McBeth Hangs on for the Win at La Mirada Open

03.14.16

It has been a fantastic start to the 2016 disc golf tournament season! Many competitors and fans will likely argue that this year looks to be one of the most exciting in disc golf history. Team Innova is already rolling, racking up tournament wins around the world. None have been larger than Paul McBeth’s back-to-back victories; which have earned him the top spots on both the PDGA National Tour and Disc Golf World Tour.

McBeth was feeling right at home in southern California as he dialed up his game for the La Mirada Open. La Mirada played host to the season’s first Disc Golf World Tour event, which felt every bit like an early season, Major championship. The world’s top disc golfers were on hand to tackle one of the most revered courses in America – La Mirada Regional Park. McBeth grew up less than hour from La Mirada so he was even more prepared for this historic event.

The win did not come as easily as the final leaderboard might suggest. While McBeth won by a total of six throws, things were considerably tighter than that early in the final round. McBeth struggled with the putter, which is unusual for him. Paul’s struggles behind the mini, combined with some hard-charging veterans narrowed the gap and added some drama down the stretch.

For this win McBeth needed to rely on solid driving which was tracked in detail via the DGWT Disc Golf Metrix system. While Paul ranked 1st in greens hit, he ranked 19th in putts made inside the circle. McBeth fared better on putts outside the circle (ranked 10th) but clearly he relied on his other strengths and pure mental toughness to capture the win.

Team Innova brought home four wins in Kansas. Justin McLuen and Duane CD Steiner swept the Masters and Grandmasters divisions on Saturday at the Kan-U-Wyco in Bonner Springs, and then again on Sunday at the Rosedale Cup in Kansas City. McLuen has gotten off to a particularly good start this year with a 6th place finish at Innova’s Gentlemen’s Club Challenge, followed by a 5th place finish at the Memorial Championship.

Team members brought home another four wins in South Carolina, all at the same event! Barry Schultz led the charge with an Open win at the Earlewood Classic in Columbia. Innova went on to sweep the other divisions as Jessica Hill grabbed Pro Women, Matt Peckham finished tops in Masters, and Hall of Famer Alan Beaver smoked the field in Grandmasters to complete the sweep.

Jay “Yeti” Reading and Lisa Fajkus snagged a pair of wins in Texas. Jay blistered it early shooting 49 (-15) in round one, and continued to ride his Yeti Pro Aviar to an Open victory at the Circular Skies Over Llano. “I was bogey free and my putter never touched the ground inside the circle”, said Reading. Fajkus was over in Red Rock, TX, where she won Pro Women at the 18th Annual Red Rock Show. Casey Wright also had a strong showing at Red Rocks, taking home 2nd place in the Open Division.

J.D. Ramirez added a win in Texas as well. J.D. squeaked out a 1-shot victory in Open at the 2nd Annual Disc Shop Open in Fort Worth. J.D. is having a great season so far. This marked his 4th win already in 2016.

Last but not least, Virginia Ambassador Bob Cannon captured a Masters win at the Winchester IFO in Winchester, VA. This was Bob’s second win of the year. Congratulations to Bob and all of our team members on an excellent weekend on the tournament scene.

We now head into a bit of a lull in high-level tournament action. While there are many PDGA A-tier events during the next few weeks, the next National Tour stop is not until April 28-30 when the Glass Blown Open returns to Emporia. The very next weekend the National Tour scoots over to Kansas City for the 34th Annual Kansas City Wide Open on May 6-8, 2016. That same weekend, Event #2 on the Disc Golf World Tour – the Konopiste Open – will be held in Benesov, Czech Republic.

Disc Golf World Tour Launch, La Mirada, CA

03.10.16

The Disc Golf World Tour kicks off today at one of the legendary disc golf locations, La Mirada, CA. The La Mirada Open will begin Thursday morning and continue on through Saturday night. View the Complete Event Schedule.

For those in the SoCal area, the La Mirada Disc Golf Course is located at 13701 Adelfa Drive, La Mirada, CA 90638. The park itself is family friendly. Both the park and the tournament are free to the general public. There will also be a variety of disc golf vendors on site showcasing the best in disc golf discs, apparel, and accessories.

Plenty of tournament coverage will be available online for those who are unable to make it to the course. Subsrcibe to SpinTV for notifications of new DGWT videos. The hub for all of that information is the official Disc Golf World Tour web site located at discgolfworldtour.com.

One of the first things we recommend that everyone do is sign up to “Follow” the event at the DGWT web site. There is no cost to sign up, and followers will have access to exclusive content throughout the entire DGWT season. If you have not yet registered as a follower, better go ahead and do that now.

From La Mirada the DGWT will continue on to Czechoslovakia, Sweden, and Finland, before returning to the US for the tour finale at the United States Disc Golf Championship. The US Championship will return to Winthrop University in Rock Hill, SC for the 18th consecutive year and is sure to be a fitting stage for the DGWT main event. For more information on the US Championship visit usdgc.com.

