M.J. Gager is a world champion — and she’s only nine years old | Recreation
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Edwards Park, Westside Park to host major disc golf tournament April 16, with concert afterward at Burr Park | Local News
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Dalton-area residents can see some of the best disc golfers in North America compete on Saturday, April 16, at the courses at the Whitfield County Parks and Recreation Department’s Edwards Park and Westside Park.
The tournament is the finale of the Prodigy Star Series, hosted by Prodigy Disc, a Dalton-based manufacturer of disc golf discs and other equipment.
“We have hosted an event each month for the past six months,” said Will Schusterick, co-owner of Prodigy Disc, a former No. 1 disc golf player in the world and three-time winner of the U.S. Open.
“The tournament round will start at 10 a.m.,” he said. “We are more than happy to have anyone come out and watch. There are separate divisions. Westside will have the amateurs, and Edwards will have the pro division.”
Matt Zollitsch, event coordinator for Prodigy Disc, said the series has had more than 700 competitors from the United States and Canada.
“The series has brought sponsors from all over the disc golf world,” he said.
The tournament will conclude at 2 p.m. with a concert at the Burr Performing Arts Park in downtown Dalton by The Whole Fam Damily, a Dalton-based band.
“We’ll have live music, disc golf vendors,” said Schusterick. “It will be a fun atmosphere, and we welcome everyone to come out and take part.”
According to Sports Illustrated, disc golf was one of the few sports that thrived during the COVID-19 pandemic, “likely partially due to its ability to be played outdoors and socially distanced. But it was also the continuation of a growth trend that occurred through the 2010s.”
The magazine reported that the Professional Disc Golf Association now has 150,000 members, “with 70,000 of those retaining active status for tournaments — a figure that’s doubled since 2016.”
The Whitfield County Parks and Recreation Department’s Westside Park Disc Golf Course was voted one of the top four courses in the United States in 2020 by the readers of Connect Magazine. It finished behind Maple Hill Disc Golf in Leicester, Massachusetts; Quaker’s Challenge at Gifford Pinchot State Park, Lewisberry, Pennsylvania; and Blue Ribbon Pines, East Bethel, Minnesota.
“We see people from out of town daily playing these courses,” said Whitfield County Parks and Recreation Department Director Brian Chastain.
In addition to the courses at Edwards Park and Westside Park, which were designed by Schusterick, there is a disc golf course at Heritage Point Park in Dalton and a nine-hole course at the Tunnel Hill Golf Club. There are also two practice baskets on the grassy area next to the train tracks at the old freight depot off Morris Street in Dalton.
Valley Center man secures Idle Hour open title | News
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ALTAMONT — Idle Hour Lake played host to the 10th annual Idle Hour Open disc golf tournament on Saturday. After 42 holes of golf, Logan Harpool of Valley Center took down the open division, picking up his first win of the year. The Idle Hour Open was sponsored by M.D. Disc Golf.
“It’s nice to see the same players showing up to all the tournaments. We really appreciate it,” tournament director Derick Spencer said. “It’s fun to see the tournament grow and see players keep coming back. It’s always a good time.”
This is Harpool’s third time at the Idle Hour Open, placing top three in the previous two years.
Harpool recorded 21 birdies, averaging 1011-rated golf between the two rounds. A 7-under first and an 8-under second was the hot score in both rounds, which was more than enough to take down the top prize of $564.
“He plays a lot of tournaments around here, and he’s a really solid player,” Spencer said. “All the guys who play open all play pretty well and have a similar high skill level.”
Although the weather conditions were perfect for scoring, the 21-hole 6,525-foot course still showed its teeth on numerous holes. Hole nine averaged over par in all six divisions in both rounds, averaging 1.5 strokes over par in the recreational division. The tight gap off of the tee gave players enough trouble to derail any sense of momentum built up to that point.
“We cut about three or four trees out, so it was actually easier to play than in previous years,” Spencer said of the 282-foot par-3. “We call it plinko lane because it’s only about a 5 foot gap to get out to the open.”
