Final Round Recap

May 23, 2022 by Cameron Guidry in News, Recap with comments

STOCKTON, Cal. — There was much talk before the season about the European contingent of players making their way over to compete on the Disc Golf Pro Tour, whether it was how much they would win, who they would push out of the cash on a consistent basis, and who would resonate with the new viewers who may have not been watching last time we saw them.

To this point, some had come close — Lauri Lehtinen and Väinö Mäkelä come to mind — but none have capture a crown. For all that talk of the European return, Simon Lizotte may have not been the first name you thought of as someone who would break up the streak of US dominance over the Pro Tour, at least not so soon after injury and significant life changes. However, he looked every part of the elite player that he promised to be back in the 2010s, cashing in long spin putts, showing off his course-bending power, and sprinkling in a highlight or two for good measure. While in the past if felt like he was winning despite high-risk decisions, this weekend felt like an evolved version of Lizotte’s game, his 100% fairway hits in the final round makes for a telling stat, showing control hitting the tough lines at Swenson Park.

“I was so happy with my drives today, it just felt easy,” said Lizotte. “…My decisions on the course weren’t always the best, because I was like the ‘show-off kid’, and I kind of still am and still want to be, but my body says no. I’ve got to tone it down a bit, 80% effort on a lot of throws, and with the discs I have, they go just as far with less effort.”

Lizotte has been riding a wave of…