👊 Random Draw Tuesday - July 2, 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, Leiviska’s smoothie recipe, 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 👊 

We're starting off this week with a banger that rocked the disc golf world for less than 12 hours. Last Wednesday, Silas Schultz doled out 361 words of diss track in retaliation to Drew Gibson’s IG reel dropped during The Preserve.

Schultz’s bars were creative, personal, and at times, cringey. It took only 10 hours for him to delete it, but it lives forever on Reddit.

Schultz not only roasted Gibson’s appearance, voice, and poor finishes but also mentioned his girlfriend, Makayla Allen (yes, Jen Allen’s daughter). Soon after, Gibson posted his attempt at a clapback and immediately deleted it, but not before it was found.

While the drama came and went quickly, the ripple effects are still out there, and these two won’t be on good terms for a while. At least the pair got plenty of attention, and Schultz even profited from it with a Discmania stamp run.

#2 👊

Last Friday (6/28) would have been “Steady” Ed Headrick’s 100th birthday. He’s the father of both the modern-day Frisbee and our sport, disc golf.

It all began in 1976 when he started the Disc Golf Association, invented the pole hole, and then formed the PDGA as #001. He passed in 2002, and his legacy still holds true through each one of us.

If you couldn’t get a round in over the weekend, make sure to rip a drive or stick a putt for Steady Ed this week.

#3 👊

Speaking of history, Scott Stokely is doing all he can to bring back the dead. His latest is the purchase of CHING Discs and its six original molds.

He bought it years ago, but only now started manufacturing. In addition to his own line of discs, he’s debuting the JuJu, in premium plastic.

This news came as near-spiritual for older players. Founded by Mike Holgate in the late 90s, CHING began as Innova-molded with The Bomb, Sniper, Stinger, and Tank.

Then in 2004, Holgate began producing original discs, which Stokely now owns. CHING operated for 10 years but went out of business for personal reasons.

After bringing the original molds to market, Stokely plans to create an experimental line continuing CHING’s innovative legacy. This news only adds to the laundry list of ways he’s either giving back or remaining relevant.

Only Stokely knows what’s up his sleeve next, and I’m excited about it. Back in the day, the Juju was known for its “excelerator countours” thumb track and as an approach disc that didn’t skip.

#4 👊

Somehow, the first half of 2024 is already over. Summer’s in full swing, days are getting shorter, and Silva Saarinen bumps her win streak to five (2 Elite and 3 Silver).

She’s won every event in June, capping it off with this weekend’s Swedish Open. And despite the varying field strengths, her physical and mental endurance is among the best.

In MPO, Yames Proctor overcame years of falling short with his first DGPT win. The field was the season’s 13th strongest and the best European Elite so far.

Aside from the historic wins, the side storylines were just as interesting:

1/ A week after KJ USA switched from Prodigy to Innova, Väinö Mäkelä did the same. But while KJ’s move was orchestrated and necessary by Prodigy, Mäkelä has said his was in the works since Christmas.

The 3.5-year contract was finalized in May, and now, he can bring back “the same childlike passion for playing.” He plans to train harder, wants to win big events, and will have a Signature Series out this summer.

With his new discs, Mäkelä finished T21, averaged 1020, and made $564.

2/ Continuing the longest active MPO streak at 47 consecutive Majors/Elites, Calvin Heimburg finished last cash. His 1005-rated performance can be chalked up to his travel nightmare getting there.

• Originally planning to skip the event, he booked a last-minute flight.

• He became stranded in Oslo after a canceled connection.

• A volunteer picked him up and drove him to Borås (4.5hr one way).

• He played the course blind with 6 hours of sleep.

#5 👊

In Cedar, MN, The Majestic was must-watch TV with a record number of 1,000-rated players for an A-Tier. It was a 66-hole birdie-or-die played at Blue Ribbon Pines and Airborn Hollows.

In MPO, it was a barnburner as Hammes held the lead until the final hole. He “had a bad bounce and roll OB,” allowing Marwede to clutch up a 30-footer, ending his near-flawless putting performance.

In 3 days and 300 miles south, the US Tour picks back up with the Des Moines Challenge. It’s the final stop before the Europe Swing and returns to Pickard Park for its 4th year.

In 2022, Lizotte fended off Burridge in a 4-hole playoff. And last year, Buhr ended on top of a crowded podium at his home course.

Outside of the unofficial Midwest Swing, the Finnish Nationals will also be broadcast live on DGN. This event means as much as any Elite to every Finn qualified to play.

Starting on Thursday, you can pull all-nighters to see if Saarinen can win six in a row or if Anttila can become a 4x Finnish Champ.

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

- Charlie