🍑 Champions Cup Champions

Major Vibes, Carnivore Diet, and Shooter McGavin

April 19, 2022

Hello and welcome, this is The Players Meeting. Your twice-a-week sifter for the gold nuggets of disc golf.Email Read Time: 5 Minutes & 11 Seconds

If you missed the Major primer, then I got you: Champions Cup Week

Let’s get into it.

PDGA Champions Cup

The cream always rises to the top at Majors. This was no exception. There were jaw-dropping highlights, fresh faces making moves, and emotional finishes.

RESULTS - 🏆 CHRIS DICKERSON & PAIGE PIERCE

MPO/ After round 1, it was clear this was going to be a tight race. There were 11 players within 2 strokes, and double digits under par seemed necessary each day.

The 2nd of 4 rounds allowed for some separation. Ricky Wysocki shot double digits again to lead by 3. Not to be forgotten, Austin Hannum shot a new course record of -12 (1068 rated) tying him for 2nd with Chris Dickerson, Mason Ford, & Calvin Heimburg.

Day 3 was more of the same. Wysocki didn’t give up the wheel, but Dickerson and Heimburg shared the backseat. With the trio only separated by 2 strokes, it was impossible to pick who would win on Championship Sunday.

The final day narrative was up and down. Heimburg seemed out of it by carding a double bogey early. Wysocki & Dickerson shared the lead several times, but the Robot Chicken played smart.

Letting Wysocki make mistakes, Dickerson had a 2 stroke lead going into the final hole. He piped his Buzzz straight down the fairway and gave himself 2 easy upshots to secure his 2nd Major win.

It feels weird not mentioning Paul McBeth yet… and he agrees. After shooting one of his worst rounds Saturday, he made some adjustments. McBeth gave “everything he had left” and laughed at the course record set 2 days prior. He shot a mind-blowing -16 (1091 rated).

Still battling an elbow injury, McBeth leaned on the BH and will assess “when he should play again.” He’s still in next week’s Jonesboro Open, but his status will be watched.

FPO/ With the heavy woods, this championship could have been anyone’s to win. The 1st day proved that by grounding Paige Pierce & Catrina Allen outside top 10.

Kristin Tattar took over and led the field by 4 strokes after round 2. The 3rd round brought lots of rain and poor play. Pierce took advantage with the hot round of -4 (1012 rated) and tied Tattar at 1st. The pair sat 7 strokes away from 2nd.

To those who wanted a historic battle between the top 2 women, the final round gave that and more. After hole 4, Tattar was affected by a PDGA rule that won’t likely be an issue again.

Her 9-year-old daughter was designated as her caddie, but per the rules your caddie “must be at least 13 years of age.” Tattar and PDGA crew had to scramble to ensure the rule was met, and her daughter was looked after.

Moving past the confusion, Pierce & Tattar gave an intense and emotional duel until the end. Under immense pressure to close it out, Tattar cracked and 4-putted her way to a double bogey on hole 18.

Pierce birdied to win her “17th” Major by 2 strokes. It was a bittersweet and awkward end to a great performance by both.

Pierce has a wager ongoing with Discraft & McBeth. Whoever beats Ken Climo’s record of 19 Major wins first will get a huge bonus. Looks like McBeth will have more fuel to his fire at the next Major.

STANDOUT PLAYER

Who is Gavin Babcock?

  • He’s good friends and driving partners with Gannon Buhr. Both being from Des Moines, IA, the two locals stick together.

  • He’s VERY good at putting. This weekend he didn’t miss a single Circle 1X putt.

  • He had his highest finish (5th) ever at a big event. If he can do it again, then he’ll be another Prodigy young up-and-comer.

  • And he can do the splits.

HIGHLIGHT

If you haven’t already, set aside 13 minutes of your day to watch Paul McBeth’s course record final round. There are countless highlights, and it looked effortless.

Fresh Plastic

Insights by Daddy Disc Golf. SHOP THE SHACK for the latest!

👨‍🏫 Daddy’s Highlight: Dynamic Discs Sockibomb Slammer (3|2|0|3)The 1st disc in Ricky Wysocki’s signature lineup is releasing today. For this prototype release, it’s only available through DD’s retail.

To sum it up, Wysocki says it’s “probably the most OS putter I’ve ever thrown” and Matty O thinks it’s “a roof shingle.” Judging by their test throws, they’re not wrong and it should fill his empty Pig slot.

So if you’re looking to replace your Innova pork with DD beef, then grab one today or wait for the full stock release.

But if you’re looking for new & unique Discraft, then Ledgestone’s Wave 3 will be available this Friday (4/22). Here’s the lowdown on a couple:

  • Buzzz OS in Z Metallic - This mold has been so hard to get for 5 years. If you’re a Buzzz thrower, then it’ll feel right at home in your grip. And it’s VERY OS, especially in this plastic.

  • Venom in ESP Swirl - An out of production Discraft mold re-run in new plastic. Advertised as having 12|4|0|4 flight numbers, Brian Earhart believes they fly more like 11|5|-3|3. Apparently, this disc does the impossible. It’s stupidly understable mid-flight but somehow fights out with hard fade.

Random Dubs

1️⃣ Eagle McMahon Check-inAfter almost 2 months away from the Tour, McMahon managed 14th this weekend. He gave his reactions and updates on his injury through Instagram Live:

His upcoming schedule has Jonesboro Open, Eagles Crossing Skins Match, and Dynamic Discs Open. Then in May, he’s taking the month off for “some shoulder work… that will hopefully get [him] back to 100%.”

This is likely the stem cell therapy he was researching last month. So fingers crossed he’s on the comeback train and doesn’t spend much more time away.

2️⃣ From a Redditor’s honest course review…

Tweet of the Week

Thanks for reading today. Get out and keep putting!

- Charlie

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