Disc golf history was made at the USDGC during Saturday’s final round when Paul McBeth won his first USDGC and completed disc golf’s Grand Slam in the process when he beat Richard Wysocki by five strokes.
Coming from three strokes behind to start the day, McBeth shot a 61 (-6), overtaking Round 3 leader Nate Sexton, then eventually outlasting Richard Wysocki when Wysocki stumbled on Hole 17, clearing the way for a McBeth victory.
Rounding out the top five 2015 finishers are: 3rd place Nate Doss (-18), 4th place Nate Sexton (-15), and 5th place Cameron Colglazier (-14).
For months leading up to the 2015 USDGC, most of the talk centered around Paul McBeth and the chances of him completing disc golf’s Grand Slam. McBeth definitely came through. McBeth, who shot (-26) for the Championship, submitted eight birdies and only made two bogeys on a day with tough weather conditions.
“I threw some bad drives at the beginning and had to work that out throughout the round since we didn’t have much chance to warm up with the weather,” McBeth said after the round. “I was able to keep it in bounds and keep the putts falling for most of the round and they came up huge on the last two holes.”
McBeth was one of only six players in the Open Flight to shoot below par on a Saturday that featured soggy course conditions from morning rain that stopped for several holes on the front nine but started up again by Hole 10 and hung around with gusty winds through Hole 14.
Nate Sexton started the day ahead of Wysocki and McBeth by three strokes. However after he made birdies on Holes 1 and 3, he couldn't capitalize on birdie opportunities for the rest of his round. He ended up shooting a disappointing 75 (+8). Fourth place may be a let down for Sexton, but he still had one of his best USDGC finishes to date continuing his strong appearances here at Winthrop.
With Sexton cooling off not long after the round had started, McBeth and Wysocki took advantage with several birdies a piece by Hole 9. On Hole 9, Sexton then fell hard with a double bogey, and Wysocki took the lead by three strokes with a birdie. McBeth also made a big birdie here and overtook Sexton but was now one stroke back of Wysocki.
McBeth then took his first lead of the event by two strokes after Hole 12 when he scored a clutch birdie and Wysocki suffered a triple bogey.
On the very next hole Wysocki tied it back up with a birdie on the tough Hole 13, while McBeth went OB off the tee and ended up with a bogey.
Two holes later McBeth retook the lead by one when he secured a par on the hole while Wysocki made bogey after his second throw, a sidearm roller, went OB.
The excitement continued on Hole 16 as Wysocki tied it up yet again after a sweet sidearm drive led him to a birdie. He would’ve taken the lead, but McBeth sunk a clutch 45-foot putt to save par after landing in the hazard.
McBeth said he had a moment with himself before walking up to the tough putt, “I kind of laughed before I made that putt, because I knew how important it was. That’s what I play for though. Those moments. I was able to make that and put the pressure on Ricky going into Hole 17.”
Tied up with two holes left to play for the Championship, Wysocki, up first on the tee, could only land inside the island green after throwing two sidearm drives OB. After that, McBeth just needed to land his backhand inside the green safely and his Grand Slam would likely be his. After staring down his throw, he watched it land safely and let out a pumped up reaction.
“I threw my Nova all four times on that hole and birdied it all four times during the tournament. I threw the same shot every round and was in the same spot every round,” McBeth explained.
Up by five strokes, all McBeth had to do was coast through Hole 18’s fairway to claim his first USDGC and disc golf’s Grand Slam, which was exactly what he did.
“There are so many young players coming up and this will push me even harder,” McBeth explained. “I now have more titles to defend. That’s my favorite thing: defending titles.”
Doss had some ups and downs during the rainy final round but did not have enough momentum to make a strike by the round’s end. Still, he turned in a rare score in the negatives on Saturday shooting a 65 (-2).
Shooting a 66 (-1), you have to give credit to Wysocki for all the fight he showed during the final round. Wysocki has definitely earned his USDGC stripes with his gutsy performance and will definitely be a favorite to go far next year.
So what’s next for McBeth as disc golf’s first Grand Slam Champion? We’ll see, he’s certainly proved he can fulfill even the toughest expectations.
See PDGA results & ratings here: Open Flight | Performance Flight.
Watch the full 5-hour monster of a final round as archived broadcast here.
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For official photo galleries from USDGC 2015, see here. All official videos will also be posted here.