In the advanced division, Joshua Bernard of Oronogo, Missouri, took down first place. After an 8-under first round that included a single bogey, Bernard struggled in the afternoon. After leading by five strokes to start the round, Bernard threw a 67 in the second round to win the division by a single stroke.
Michael Boshears of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, shot even-par on the day to finish first in the masters 40+ division.
A 2-under first round put Jay Manly of Chanute in a tie with Boshears, before a 6-over second round dropped him to a tie for second place with Derick Spencer of McCune.
Although he only led by two strokes after the first round, Thomas White of Coffeyville took down the masters 50+ division by seven strokes. White notched eight birdies on the way to his fourth event win since 1999.
“There’s a lot of guys who have been playing for years around here, and they’re starting to get up there in age,” Spencer said of the masters divisions, noting that these veterans have started bringing their children to compete in the tournaments. “It’s nice to see that these guys aren’t quitting, and it makes the tournaments more enjoyable.”
Wyatt Semrad of Galesburg sneaked in under par with a 2-under second round to claim victory in the intermediate division by two strokes. This was Semrad’s second event victory, his first coming earlier this year at the Neosho River Open in Chetopa.
After coming up short of a victory during a playoff for first at the PK Open in March, Jason Brewer of Bartlesville, Oklahoma, took down the recreational division by seven strokes. Brewer, in just his second tournament, shot a 2-over second round, improving by nine strokes from his first round. In a division known for its over-par golf, Brewer dropped five birdies in his second round, missing an even-par score by just a few missed circle-one putts.
Recreational division players were spoiled with their player packs, receiving two premium discs, an Innova-branded Koozie and a Prodigy umbrella. Players’ packs and open division payout was bolstered by the following sponsors:
— Labette County Tourism, $750
— Altamont Recreation Commission, $300
— The Corner Store, $250
— Altamont Disc Golf Club, $200
— City of Altamont, $100
— White’s Tax Service, $100
— Tank Connection, $100
— B.J. Express Lube, $100.
“We don’t have those big businesses that can donate all the time, and we don’t have that big capital like Tulsa or Kansas City,” Spencer said. “We try to bring in new sponsors for each event, and the community around here backs us really well. We highly appreciate all that our sponsors do to help keep the tournaments rolling.”
Spencer and M.D. Disc Golf now look to their next event in the Big Hill Open, set to take place at Big Hill Lake on May 7. The crew will also be hosting a doubles event on the same course the weekend prior. Signups for both tournaments can be found at discgolfscene.com.
Logan Harpool 58 57 (-15)
Justin Robertson 59 58 (-13)
Trevor Hastert 63 59 (-8)
Joshua Bernard 57 67 (-6)
Michael Boshears 63 67 (E)
Derick Spencer 67 67 (+4)
Huntyr Schwegman 77 73 (+20)
Seguin disc golf shop hosting tournament fundraiser for Field of Honor |
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A local store is combining disc golf holes with a fundraiser involving American flags.
Pecan City Disc Golf Shop is hosting a disc golf tournament in Seguin, bringing hundreds of competitors from across the country and as far away as Denmark. Proceeds will help the Guadalupe County Field of Honor with its annual planting of flags, Field of Honor chairperson Connie Ramirez said.
“That money is going back to help pay for the flags,” she said. “Anything after this, we will be able to cut a check to our beneficiary, which is the American Legion Post 245 in Seguin.”
Field of Honor places hundreds of flags annually in a field next to Faith Lutheran Church. Each flag represents a local hero and has a name of a local veteran, first responder, teacher or frontline worker attached to it.
The flags symbolize a lot to the organization and to the people who sponsor flags and have them placed in the field, Ramirez said.
“It’s not only a flag in the field, it’s a life,” she said. “This is a person who is serving our country or has served our country in some way.”
Hosting the tournament allows Pecan City Disc Golf Shop’s owners to highlight the sport of disc golf while also helping a worthwhile charitable organization, said Jericho Lomas, who owns the shop with his father.
