friendly confines of Moraine State Park, a track where he feels he has a virtual home-field advantage.
After yesterday’s second round, though, it was Wysocki’s world title predecessor who was making himself comfortable.
Eighteen months ago, Charlie Goodpasture couldn’t even look down at his cell phone for 30 seconds without being in agony, let alone lace a disc down the fairway.
A round of roughhousing after a tournament last February left the Florida pro with a torn muscle in his neck. He gutted through the injury, but as time wore on the numbers he put on the scorecard were only exceeded by his pain level. Even as he played through the events he was already signed up for, he did so without logging any practice rounds, and his play suffered.
Ultiworld Disc Golf’s coverage of the 2017 Pittsburgh Flying Disc Open is presented by the Butler County Sports Commission; all opinions are those of the authors. Find out more about disc golf in Butler County here.
Story originally published by Ultiworld Disc Golf. Cover photo by Photo: Alyssa Van Lanen, Disc Golf Pro Tour.
In toppling the world’s two best disc golfers this weekend en route to a wire-to-wire victory at the Ledgestone Insurance Open, Josh Anthon didn’t do anything terribly flashy. He didn’t unleash highlight reel shots, and his longest putt on the weekend was from 50 feet out. Instead, his play could be encapsulated by one word:
Story originally published by Ultiworld Disc Golf. Cover photo by Stu Mullenberg, The Flight Record.
APPLING, Ga. — After a nearly four-hour round at the International Disc Golf Center’s W.R. Jackson Course, Ricky Wysocki stoically walked out of the pro shop and toward the canopy that provided shade for hole 10’s teepad. Before he could get too far, though, he was stopped for autographs by some young fans and happily obliged.
Story originally published by Ultiworld Disc Golf. Cover photo by Stu Mullenberg, The Flight Record.
FORT GORDON, Ga. — On a day when the mercury pushed toward triple digits and the Georgia humidity weighed down on competitors like a wet blanket, Ricky Wysocki somehow outdid them both as he set the Marine/Navy Disc Golf Course ablaze.
Story originally published by Ultiworld Disc Golf. Cover photo by Stu Mullenberg, The Flight Record.
FORT GORDON, Ga. — An out-of-bounds stroke, a missed putt, and the resulting double bogey 6 on the opening hole of a World Championship round might be enough to derail the hopes of just about any player. That player, though, is decidedly not Paige Pierce this season.
Story originally published by Ultiworld Disc Golf. Cover photo by Stu Mullenberg, The Flight Record.
APPLING, Ga. – Another tournament means another lead for the name that is a fixture atop leaderboards in 2017. This time, though, the margin is for disc golf’s biggest prize.
So instead of toiling away for the last month on the pro circuit’s West Coast swing, he decamped to Georgia to get a head start on an accomplishment he’s been seeking his entire career.
In her nine-year professional career, one of the few high-profile events that has eluded Paige Pierce has been the Beaver State Fling. In her five previous attempts at the event, she had collected four second place finishes, including a loss in a sudden-death playoff last year.
With a two-stroke lead and one hole to play, Ricky Wysocki stood on the 18th tee at the Utah Open on Saturday afternoon certain that he could play his drive past the basket and, even with a lay-up putt, take home the victory.
Prior to the final round of the Spartan Mowers Jonesboro Open, Ricky Wysocki said his nine shot lead afforded him the luxury of playing safe in the final round, as he was content to win by five or six strokes.
Two strokes, then, may have proven to be a bit close for comfort. But it still got the job done.
In the second and third rounds of the Spartan Mowers Jonesboro Open, a late round meltdown had been Paige Pierce’s undoing. She successfully put herself in position to avoid that fate during the final, though, and instead notched a come from behind win over Sarah Hokom.
