🎶 Paige Pierce takes the stage at Bonnaroo

Hello and welcome, this is The Players Meeting. The only newsletter that doesn’t throw multiple shots on a busy Saturday.

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If you missed Zoo Town’s recap, then I got you: Big Sky Country

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NEWS
Bonnaroo Features Disc Golf

Whether it’s pros hitting up festivals on their off-weeks or your card mate blasting heavy metal on their portable speaker, music and disc golf have always been closely intertwined.

Last month, Discmania announced their partnership as the official merchandiser for the legendary jam band - Grateful Dead. Known as a huge deadhead himself, Eagle McMahon was a big part of getting this deal signed.

As for other pros, KJ USA’s love for music is no secret. He’s done DJ sets for the Pro Tour, incorporated Jomez’s theme into his popular track, and even named his Prodigy disc line after musical elements.

Now, it’s Paige Pierce’s turn to take the stage nowhere near a course. Known as an avid music-lover, she heads to Manchester, TN for one of the biggest music festivals every year - Bonnaroo.

Tomorrow (6/16) at the farm, Pierce is playing hooky for this weekend’s Elite event to enjoy some music and spread the love of our sport. For 1 hour, she’ll take to one of the campground stages and demonstrate putting while handing out her Fierces.

This special clinic was set into place by Bonnaroo’s marketing director who is a huge fan and disc golfer. Will this boost the sport’s growth? Probably not, but grassroots events like this are what got us here today.

Plus, the GOAT herself will enjoy a fun break and be ready to attack the next Elite event in a week. Pierce is notorious for firing on all cylinders after some time off.

TOUR COVERAGE
Dynamic Discs Open

PREVIEW (6/16-18)

The Tour has left behind the West Coast, PNW, and now Montana’s mountains. We’re entering the 2nd half of the season and the real grind begins with 3 back-to-back Elites starting with Emporia’s city-defining event.

Like last year, DDO has been completely severed from the AM event known as the Glass Blown Open. For 3 days, pros will play the long and OB-ridden Emporia Country Club.

Some holes clearly follow the golf fairways, while others are burned into memory with epic throws. This course is home to one of the greatest holes in our sport.

Hole 16 has played host to last year’s Worlds decider and Wysocki’s drop zone putt days after his sister passed. Even as a Tour mainstay, this course has received its fair share of controversy (police called on Pierce).

Like most places in KS, the biggest score separator is the wind. This time around, the wind is traded for hot & muggy conditions with thunderstorms sprinkled in.

LAST YEAR RECAP

MPO/ 🥇Ricky Wysocki (-10) 🥈Simon Lizotte (-4) 🥉5-way tie (-2)

It was a runaway victory for Mr. Bucket Hat. He was the only player to figure out these holes in the extremely windy conditions.

With Raptors Legs so far ahead, it became a race for the podium amongst many still trying to establish themselves. Just behind Lizotte, it was a massive tie for 3rd - Mäkelä, Gossage, Harpool, Hebenheimer, & Smith.

FPO/ 🥇Kristin Tattar (E) 🥈Catrina Allen (+1) 🥉Ella Hansen & Emily Beach (+8)

In more dramatic fashion, there was a two-horse race. Tattar shot a 1020-rated round on Saturday, but it was Hole 16 that ultimately gave her the win on Sunday.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

In FPO, there are 2 big names coming back from a break. Valerie Mandujano is finally making her season debut from a Grade 3 ankle sprain.

Originally saying she’d miss 3-4 weeks, she’s now ready to compete 21 weeks later. She stated that she wouldn’t be back until she was 100%, so look for her to make a big splash this weekend.

Coming back from a month-long break is Hailey King. This course suits her game, and she’s ready to push for another win now that her mental well is replenished.

POWERED BY POWERGRIP USA
Add to Your Collection

You know how that one saying goes… Money can’t buy happiness but a new disc can or something like that. We’ve all been bit by the bug like Klinton, but that doesn’t mean we’ll ever stop adding to our collections.

Tomorrow (6/16), Ledgestone’s Wave 3 drops with 15 molds like old classics in new plastics or jaw-dropping artwork. Some of my favorites are the Z Metallic FLX Zone (4|3|0|3), the CT Blend Wasp (5|3|0|2), or the Big Z Undertaker (9|5|-1|2).

And don’t forget the Nate Perkins Tour Series Lotus also dropping tomorrow at 11AM ET. To celebrate Powergrip USA’s 1st year since launch, use code ONEYEAR20 at checkout and save 20% on your purchase.

24HR COVERAGE & MAKIN MINIS
Random Dubs

1️⃣ If you’re a DGN subscriber and can’t get enough live coverage, then this weekend kicks off around-the-clock content. The Czech Republic’s premier event - Konopiště Open - has its 1st round starting at 2:30 AM ET.

There’s some deep history on these castle grounds of the temp course called Franz Ferdinand. Taking place at the once residence of an Austrian Archduke, this event was a Major in 2018 won by Eagle McMahon (coverage on SpinTV).

Now, it’s stop #2 on the Pro Euro Tour and has a host of players attending - Paul McBeth, Niklas Anttila, Jakub Semerád, and Scott Stokely. Find out if McBeast is actually washed up or not live on DGN or post-produced on MDG Media.

2️⃣ Here’s your weekly “The More You Know” moment… You can use A LOT of things as a mini for sanctioned rounds.

Andrew Marwede is notorious for using a cookie and taking a bite after a big putt. Big Jerm loves to talk about his “plug mini” made from extra bits of plastic.

And for 3 years now, Alden Harris has been using a Tostitos Restaurant Style Salsa lid as his mini marker. There are lots of ways to personalize your bag, so next time you’re leaving the house grab something new for your mini.

Meme of the Week

Thanks for reading today. Get out and throw a Holy Shot this weekend!

- Charlie