“When we first dreamt of opening Pecan Disc Golf Shop, one of our values we wanted to focus on was giving back to our community,” he said. “This tournament is a great way to partner with our city and Humana to raise money for a local veteran organization.”
The city of Seguin is a co-sponsor and Humana is the title sponsor for the tournament, which will include 170 competitors including about 20 local professional disc golfers and two from Denmark. Amateurs will tee off alongside the pros in the tournament, Lomas said.
It will be his shop’s first sanctioned disc golf tournament in Seguin, Lomas said. So far, things look pretty promising with all the slots filled, he said.
“Through sponsorship money, I think we already raised over $8,000,” Lomas said. “The majority of that is going to go to the Field of Honor and what they do. That was the goal to try to get all their fundraiser money with just this one tournament versus having other fundraisers. The goal was knock it all out in one. Any extra funds will go to support the American Legion Post 245.”
The Pecan City Classic is set for 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. March 26 to 27 at the disc golf course in Max Starcke Park East. The community is invited to watch the players compete during the two-day tournament. Market Days also will take place during the tournament with more than 25 local businesses and vendors set up under the Patricia K. Irvine-King Pavilion in Starcke Park East. Spectators can browse and shop 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. both days.
“The Seguin Visitor Center has enjoyed working with the tournament organizers on bringing this event to Seguin,” said Kyle Kramm, Main Street & Convention and Visitors Bureau director. “Hosting these tournaments and events benefits Seguin in many ways, from increasing sales at restaurants to providing awareness about a growing sport in our community. It makes a tremendous impact on Seguin.”
The group plans to set up a miniature Field of Honor for which community members may buy flags for the full-scale Field of Honor.
This year’s Field of Honor will have more than 1,000 United States flags on display July 2 to July 9 at Faith Lutheran Church, 1326 E. Cedar. Flag sponsors are allowed to take home their flags after the event.
Field of Honor brings together community members to honor heroes in a meaningful way, Ramirez said.
“Throughout the event, we have speakers that come out and just tell about (their) flag, (their) person that’s out there,” she said. “Over the years, we’ve heard amazing stories. We have people from other towns that come out every evening and just sit out there and look at the display then talk about the time they served. There are some amazing people in this community.”
To help make it a rousing success, community members can participate in the disc golf tournament and events surrounding the tournament. Every bit will help make a difference, Ramirez said.
“We just hope we get a good turnout from the community,” she said. “We’re all intertwined and if there’s any way we can help each other out, that’s what we’re asking for.”
Tyler hosting national tour and Texas State Disc Golf Championships | News
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Hotels have been packed and the City of Tyler has been bustling as the 2021 PDGA Texas State Championships kicks off the Professional Disc Golf Association tour.
Professionals and amateurs from all over the nation arrived earlier this week to start two days of practice at the Dogwood Course at Lindsey Park.
States are in Tyler this weekend.
Disc golf is like regular golf, except the disc looks like a Frisbee. The sport has been around since 1970, but has increased in popularity with the Disc Golf Network and players with sponsors and even their own trading cards.
The top professional men started the three-day tournament this morning and the women start around 2:30 p.m. They are looking to finish in the top 10 today and advance into the elite card. All golfers will be seeded after today’s round.
One of the top female disc golfers in the nation, Ohn Scoggins of Los Angeles, recently won a tune up for the national tour, the 2021 Memorial FPO.
She has been impressed with Tyler and the course.
“I really love the course because in California, we don’t have as many trees. It’s beautiful and the city and the people are very nice, friendly and wish us luck,” said Scoggins. “Everything has been perfect. And the weather is nice, so we love it.”
VIDEO with Steven Storrie, tournament director in Tyler and Local Pro John Willis from the Disc Golf Pro Tour YouTube page:
With close to 200,000 members in 54 countries, disc golf is taking off. There are over 8,000 courses nationwide and several in Tyler and Longview.
Disc golf’s popularity is rising with a television and YouTube shows and events as well as trading cards, merchandise and a magazine.
