👊 Random Draw Tuesday - August 13, 2024

Random Draw Tuesday 🤜🤛

Hello and welcome. This is Charlie from The Players Meeting. 

Every week, I handpick the 5 best things I saw in the past 7 days. These could be storylines, memes, Ohn’s favorite beer, or even news.

But no matter what, it will always be about disc golf and only what I find interesting.

Let’s get into it.

#1 👊 

As always, Idlewild did its thing. It’s still one of the courses on Tour that you most want to play, and its daunting woods with OB greens find a way to squeeze the MPO field.

Ever since Idlewild became a staple, it’s never had a repeat winner, with many being first-timers. Continuing the 8-year tradition, Joey “Buckets” Anderson won his first DGPT title.

Here are a few fun facts:

• At #122356, he became the highest PDGA# to win an MPO Elite/Major.

• In 2022, he played his first DGPT event, and it was Idlewild. He placed 25th then.

• This is his first full-time season on Tour, and he’s averaged 26.6th place. It’s now an incredible breakout season.

• Not without adversity, he missed cash in his previous two events (European Open & Ledgestone). This ended his 17-event cash streak.

And in FPO, we had another Idlewild first-timer in Ohn Scoggins. She became the clear favorite as her Flex FH cut through trees that others smacked.

Adding to the excitement, her 43rd birthday was on Saturday. To no one’s surprise, Scoggins likely celebrated her 2nd season victory (3rd ever) to its fullest extent.

Show me someone who doesn’t like Ohn, and I’ll show you my first ace. Hint: they both don’t exist.

#2 👊

Part of the appeal of Idlewild is the ace-able par 3s. On Saturday, Hole 9 saw the “Bend it like Benjamin” ace, while Hole 17 held onto Freddy Meza’s birthday ace.

Besides the 2 one-timers, there were many other player storylines:

• Without the Europeans, it was a slogfest in FPO (minus Scoggins). Normal contenders that fell flat gave way to others.

• Madison Walker, Raven Klein, & Alexis Mandujano all found their first Top-5s this season.

• 8 weeks ago, Macie Velediaz gave birth to her daughter. She finished 17th and cashed for $640.

• Even more so than Joey Buckets, Ezra Robinson has been knocking on the door all year. This was his 3rd second place, and he’s due for his 1st win.

• Speaking of Robinson, Isaac was one bad hole from challenging the 8-year unique winner streak. He’s heating up with his brother at the right time.

• After skipping Ledgestone, Ricky Wysocki finished 18th while still battling an injury. He saw a chiropractor mid-Idlewild, got x-rays, and had his rib “popped back in.” He claims to be feeling better.

Now, pros have an 8-day break to travel and prepare for Worlds. There’s no Pro Tour event this weekend.

#3 👊

While pros navigated Idlewild, PDGA’s AM Worlds went down in Grand Rapids, MI. Typically, I’d pay little mind unless my local bud is shooting hot, but this weekend history was made.

Turning 17 mid-event, Ryan Monn (brother to Jake) completed the first-ever AM Slam. This year he’s won all three Mixed Amateur Majors (USADGC, Jr Worlds, & AM Worlds).

On the same day of his birthday, Monn shot a 1077-rated round that had people calling him a bagger. As planned, he’s officially moving up to pro after this win.

Before you think he’ll immediately be the next Buhr, temper your expectations as he gains experience. This year, he played in Chess.com and DMC, finishing 86th and 76th, respectively.

Over in FA1, the field of 114 players was the largest single field in women’s disc golf history. Who said we were in a downturn?

#4 👊

The flight of a disc is one of a kind. It’s what made most of us fall in love with this sport and pushes us to continue chucking plastic.

Mastering the hyzer-flip or flex is one thing, but watching someone magically air-bounce in is another. Among the best to do it, Big Jerm is a frisbee connoisseur.

On the latest JomezPro practice round, he threw “the best air bounce ever thrown with a golf disc” per Stokely. While that was filthy and all, I found the advice he gave minutes prior more useful.

Big Jerm said when throwing up a C2-prayer putt that requires a lot of right to left, you need more than just hyzer. It must also be nose-up, giving the putt more lateral movement and a chance to drop in.

#5 👊

For the past two weeks, the Europeans have been sorely missed. But just because they’ve been absent from the US doesn’t mean nothing has happened.

So what’s going on across the pond?

Baltic DG Championships (DGPT Silver, 8/9-11)
The DGPT Europe stretch finally closed out in Mäetaguse, Estonia, and the young winners are both from Finland.

MPO came down to a 5-hole playoff between Eetu Tuominen (16 years old) and Daniel Davidsson, with Tuominen taking it down. FPO saw 14-year-old Iida Lehtomäki beating the 9-strong field.

With the Europe Tour over, the points champions have been crowned. Silva Saarinen & Ricky Wysocki came out on top and will be awarded bonus payouts.

Swedish Championships (8/8-11)
Being declared as the best Swede for the 2nd year in a row, Dennis Augustsson won by 7 strokes at the Ale Disc Golf Center.

Last but not least, congratulations to Kristin Tattar & Silver Lätt for tying the knot last Thursday. The newlyweds will be honeymooning in beautiful Lynchburg, VA, on Saturday for Worlds Mixed Dubs.

Thanks for reading today. Get out and throw this week!

- Charlie