With a three stroke lead, Noah Meintsma just needs one more good round to become the 2015 Performance Flight Champ on Saturday. However, Anthony Hauf, who beat his projected 86 by 10 strokes during Friday’s Round 3, has his own plans to take the flight. Others near the top of the Performance Flight after three rounds are: Brock Shepherd (-20), and Ezra Robinson and Jeffrey Spring are at (-19).
After Friday’s round, Hauf said he’s going to try to finish strong for the final round by correcting a few mistakes from Round 3.
“The only holes that get me are Hole 5 and ‘888’ (Hole 13) and if I can make corrections on those I can shoot under the course par,” said Hauf.
Meintsma beat his projected 76 by four strokes today, but thought he could do better.
“I just had too many OB’s today,” said Meintsma. But a bright spot was making a four on Hole 13 for the third time in a row.
Tomorrow, the forecasted rain could have a definite effect on play. Meintsma says he’ll try to keep his disc as dry as possible and may slow down his swing a bit to ensure accuracy and save a few strokes.
Always stay on top of the freshest scores, by bookmarking usdgclive.com. The PDGA results page can be found here: Open Flight | Performance Flight.
Make sure to tune in to The Insider Show at 10 pm (ET) on The SpinTV's YouTube Channel. See full video release schedule here.
Check out also the updates from today and for the days to follow from our twitter account, facebook page & instagram.
For official photo galleries from USDGC 2015, see here. All official videos will also be posted here.
With one round left to play for the US Championship, Nate Sexton and his superb sidearm continue to lead the field at (-23), while Paul McBeth and Richard Wysocki made big moves during Friday’s Round 3 to jump to second at (-20) after they both shot a 57 (-10).
Sexton knows this is still far from over, “Leading with 18 holes to play feels great. There is no better spot to be. You can’t envy anyone who is one stroke behind though. I know there will be pressure, but I’m not focused on who’s behind me or how far ahead I might be. I’m just going to play golf that I can be proud of and if that wins, that’s great.”
Nate Doss was tied for the lead at the round’s start, but caught a few rough breaks at the end of the round and now trails by seven strokes, but he’ll remain on the lead card on Saturday, which could be a wet one. Forecasts are calling for moderate winds and periods of rain.
Other players positioning themselves for the final round Saturday include: Steve Brinster and Zach Melton at (-15), Cameron Colglazier at (-14).
It looks like McBeth may have finally found his stride on Friday when he shot a 57 (-10) after shooting two rounds of 62 (-5). The sizable Friday gallery was definitely paying him close attention. He had 12 birdies and one eagle during his breakout round, which could've been even lower without his two bogeys and a double bogey on the back nine. He should be in good position to make a run at completing his Grand Slam season on Saturday.
“It’s time to put some pressure on Nate (Sexton) and the others on the lead card,” McBeth said after the round. “I need to come out hot and clean up those mistakes on the stretch of Holes 11, 12, 13, and 14. I’ve given away too many strokes there.”
Sexton encountered a little trouble on holes 12 and 13, making bogey on each, but besides that he was staying in between the ropes as he relied heavily on his sidearm and ended with 60 (-7). On Hole 11, a clutch sidearm third shot helped save par after an errant tee shot went fairly deep into the hole’s right hedge. As Sexton was preparing for a jump putt on Hole 17 for birdie he made the wise call of waiting for a loud diesel truck to pass by across the lake. “I thought it was a boat,” he remarked to the crowd after stepping away from his lie. After regrouping, he then stepped back up and nailed his putt.
There was only one hiccup for Wyscoki, which came with a bogey on hole 5. Besides that he was golden, especially on the back nine, birdying everything except holes 10 and 15. Wysocki now finds himself in a similar position to 2012 when he was on the lead card and nearly went the distance.
“Being in the lead group is a great spot to be on the final day,” Wysocki stated with a smile. “Now I can make my move.”
No doubt Doss didn’t have the clean start he wanted. Though he made birdie on Hole 2 and saved a par from the hazard on hole 3, he made bogey on Hole 1 and then made double bogey on Hole 4. However, Doss began playing more controlled after the back nine and looked to be back in contention after birdies on holes 15 and 16. But then his layup tee shot went OB on Hole 17. He laid up again and after landing in the island, he missed his putt and had to settle for a triple bogey. Then on Hole 18 his second shot was ruled OB after several minutes of the group examining the lie. Still he finished the hole strong with a par save.