The last two years, we have had a big number of people playing and our membership is close to 200,000,” said Scoggins. “When Covid happened, people wondered what sport they could play and they tried this sport. We have no many new faces and memberships.”
Scoggins started playing for fun 10 years ago and turned the hobby into a professional career.
“I just played for fun. I had no idea I would be here today. Disc golf is crazy. It takes time to like it and when you like it, it’s additive and so much fun,” Scoggins said. “You will see so many throw long, some throw short, backhand, rollers … it’s so addictive. I can not stop. Plus I like to play sports that are outside.”
With the difficulty of the course in Tyler, Scoggins could be in for a five-hour round of disc golf today. The players have media obligations and there are several areas to buy merchandise.
“It feels good when people recognize me. People ask me to sign a picture and it makes me very proud,” Scoggins said. “I’ve been playing for many years and worked very hard to get into the top 10 of all the women in the sport. Finally, my hard work has paid off. People are recognizing me. “
A post from Innova Discs on Instagram after Ohn Scoggins won the FPO championships.
County to host disc golf tourney | Sports
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Fort Bend County will prepare to hold its first tournament using Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA) rules on May 21. The Fort Bend County Commissioners’ Court has waived rental fees for the tournament at Jones Creek Ranch Park, where the event will be held.
A brand new portable new disc golf course was installed at Jones Creek Ranch Park last fall. The Houston Disc Golf donated tee posts, baskets and more to the course. The organization also helped with the course’s design.
Houston Disc Golf is a non-profit, volunteer organization that donates equipment to cities and counties to help grow the sport of disc golf. Typically, these cities and counties would not have spent their funds for disc golf otherwise. Houston Disc Golf Director Steve Stanley says Fort Bend County has been particularly helpful moving the process along.
“Fort Bend County has just been amazing,” Stanley said. “They’re on top of trying to do everything they can to get the course put in for their constituents.”
According to registration data from popular disc golf scoring app, UDisc, the Jones Creek Ranch course averages around 500 players each month. This isn’t including people who use the course and don’t log their scores in the app, so this is likely an underestimate. Stanley says most of these players are coming from out of town, bringing visitors to the county and adding to its economy.
“Think about it. All these people are driving into town, buying gas, stopping for drinks or maybe having lunch while they’re in the county,” Stanley said. “That’s probably more important than anything, these are people coming from outside your area.”
Fort Bend County Parks and Recreation Director Darren McCarthy echoed the importance of bringing new people into the county through this course.
“A lot of people playing disc golf had no idea the park existed,” McCarthy said. “Once people come, they’ll want to come back. This could bring in people from all over Houston.”
The upcoming tournament will be called the 2022 Zambia Open Fundraiser. In addition to cash prizes for winners, donations and proceeds from the event will go toward equipment and course upgrades for disc golf courses in Zambia. The funds raised will also help pay some of the Zambian staff’s salaries for the 2022 Open season.
The Jones Creek Ranch Park course will need to see some improvements before it’s PDGA ready. Namely concrete tee pads and tee boxes, but Stanley the course is well on its way.
“We’re close, but not there yet on the baskets,” Stanley said. “The county has been very good about going through all the steps.”
It is fairly common for organizations filing as non-profit entities to have certain fees waived by the court. Waiving the fees to use the park is one less hurdle for event organizers as they prepare for the tournament.
“We’re going to have more eyes than ever on Fort Bend County,” McCarthy said.
Zambia Open Flyer | News
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Fort Bend County will prepare to hold its first tournament using Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA) rules on May 21. The Fort Bend County Commissioners’ Court has waived rental fees for the tournament at Jones Creek Ranch Park, where the event will be held.
A brand new portable new disc golf course was installed at Jones Creek Ranch Park last fall. The Houston Disc Golf donated tee posts, baskets and more to the course. The organization also helped with the course’s design.
Houston Disc Golf is a non-profit, volunteer organization that donates equipment to cities and counties to help grow the sport of disc golf. Typically, these cities and counties would not have spent their funds for disc golf otherwise. Houston Disc Golf Director Steve Stanley says Fort Bend County has been particularly helpful moving the process along.