Paul McBeth Claims Season’s First PDGA National Tour Event

03.07.16

Paul McBeth and Nate Sexton kicked off their 2016 “McSexy Tour” in style by capturing the top two spots at this year’s Memorial Championship. McBeth’s opening round of 43 put him into a tie for the lead right away. Sexton trailed the leaders by only two, so Paul and Nate were in perfect position to push each other throughout the week. McBeth once again proved to be too much to handle. He was able to get past Nate by a single throw to capture his 4th Memorial Championship crown.

The two were joined atop the leaderboard by last week’s GCC Champion, Philo Brathwaite, and the 2015 Advanced World Champion, Anthony Barela. “AB” was on the showcase card for round one; which included Paul McBeth, Nate Doss, and last year’s Memorial winner Jeremy Koling. The 16-year old Barela held his own carding an impressive 48 which helped keep him in contention during the week. Brathwaite and Barela would eventually finish in a tie for 7th place.

Ken Climo opened his season strong with a dominant performance in Masters. Climo took a commanding lead in round one and cruised to a seven shot win. Teammates George Smith and Justin McLuen got off to slower starts, however rallied down the stretch to pick up the 4th and 5th spots respectively.

Joe Mela and Tom Carrillo battled hard all week in the Grandmasters division. Mela was able to build a 4-shot lead heading into the final round, however Carrillo chipped away at Joe’s lead to finish in 2nd place just one shot back. Jim Oates and Glenn Patterson also had a strong showing in Grandmasters, both finishing in the top five.

The Innova Women’s Team had a strong showing in Memorial as well. Eight of the 20-person Pro Women’s field were Innova sponsored athletes! Jennifer Allen lead the ladies with a solid, 3rd place finish. Valarie Jenkins was right behind her in 4th. Jessica Weese had to rally back after a difficult opening round. Weese clawed her way back to what wound up being a very impressive 6th place finish. Rounding out the top 10 were Zoe Andyke and Madison Walker.

Two of Innova’s younger stars were in action on the Memorial’s Amateur side this weekend. Kona “Star” Panis and Kaylee Campbell earned the 4th and 11th place spots among a strong, 28-person Advanced Women’s field. Kona also pulled double duty as McBeth’s caddy throughout the week.

In Melbourne, Florida another young phenom was making his name known as well. Calvin Heimburg battled his way to his first career PDGA A-tier win at the Melbourne Open. Calvin was in contention from the onset and then a hot, third round 49, propelled him into the lead. Calvin finished strong on Sunday and took home the Melbourne crown by two.

Sandy Gast and Pam Reineke matched one other shot for shot in Pro Women. The two were deadlocked after 72 holes but it was Sandy who ultimately prevailed. Women’s Amateur World Champion, Jess Hill, finished in 4th place.

All of the game’s elite now hustle out to sunny, Southern California for the kickoff of the inaugural Disc Golf World Tour. The tour’s first stop is in La Mirada and while only carrying A-tier sanctioning with the Professional Disc Golf Association, this event is likely to feel like a Major. There will be plenty of talent on hand. And with only five DGWT events in 2016, tour points are going to be a precious commodity. Players will be definitely be looking to get out of the gates strong this weekend.

For coverage and information on the Disc Golf World Tour visit www.discgolfworldtour.com.

Gentlemen’s Club Challenge – The Power of Three

03.01.16

More than 400 competitors made the trek to Las Vegas this past weekend for the 2016 Gentlemen’s Club Challenge presented by Innova. The Las Vegas Disc Golf Club had a vision to make the GCC something special and they hit the jackpot with this years event. The GCC was moved from the usual location at Sunset Park to the Wildhorse Golf Club in Henderson, NV. Wildhorse featured three championship level courses for competitors to test their skills.

Philo Brathwaite and Jessica Weese lead the charge for Team Innova from the opening bell. Philo blistered the track in round one, throwing down a 49 which put him three shots clear of the field. Philo maintained his steady play throughout the weekend to capture his first big win of the 2016 season. Up by five strokes with the last hole to play, Philo was able to lay up the last shot and cruise into the clubhouse with a comfortable three stroke victory.

Jessica Weese grabbed the lead early among Pro Women. She was joined atop the leaderboard by teammates Juliana Korver, Melodie Bailey, and Danielle Vargas, each of whom had their eyes set squarely on the women’s top spot. Weese however, pulled away from the field in round three and cruised to victory. Jessica also won by three.

George Smith helped to complete a team sweep with a fantastic performance in Masters. Smith got off to a bit of a slower start that left him five shots off the lead after round one. A smoking hot round of 48 in round 2 however, put George right back into contention. He finished off the weekend with steady rounds of 54 and 52 which were sufficient to earn Smith his first win of the year. And you guessed it, George won by three.

Barry Schultz and Debbie Scott earned a sweep of their own in North Carolina at Stumpy’s Fling and Ching. Barry took home first place in Open, while Debbie handled business in Pro Women.

We now turn our sights to the season’s first PDGA National Tour event, The Memorial Championship in Scottsdale, AZ. Be sure to check out coverage of the event at www.pdga.com.

