Disc golf event was exciting
To the Editor,
On May 5, I attended my first disc golf tournament at the Paul “Bud” and Carol Billiard Disc Golf Course at Brooke Hills Park.
I had spoken to Josh Fender, Northern Panhandle Disc Golf Association president and the event’s organizer, about volunteering. Since I had experience at golf tournaments, I had a rough idea of the duties. Being very new to disc golf, I opted to volunteer rather than play and I learned so much in one day.
Turnout was much larger than I expected, with 43 professional and amateur players.
I was greeted by Fender; Mark Cherry, NPDGA assistant league coordinator; and Kim Fanase, NPDGA secretary and treasurer.
Fender had an array of colorful discs made for the event and even designed the heat stamp for them. In addition to a picnic table full of tournament discs, there were a variety of giveaway and drawing items supplied by the many sponsors.
During signups, disc golfers were grouped according to division and gender.
In the men’s pro open division were Cody Winget, Matt Rosie, Jordan Wheeler, J. Gary Dropcho, Chris Deitzel, Sir Boston, Joshua Smith, Travis Dick, Carter Patton, Dustin Pratt and Sid Olcott.
The next men’s division was made up of Nathan Paxton, Tom Sears, Nathan Williams, Kristofer Plona, Mark Cherry, Walter Paskert, Banjamin Rahe , Rob Birk, Tom Moeller, Carter Magers, Joshua Gibbons, Vincent Mach, Julian Powell, Benjamin McCray, Matt Newlon, John Payne, Justus Robinson, Mark Magers, Jason Stoner, Jeremy Donahew, Brian Bane, Tim Rastetter, Logan Hughes, Jim Givens and Tyler Goodwil.
The men’s junior divsion was made up of Tanner Payne and Johnny Payne. The women’s divsion included Taylor Crammer, Abigail Sullivan, Mary Moeller, Carie Black and Michelle Plummer.
The players ranged in age from 12 to 60.
The tournament was run much like a normal golfing tournament , with each team starting at a different hole and players logging closest to the pin.
Two aces (holes in one) were shot by Winget and Patton. There also were two sudden-death tie-breaker rounds betweeen Crammer and Sullivan in the female advanced division and Paxton and Sears in the male advanced division.
In the event of a tie, Fender had designated four holes for players to replay for the winning spot in their group.
The divisions played two rounds of 18 holes with an hour lunch break between them.
I talked to Abbey Sullivan, who hosted a women’s global event tournament in Ripley, where she lives.
I learned a local disc golf league meets each Thursday at one of four area disc golf courses.
I was amazed that more than $1,500 was raised for the event, so the players had a chance to win some big bucks. Winners also could win merchandise from the Appalachian Disc Golf Shop.
The kindness I experienced at the event has inspired me to introduce more people to the sport. Information about the Northern Panhandle Disc Golf Association can be found at its Facebook page.
Jessica Strader
Follansbee