“Fort Bend County has just been amazing,” Stanley said. “They’re on top of trying to do everything they can to get the course put in for their constituents.”
According to registration data from popular disc golf scoring app, UDisc, the Jones Creek Ranch course averages around 500 players each month. This isn’t including people who use the course and don’t log their scores in the app, so this is likely an underestimate. Stanley says most of these players are coming from out of town, bringing visitors to the county and adding to its economy.
“Think about it. All these people are driving into town, buying gas, stopping for drinks or maybe having lunch while they’re in the county,” Stanley said. “That’s probably more important than anything, these are people coming from outside your area.”
Fort Bend County Parks and Recreation Director Darren McCarthy echoed the importance of bringing new people into the county through this course.
“A lot of people playing disc golf had no idea the park existed,” McCarthy said. “Once people come, they’ll want to come back. This could bring in people from all over Houston.”
The upcoming tournament will be called the 2022 Zambia Open Fundraiser. In addition to cash prizes for winners, donations and proceeds from the event will go toward equipment and course upgrades for disc golf courses in Zambia. The funds raised will also help pay some of the Zambian staff’s salaries for the 2022 Open season.
The Jones Creek Ranch Park course will need to see some improvements before it’s PDGA ready. Namely concrete tee pads and tee boxes, but Stanley the course is well on its way.
“We’re close, but not there yet on the baskets,” Stanley said. “The county has been very good about going through all the steps.”
It is fairly common for organizations filing as non-profit entities to have certain fees waived by the court. Waiving the fees to use the park is one less hurdle for event organizers as they prepare for the tournament.
“We’re going to have more eyes than ever on Fort Bend County,” McCarthy said.
United Way exceeds fundraising goals | Local
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United Way of Western Nebraska representatives (left to right) Karen Benzel, Jill Allen, Steph Black, Todd Lewis and Jason Rogers. The group presented the United Way’s 2021-22 campaign fundraising results on Friday and detailed how the money was spent on charitable causes.
The United Way of Western Nebraska held their 2021-22 Campaign Wrap-Up press conference on Friday, detailing the results of their various fundraising campaigns throughout the last year. Steph Black, the outgoing executive United Way executive director, said the campaign had raised a total of $472,012 across the Scotts Bluff, Box Butte and Dawes county areas.
The campaign aimed to raise $320,000 from the Scotts Bluff area and $92,500 from the northern Panhandle. It surpassed those goals by raising $377,640 from the Scotts Bluff Region and $94,372 from Dawes and Box Butte counties. “We’ve had amazing support this year,” Black said. “We’re fortunate to live in such a giving and supportive community that believes in helping others, and that truly was the key to our success this year.”
Black was among five United Way members presenting at the press conference. The others included the incoming executive director Karen Benzel, special events coordinator Jill Allen, outgoing board president Todd Lewis and incoming board president Jason Rogers.
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The group worked with 26 ‘Pacesetter Businesses’ in the Scotts Bluff area. These businesses held internal fundraisers and provided corporate donations, totaling nearly $134,000. There were 22 Pacesetter Businesses in the Box Butte and Dawes County regions which raised more than $65,000. The United Way also received an anonymous donation of $61,000.
Allen highlighted the United Way Duck Draw event in September, which sold 11,049 ducks and raised $94,892. Benzel made mention of the DISCover United Way disc golf tournament in Alliance which raised $6,000. “They (the numbers) are impressive by themselves, but together we’re making a huge impact on the community,” Benzel said.
During the conference, the presenters related different methods the United Way spent the funds raised. These included funding more than two dozen non-profit programs across the Panhandle. The non-profits tackled various issues included financial instability, food insecurity and homelessness.
United Way also granted $10,100 to 13 Panhandle school districts to purchase supplies and delivered more than 200 school supply kits to local Community Action Partnership of Western Nebraska (CAPWN) offices. They also provided more than $16,000 in grants to 17 local programs which help fight food insecurity and hosted bag-packing events to deliver food to elderly residents and families in need.