One round is all that’s left to crown the 2015 US Champion. Saturday we’ll see if McBeth can continue his hot play and capture disc golf’s Grand Slam. Or, will we see Wysocki take control? With Sexton’s steady play he won’t relinquish the lead easily. The final round will be a big one for sure.
The lead group's round from today was also streamed live by The SpinTV in association with SmashboxxTV. Check the archived footage here.
Pasi Koivu aced Hole 17 and Stale Hakstad, of the Performance Flight, aced Hole 14. See Ståle's ace video below:
Always stay on top of the freshest scores, by bookmarking usdgclive.com. The PDGA results page can be found here: Open Flight | Performance Flight.
Make sure to tune in to The Insider Show at 10 pm (ET) on The SpinTV's YouTube Channel. See full video release schedule here.
Check out also the updates from today and for the days to follow from our twitter account, facebook page & instagram.
For official photo galleries from USDGC 2015, see here. All official videos will also be posted here.
During the Performance Flight’s Round 2 on Thursday, Jeffrey Spring beat his projected 78 by 15 strokes and is now beating his projected by a total of 19 strokes, trailing flight leader Noah Meintsma by only two strokes. Meintsma again beat his projected 76, this time by five strokes, and is besting his projection by a total of 21 strokes.
Others near the top of the Performance Flight are: Ezra Robinson (-16), Edward Schenkenfelder (-14), and Holly Finley (-13).
Anthony Siefker (-12) was in second place after the first round, but didn’t have the round he wanted on Thursday. He shot an 82, beating his projection by one.
“All in all I didn’t have a bad day, I just caught some rough breaks,” said Siefker.
Though he said, “it did make me respect the course more.”
Siefker will set out Friday with the same game plan that worked for him on Wednesday, with the hopes that the breaks he sees are mostly good.
Always stay on top of the freshest scores, by bookmarking usdgclive.com. The PDGA results page can be found here: Open Flight | Performance Flight.
Make sure to tune in to The Insider Show at 10 pm (ET) on The SpinTV's YouTube Channel. See full video release schedule here.
Check out also the updates from today and for the days to follow from our twitter account, facebook page & instagram.
For official photo galleries from USDGC 2015, see here. All official videos will also be posted here.
It was a tale of two Nates, as both Nate Doss and Nate Sexton battled during Round 2 of USDGC on Thursday and both ended up deadlocked for the USDGC lead at (-16). Trailing our co-leaders are: Alex Geisinger (-11), and Zach Melton, Richard Wysocki, and Paul McBeth are all at (-10).
Doss, who shot a 62 (-5) entered the round with a three stroke lead over Sexton and Eagle McMahon and increased it to four strokes after Hole 11. However, Sexton, who shot another 59 (-8), cut at Doss’s lead until he took the lead for the first time after Hole 15. There, an amazing sidearm roller off the tee led to a straddle putt for birdie while Doss struggled for bogey.
Doss then tied it up with an easy birdie after he laced a drive down hole 16. But, Sexton regained the lead the following hole when his sidearm drive landed him safely inside the island green and he hit his putt, while Doss laid up for par. Up by one, Sexton, however, had to settle for par on Hole 18, while Doss’s backhand again was true on his approach and landed him on the green and led to a birdie, tying it all up for Round 3.
After the round, Sexton said Round 2 was quite the roller coaster, “Through 13 holes I think I only had one par on the scorecard. I had three bogeys and nine birdies and one par through 13, so kind of a strange round. I was playing aggressive and that says something. I’m happy with that.”
Fans at home may be wondering when Grand Slam chaser Paul McBeth will turn on the "Beast Mode". After shooting another 62 (-5), the four-time World Champ still finds himself among the pack at (-10) for the Championship.
“I feel good. I’m still making a lot of mistakes out there,” McBeth said after the round. “I had half good holes and half bad. There is a lot of room for improvement. Another 62, another 5 (shots) down. My putting was on point today. Made every putt inside the circle and some outside. Just bigger numbers today, made some mistakes, too many bogeys.”
Cameron Colglazier, who is at (-9) for the Championship, was at (-10) before taking a 7 on Hole 18, which cooled him down to 60 (-7).
Colglazier said he’s happy with how things went, “I play aggressive wherever I go and the shots were flowing and I was keeping them inbounds and making putts until 18. I threw out of bounds on my second and third shots and took a seven…I feel good moving into Friday. I’ll continue to be aggressive.”
