👊 Random Draw Tuesday - August 6, 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, highlights, memes, Buhr’s McDonald’s order, 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 👊 

In honor of the Olympics, this year’s Ledgestone winners made their best Katie Ledecky impression. Holyn Handley & Gannon Buhr lapped the competition after 4 rounds without Northwood.

Proving her new-found consistency, Handley took the lead on Friday, averaged a 1001 event rating (her second career highest), and won her second DGPT event. Her decision to skip Europe paid off, but now, she’s eager to prove herself when the field is at its fullest come Worlds.

Similarly, Gannon Buhr made his 5th win of the season look easy. The 19-year-old was calculated and controlled, making everyone else feel like underdogs.

This win pushes his 2024 prize total past the $100k mark. Buhr’s now won 4 out of the 5 four-round events, and his climb to the greatest MPO season of all time is becoming less of a fantasy.

There are pretty much only big events left this year, and it’s hard to imagine Buhr won’t win at least one of them. Are we nearing the ice age now?

#2 👊

The Ledgestone Open claims the title of “the biggest event in disc golf” with its 2,250 AMs, $634k total charitable contributions, and a large pro purse. Even so, its typical hype felt drained by the quick turnaround after Europe and no Northwood course.

But like every other event, there was no shortage of storylines. Here’s who came out less jet-lagged:

• The Robinson Brothers’ dream came true when they made Sunday’s lead card together. In the end, Ezra is confirmed to be the better brother despite Isaac’s throw-in eagle on hole 13.

• Finishing 3rd, Chris Dickerson is quietly having a great season. He’s only missed the Top 10 twice, with his worst being 28th.

• KJ USA found the Top 5 with his Innova discs. This was his first time finishing that well since DGLO almost a year ago.

• Despite all the McDoubles in round 1, Paul McBeth fought back to 8th by shooting the hot -12, 1076-rated final round.

• Beating out names like AB, Casey White, & Ezra Aderhold, Brodie Smith earns his first cash since the 2023 MVP Open. The Darkhorse rides again.

• Click here to enjoy 291’ of throw-ins by Lisa Fajkus.

• Now, onto the infamous spotter who took Double G’s Cheshire Cat to the chest. Before we roast him, here’s an alternate angle. It doesn’t clear him, but also doesn’t condemn him.

#3 👊

If last month’s European Disc Golf Festival didn’t prove Estonia’s love for disc golf, then the Tartu X17 held this past Saturday will. As an annual tradition, this 1-day event includes the following:

• €40 to play

• 358 participants across MPO & FPO fields

• 100 holes

• 11hr round

• 30k steps

• 18km total distance thrown

The marathon event was filled with interesting greens, obstacles to avoid, and disc-loving fun. Maybe there’s a place for more urban disc golf events across the world.

#4 👊

Cost-cutting and layoffs don’t exist only in the tech industry. The DGPT is also suffering from the post-COVID downturn and just cut several contracted employees.

Without announcing it, Tournament Central went from three 30-minute segments hosted by Brian Earhart and Nate Perkins to now a few extra minutes in the booth. But don’t worry—both are still with the Tour but being plugged in the laid-off holes.

Juliana Korver was among those cut. She was slated to be the third person on the Worlds commentary team, but now it’s down to Charlie Eisenhood/Val Jenkins (FPO) and Terry Miller/Nate Doss (MPO).

Is more on the horizon? Or was this cut enough to sustain for now?

#5 👊

It’s nearly the most wonderful time of the year, and no, I’m not talking about football being back. There’s just one event standing in our way of seeing a World Champion crowned in Lynchburg, VA.

Thankfully, it isn’t just any other event. It’s Idlewild—home to magical woods, iconic greens, and the first glow round on Tour.

Last year, Val Mandujano put her grade 3 ankle sprain behind her, getting her 1st win of the season. Then Gannon Buhr impressed with his putting to earn his 5th win of the season.

This year, Idlewild will be the last standard DGPT event of 2024. Everything after is either a DGPT+, Playoff, or Major event.

Can Mandujano defend her title after skipping Ledgestone? Will we see Buhr continue his hot season? Will Ricky Wysocki come back strong after “popping his rib”? Or can Isaac Robinson - “CEO of Idlewild” - take back his 2022 title?

Live coverage starts Friday.

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

- Charlie