Many of the programs the United Way undertook over the last year had to be restructured to prevent the spread of COVID. This included their Stuff the Bus promotion, where people were encouraged to donate money to purchase school supplies instead of donating the supplies directly. Community members often provided donations of money at events, but several of them volunteered whenever the occasion arose.
Benzel promoted the notion that, moving forward, she has visions of making the United Way of Western Nebraska more united. Previous campaign wrap-up conferences were hosted separately for the Scotts Bluff and northern Panhandle areas. Now, they’re together, and she has plans to host events in additional locations across the Panhandle. “Of course, everywhere we are with United Way we’re always grateful for the communities that support us,” she said.
Some events for the 2022-23 campaign are already planned; Black said they’ve been in the works for months. The 2022 Duck Draw in Scottsbluff, for example, will take place on Sept. 17. Another disc golf tournament will occur on Aug. 20 in Alliance. The group announced that the United Way Color Dash this year will be in-person instead of virtual and will take place on June 4.
Benzel said new goals for the next campaign will be decided later in the year. She said she knew rising inflation could limit people’s ability to donate, but that the group would work hard to fill in the gaps and seek additional funding.
Professional disc golf tournament coming to Crandall Park | Local
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GLENS FALLS — A professional disc golf tournament is coming to Crandall Park later this year.
The city’s Recreation Committee on Wednesday approved plans submitted by the Crandall Park Beautification Committee to host a pair of disc golf tournaments in the park for the weekend of June 12 and 13, including a Professional Disc Golf Association sanctioned tournament with nearly 80 competitors.
The tournament will coincide with the official opening of the newly constructed 18-hole disc golf course spread throughout the park.
People have been playing the course for months, but rubber tee pads and other amenities have yet to be installed. The finishing touches for the course should be completed sometime in May, said Elizabeth Little Hogan, the president of the Crandall Park Beautification Committee.
“I have to tell you, I underestimated the popularity of this,” she said.
The weekend will get underway on Saturday June 12 with a “Learn to Play” event from noon to 2 p.m., according to the plans.
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Families or household groups of four to five will be assigned a tee time and will play the first two holes of the course with an experienced disc golf player, who will show them how to play the sport.
Each group will be allowed to play either the front or back nine, and groups will be spread out to ensure social distancing. Volunteers will be on hand to help direct players and ensure there are no large gatherings.
There will be a $25 registration fee, which will include four or five discs. Families who cannot afford the registration fee can apply for financial assistance.
All participants will be required to register for the event online in advance.
Beginning at 12:30 p.m. that same day, an 18-hole recreational tournament will be held.
The tournament will be broken into separate divisions including novice, men’s and women’s, and youth.
A $35 pre-registration fee is required, which will provide participants a pack of two new discs and a coupon book to Stewart’s Shops.
Everyone would be required to sign up online in advance and mask wearing will be mandatory, according to the plans.
Participants would begin play at separate holes in order to ensure social distancing.
Prizes for the tournament will be awarded via PayPal.
On June 13, a Professional Disc Golf Association tournament will be held, with an expected 72 participants.
The tournament will include players of all skill sets from professional to beginner.
A registration fee ranging from $25 to $55 will be required, depending on the player’s ranking, according to the plans.
The tournament will consist of two rounds, and all players will be required to stay within their group.
The first round of the tournament will start at 9 a.m. and the second will begin a 1 p.m.
There are also plans to reach out to local restaurants to sell food during the event, though whether those plans would be allowed depends on the pandemic.
Members of the committee were eager to approve the plans, though Mayor Dan Hall said he has concerns about parking.
The disc golf course is adjacent to a playground in the park, and with outdoor recreation becoming increasingly popular, there’s a concern about safety.
“I’m starting to be real nervous about parking in Crandall Park,” Hall said.
Little said she shares the same concerns and will be directing all participants to park near the soccer fields and is working on applying for permits needed to temporarily close roads near the course during the tournament.
“We’re on the same page,” she said.