Zach Melton, shooting (-10) for the Championship, made some moves on Friday also with a 60 (-7).
Friday’s Round 3 is a big one. We’ll see if McBeth can turn it on or if it will continue to be the Nate Doss and Nate Sexton show? Or, will dark horses like Alex Geisinger continue to work their way up?
Current Leaders:
1. Nate Sexton (-16)
1. Nathan Doss (-16)
3. Alex Geisinger (-11)
4. Zach Melton (-10)
4. Paul McBeth (-10)
4. Ricky Wysocki (-10)
7. Cameron Colglazier (-9)
7. Jeremy Koling (-9)
7. Nikko Locastro (-9)
7. Michael Johansen (-9)
11. David Feldberg (-8)
11. Teemu Nissinen (-8)
11. Henrik Johansen (-8)
11. Eagle Wynne McMahon (-8)
15. Barry Schultz (-7)
Other notable competitors:
20. Steve Brinster (-5)
25. Will Schusterick (-3)
25. Ken Climo (-3)
Always stay on top of the freshest scores, by bookmarking usdgclive.com. The PDGA results page can be found here: Open Flight | Performance Flight.
Make sure to tune in to The Insider Show at 10 pm (ET) on The SpinTV's YouTube Channel. See full video release schedule here.
Check out also the updates from today and for the days to follow from our twitter account, facebook page & instagram.
For official photo galleries from USDGC 2015, see here. All official videos will also be posted here.
2008 US Champ Nate Doss took early control of the USDGC leaderboard during Wednesday’s Round 1 after his blistering 56 (-11), while defending US Champ Will Schusterick skidded hard concluding his round and finished with a 69 (+2).
Wednesday's pleasant weather was a far cry from conditions in the days leading up to the event. Others near the top include: Nate Sexton and USDGC rookie Eagle McMahon, who both shot 59 (-8); and Michael Johansen 61 (-6).
With his 62 (-5), four-time World Champ and Grand Slam chaser Paul McBeth finds himself among the pack along with Richard Wysocki, 5-time US Champ Ken Climo, James Proctor, and others.
Doss was definitely enjoying his USDGC kick off after turning in his 56 (-11), which included only one bogey on Hole 17 when he laid up off the tee, then tossed into the island, but missed his putt.
“I came into the tournament basically saying if I could shoot in the 50’s I thought that would be amazing. And when I just did my scorecard I wrote down 56 - I was really a little bit surprised,” said Doss.
Schusterick certainly didn’t have the start he wanted to defend his US Title. After being three under through 12 holes, he got bogeys on holes 13 and 14, and then scored a triple bogey and a double bogey on holes 17 and 18 respectively.
When asked what his thoughts were after the round, he replied: “Just a lot of mistakes, way too many. I think it’s probably my worst round in the last five years at this tournament.”
Jeremy Koling said the day’s first tee time slot treated him mostly well, finishing with 63 (-4). He started off six under on the front nine, but then lost some of those birdies down the stretch. With his best USDGC finish in the 20’s, Koling’s goal is to make the lead card so he’s dialed down his aggressive strategy of the past.
“I was looking at this more: ‘How can I keep it more in the ropes, especially on the holes with stroke and distance’ (Holes 9, 10, 12, 17, and parts of 13)”, Koling concludes.
The 5-time USDGC Champion Ken Climo is also in pace of the lead with his 62 (-5) for the day. "I'll come out a little more aggressive tomorrow. I played a little tentative today and will be aggressive tomorrow and hit my lines exact.", says the 12-time MPO World Champion.
Patrick Brown, who finished 4th last year, said he felt pretty good about his performance 64 (-3) despite difficulty warming up. He was also pleased the course fared well during last week’s storms.
“I’m very grateful that the course didn’t get destroyed from all of the flooding that happened south of us,” said Brown.
Always stay on top of the freshest scores, by bookmarking usdgclive.com. The PDGA results page can be found here: Open Flight | Performance Flight.
Get the recap of the day from The Insider Show at 10 pm (ET) on The SpinTV's YouTube Channel. See full video release schedule here.
Check out also the updates from today and for the days to follow from our twitter account, facebook page & instagram.
For official photo galleries from USDGC 2015, see here. All official videos will also be posted here.
Ace Alert: Henrik Johansen started off the day right with an ace on Hole 1.