by Dr. John G. Duesler, Jr.
Last week in Santa Cruz, California the large gallery at DeLaveaga was giddy with excitement at how close the competition was coming down the home stretch. This week in Oregon, they were giddy because it was not.
Ken Climo built on his record-setting performance from Saturday to shoot a Sunday-best 52 and capture his first career win in Oregon with a dominating display of disc golf prowess at the 2009 Beaver State Fling presented by Keen. The large and energetic Memorial Day holiday gallery vacillated between awe and ecstasy at Climo's roller shots, that seemed to defy gravity as they hustled deep down the fairway, and his approach throws, which landed consistently within 15-20 feet of the pin to take the pressure off his putting game. And while Climo did give up a throw to runner-up Avery Jenkins on the first hole of the final round, the Clearwater, Florida native closed the door on the next 17 holes to extend his three-throw lead at the start of the round to a seven-throw bulge at the end.
For the most decorated disc golfer in the history of our sport, Climo's 2009 Beaver State Fling title was his first win in Oregon, though not for a lack of trying.
"I know my game, and I know I've still got it. I just need to bring it. I've been making a lot of mistakes the last few years, choosing the wrong routes or the wrong decision, and I just really wanted to focus in on that this year and make sure I made the right decisions," Climo said after the event.
A prime example of Climo's solid decision making was on the 850-feet, par-4 hole 6 on Milo McIver's West course. Instead of giving into the temptation of just hauling off the longest drive he could into the gorgeously groomed fairway, Climo opted instead to play position and land his drive slightly to the left-side of the fairway, where he twice was able to precisely execute 320-feet helix throws through the narrow openings of the majestic northwest cedars and land his disc to within 15-20 feet of the basket for birdies on both Friday and Sunday. Jenkins was not so fortunate on this hole Sunday, powering his drive to the backside of the tree-lined fairway. This difficult lie forced him to use a backside route that ultimately lead to a circle-six and thwarted almost any chance the Oregon favorite had to come back and win.
For his masterful performance this weekend, Climo earned the $2850 first-place check, as well as elevated himself to the top of the Woodchuck Cider Drive for the Championship NT points standings. Jenkins won $1890 for his solid second-place finish, while Nikko Locastro, who continues to play very solid disc golf, won $1485. Nate Doss and Steve Rico tied for fourth and won $1172 each of the nearly $43,000 purse awarded at the 2009 Beaver State Fling presented by Keen.
Des Reading won her first PDGA National Tour title of the year, besting Valarie Jenkins by eight throws and Carrie Berlogar by nine at the 2009 Beaver State Fling presented by Keen. Reading had a noticeable bounce in her step this weekend, as the west coast swing seems to have re-energized her game. Reading sprinted out to a nine-throw advantage after Friday's first two rounds, and none of her chief rivals were ever able to get closer than seven throws, as she put together a complete performance from the tee, fairway and putting area these last two weekends. Reading was handsomely rewarded with a $1210 check for her win and drew to within 15 points of Beaver State Fling runner-up Val Jenkins in the Woodchuck Drive the Championship NT points chase.
Links:
Beaver State Fling Scoreboard
Last week in Santa Cruz, California the large gallery at DeLaveaga was giddy with excitement at how close the competition was coming down the home stretch. This week in Oregon, they were giddy because it was not.
Ken Climo built on his record-setting performance from Saturday to shoot a Sunday-best 52 and capture his first career win in Oregon with a dominating display of disc golf prowess at the 2009 Beaver State Fling presented by Keen. The large and energetic Memorial Day holiday gallery vacillated between awe and ecstasy at Climo's roller shots, that seemed to defy gravity as they hustled deep down the fairway, and his approach throws, which landed consistently within 15-20 feet of the pin to take the pressure off his putting game. And while Climo did give up a throw to runner-up Avery Jenkins on the first hole of the final round, the Clearwater, Florida native closed the door on the next 17 holes to extend his three-throw lead at the start of the round to a seven-throw bulge at the end.
For the most decorated disc golfer in the history of our sport, Climo's 2009 Beaver State Fling title was his first win in Oregon, though not for a lack of trying.
"I know my game, and I know I've still got it. I just need to bring it. I've been making a lot of mistakes the last few years, choosing the wrong routes or the wrong decision, and I just really wanted to focus in on that this year and make sure I made the right decisions," Climo said after the event.
A prime example of Climo's solid decision making was on the 850-feet, par-4 hole 6 on Milo McIver's West course. Instead of giving into the temptation of just hauling off the longest drive he could into the gorgeously groomed fairway, Climo opted instead to play position and land his drive slightly to the left-side of the fairway, where he twice was able to precisely execute 320-feet helix throws through the narrow openings of the majestic northwest cedars and land his disc to within 15-20 feet of the basket for birdies on both Friday and Sunday. Jenkins was not so fortunate on this hole Sunday, powering his drive to the backside of the tree-lined fairway. This difficult lie forced him to use a backside route that ultimately lead to a circle-six and thwarted almost any chance the Oregon favorite had to come back and win.
For his masterful performance this weekend, Climo earned the $2850 first-place check, as well as elevated himself to the top of the Woodchuck Cider Drive for the Championship NT points standings. Jenkins won $1890 for his solid second-place finish, while Nikko Locastro, who continues to play very solid disc golf, won $1485. Nate Doss and Steve Rico tied for fourth and won $1172 each of the nearly $43,000 purse awarded at the 2009 Beaver State Fling presented by Keen.
Des Reading won her first PDGA National Tour title of the year, besting Valarie Jenkins by eight throws and Carrie Berlogar by nine at the 2009 Beaver State Fling presented by Keen. Reading had a noticeable bounce in her step this weekend, as the west coast swing seems to have re-energized her game. Reading sprinted out to a nine-throw advantage after Friday's first two rounds, and none of her chief rivals were ever able to get closer than seven throws, as she put together a complete performance from the tee, fairway and putting area these last two weekends. Reading was handsomely rewarded with a $1210 check for her win and drew to within 15 points of Beaver State Fling runner-up Val Jenkins in the Woodchuck Drive the Championship NT points chase.
Links:
Beaver State Fling Scoreboard