Chad Arnold is a reporter for The Post-Star covering the city of Glens Falls and the town and village of Lake George and Washington County government. Follow him on Twitter @ChadGArnold.
Panic at the disc golf, state championship on the line Sunday in Tyler | Local News
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Just four strokes, or shots, separate the top men and women in the top 10 of their respective classes heading into the final day of the 2021 PDGA Texas State Championships in Tyler.
Matthew Orum of Alabama who has 63 career wins, is tied with Richard Wysocki of South Carolina (who has 115 career wins) at 107.
On the women’s side, Hailey King of Wisconsin is the leader at 124 and Catrina Allen of Minnesota is second at 125
There were 500 players competing in different professional and amateur brackets. Two Rose City Golf Club members won their brackets on Saturday after a three-day tournament that started Thursday. Larry Rosemond of Canton won with a 187 and Jesse Weaver of Tyler won with a 189
As professional players were leaving the course at the 2021 PDGA Texas State Championships in Tyler, many were asked to sign autographs on discs or photos.
Eagle Wynne McMahon was stopped by Jonah Jernigan from Ben Wheeler for an autograph.
McMahon, who has won 46 tournaments and earned $179,000 in his career, was signing for a 13-year-old who wants to be just like him.
And Jernigan, an amateur, is two steps away, competing as well in the three day Professional Disc Golf Association tour event.
Tyler has 10 courses, and three are being used for the state tournament. The main course was the Dogwood Course at Lindsey Park.
Jon Jernigan said he started playing disc golf as a way to lose weight, get exercise and have fun at the Mineola club. Jonah, his son, came along to “simply go get my disc when I started throwing badly” he explained.
“Then he started to decide to throw the discs. And he started to throw them way better than the rest of us!” Jon Jenigan said. “Now, he’s a 920-rated player, which is really high for a 13-year-old. Jonah completed in the Intermediate bracket, which is by ability not age. He is one step below advanced … after advanced is the pros.”
He finished tied for fifth with a 168. The winner Clint Johnson, shot a 164.
The father-son team are also fans and started talking about McMahon again.
“He throws really far and I throw really far. He has the same game as me and he does a lot of creative shots other people won’t do. He will go over trees,” Johan Jernigan said of his disc idol.
Jon Jernigan added of McMahon, “Most guys will go to the right. He has the strength and ability to go way up over and come down. He’s probably the furthest thrower or second in the world and can throw 800 feet.”
Steven Sizemore helps run the Rose City Disc Club in Tyler. He praised the workers, volunteers, the association and the national media who helped with the tournament.
Here are the leaders heading into the final day:
1 Matthew Orum 107
1 Richard Wysocki 107
3 Chris Dickerson 108
3 Casey White 108
5 Kevin Jones 109
6 Paul McBeth 110
6 Emerson Keith 110
6 Calvin Heimburg 110
6 Joel Freeman110
10 Nikko Locastro 111
10 Matt Bell 111
12 Brian Earhart 113
12 Chris Clemons 113
12 Eagle Wynne McMahon 113
12 Garrett Gurthie 113
12 Jeremy Koling 113
17 Terry Rothlisberger 114
17 Alden Harris 114
17 James Conrad 114
20 Adam Hammes 115
20 Alex Russell 115
20 Gregg Barsby 115
20 Austin Hoop 115
20 Thomas Gilbert 115
WOMEN
1 Hailey King 124
2 Catrina Allen 125
3 Valerie Mandujano 126
3 Missy Gannon 126
3 Holly Finley 126
3 Rebecca Cox 126
7 Sarah Hokom 127
7 Ohn Scoggins 127
7 Jessica Weese 127
10 Alexis Mandujano 128
10 Stephanie Vincent 128
12 Lisa Fajkus129
13 Erika Stinchcomb 131
14 Paige Pierce 133
14 Sara Sinclair 133
16 Heather Young 134
16 Kat Mertsch 134
16 Kona Star Panis 134
19 Deann Carey 135
19 Krissie Fountain 135
19 Casey Pennington 135
19 Sami Keddington 135