Trek Disc Golf

Back at it after a missing Champions Cup. As a quick sidenote, what a fun tournament to watch. I love watching (and playing) woods golf. Andrew Presnell won his first ever major and Eveliina Salonen won her second major on the FPO side. Such a great and ridiculously tough course at Northwood Park. Love it.

Onto this weekend where the players are back on the open course in one of my least favorite tournaments to watch, the Dynamic Disc Open. Now, by all acocunts, there are some holes on this course that I love, that are iconic, and this tournament always seems to bring the drama. But the white flags littering the fairways on every hole just cements the fact that I love woods golf. Natural penalties with some OB. I’m biased coming from New England, but it’s my preferred way to watch and play. All that said, I love watching disc golf, and I’m excited to see how this weekend plays out.

Coverage will get underway at 9:00 am Central Time on May 3rd for the FPO division with the MPO coverage beginning at 2:30 pm Central Time. The tournament will continue on Saturday May 4th, and Sunday May 5th with those same times for coverage. New name alert! Champions Landing is the name of this course being played, essentially the same course as years past with the exception being hole 18. Hole 18 is now a par 5 for MPO and a par 4 with an FPO, with the green playing now as an island. The hole was basically extended from the old position over the water to create more drama at the finish. Without seeing it in play, I love the change.

On the FPO side, last years winning, Hailey King, is in the field again and looking to repeat her -19 from that victory. Last year she really put it together on the putting green, leading the field in strokes gained putting and in C1X in regulation. Holyn Handley, who lost to Hailey in a one hole playoff, led the field in strokes gained tee to green. If I remember correctly, last year was an oddly quiet year with the wind and the weather, so I question whether on not the putting performance can be repeated by Hailey. Honestly, I don’t think so, but I do think she plays well enough to be in the mix. No Ella Hansen or Kristin Tattar currently registered, so we are looking at a field looking to grab a pro tour win without the best player and one of the farthest throwers on tour present. So who takes it down? I’ll take Holyn to finally get on the board with a victory this year. She has the skills to win here, the ability to throw far and accurately, I can just see it happening. In second, I’ll take Natalie Ryan. Natalie did not compete here last year, but has the skills to do well here. And in third, as much as I want to pick Ohn Scoggins, I think the distance will be too much. So give me Hailey King to round out the podium.

In MPO, last years winner Parker Welck had a coming out party. He was on absolutely nobodies radar to win this tournament, and he edged out Calvin Heimburg by one strong to win the 2023 DDO. Parker continue his success throughout the year, and was signed by DGA this offseason. But, I have low odds on Parker repeating this year. He excelled in strokes gained from tee to green, but right on his heels was Ricky Wysocki. Gannon Buhr led in strokes gained putting, Ben Callaway led in strokes gained C1X, and Silas Schultz, Aaron Gossage, and Parker were top three in C1 in regulation. I list all of the stats to show just who was playing well here last year, combine that with players off to a good start this year like Anthony Barela, Ezra Robinson, and Matt Orem, I think there are a lot of players in contention. All those names I have mentioned finished in the top 10 at DDO last year, and I anticipate that three of those names will be near the top again this year. In third place, I’ll take Aaron Gossage. He has played okay this season, but we have not seen much from him. But he almost won worlds here and has the confidence and the shots to play well. I can see him sneaking onto the podium. In second, I’ll take Ricky Wysocki. Ricky and DDO just makes sense to me. I think when I first started following disc golf in 2019, I saw Ricky play this event and picture him birdying everything. Give me Rick to take his spot near the top. And finally, let’s get him a win. Calvin Heimburg is going to win his first Pro Tour event in over a year. He just has it in the past couple tournaments with people doubting him without the forehand, and I think on this course, he can utilize his backhand with the forehand to find success. Calvin wins this thing with a -28.