Team Innova Roars out of the Gates

02.22.16

Congratulations to Team Innova on a strong start to the 2016 season. While the year’s first National Tour event is still two weeks away, this weekend featured a few sizeable B-tier events loaded with competitors ready to get their games into springtime form.

One of those players is Florida’s Calvin Heimburg. Calvin was in action at the Barnett Park Championships in Orlando, FL. Calvin was in a tight battle all weekend with Sarasota’s Cameron Lincoln. Ultimately it took extra holes, but on the second sudden death hole Calvin was able to capture his second win of the year. Innova Junior Team member, Randon Latta, had a great weekend in Orlando as well. Randon finished in an impressive 5th place in the Open Division! Madison Walker and Pam Reineke were tops among the Pro Women. Madison grabbed second place, while Pam finished in 3rd place just 4-shots back.

Paul McBeth was in action at the 38th Annual Wintertime Open in Pasadena, CA. Paul was not completely satisfied with his performance, however it was good enough for his first win of 2016 and his sixth consecutive Wintertime crown. The world’s #1 ranked player will now take a little down time, drop a few thousand putts, hook up with touring partner Nate Sexton, and begin the journey to Arizona for the 2016 Memorial Championship.

A field of 160 and change teed it up in Texas for a Lone Star State gem, the Victoria Open. Jay Reading picked up his first win of the year in convincing fashion. Jay won Masters by a cool 9 throws. Casey Wright and Lisa Fajkus both grabbed second place spots in the Open and Pro Women’s divisions. A fun battle also took place among the Advanced Women, where Alexis Mandujano was able to sneak past her sister Val to claim a 2-shot win.

Team Innova swept the pro divisions back in the Carolinas at the Charlotte’s Ballantyne Hotel Open. Barry Schultz won his second tournament of the year, both of which were in the Open Division. Debbie Scott was victorious twice during the weekend. She won Mooky’s Cup on Saturday in High Point, NC, then took down the Pro Women’s division at Ballantyne on Sunday. Completing the sweep was Hall of Famer Stan McDaniel, who won Masters to get his first win of the season.

Things heat up even more this coming weekend in Vegas as Innova presents the 2016 Gentlemen’s Club Challenge. We look forward to seeing you there!

Passing the Torch

01.08.16

Innova fans are now able to enjoy two new Signature Series discs from two of our most successful and influential team members. Avery Jenkins has been a member of the Innova family since 2001. During that time Avery has toured the world extensively, racking up more than 55 career wins as a professional. His most significant win was the 2009 Pro World Championships in Kansas City. Along with that win came Avery’s Signature Series Star Destroyer, which made its debut in the spring of 2010.

Since its release, the Destroyer has remained an extremely popular distance driver for top pros, as well as many advanced and amateur players. The Destroyer provides a consistent combination of speed, stability, glide, and accuracy. It is a dependable distance driver for any serious golfer looking to elevate their game. One player who holds the Destroyer in particularly high regard is current World Champion, Paul McBeth.

McBeth has been on a tear in recent years. In 2015 alone, Paul completed disc golf’s first ever, in-season Grand Slam. This historic accomplishment was achieved by Paul’s sweep of all five Major Championships as sanctioned by the Professional Disc Golf Association. Those events were the Aussie Open, Scandinavian Open, European Open, PDGA Pro World Championships, and the United States Disc Golf Championship. Over the course of the 2015 season Paul earned 19 wins in all, finished 2nd place four times, and finished in 3rd place twice.

Paul began throwing the Destroyer in 2007 as soon as they became available to Innova team members for testing. “They became a staple in my bag on day one, and I honestly don’t remember ever having fewer than three Destroyers in my bag at a time,” said McBeth. Fast forward to 2016, McBeth is preparing to build on his success and the Destroyer is as prominent in his bag as it ever was. “I love the Destroyer’s consistency. The distance and control is unmatched in my opinion. I typically carry 5-7 at a time on a regular basis,” said McBeth recently.

Discussions with Paul and Avery over the future of the Signature Series Destroyer began in the summer of 2015. There is no doubt that the model’s success was due, in part, to the massive fan base that Avery has established over the course of his career. The one player who could continue to propel the Destroyer’s legacy to the extent that Avery has, is Paul McBeth. So, the transition began.

“I only dreamed of having the Destroyer as my signature disc until after I won my third World Championship title. I had heard that Avery might start taking more of an Ambassador role in disc golf. When I heard there was a chance, I immediately began to do everything in my power to prove I had what it takes. If claiming a fourth title was what I needed to seal the deal, I was not going to let anything keep me from accomplishing that,” Paul said.

Avery agreed that only one player’s name should replace his on the Destroyer. “He (McBeth) personally asked me about the possibility of working something out for signature rights to the disc,” Jenkins said. “From my stance, I truly couldn’t think of another player that I would rather have representing the Star Destroyer. Paul is an incredible individual and a constant, worldwide ambassador for our sport,” said Jenkins. “I am very happy for the new addition to his current line of discs and I know that he will continue to make us all proud.”

The first Paul McBeth stamped Destroyers hit shelves in late September of 2015. Paul was on his march towards disc golf’s first ever Grand Slam. Also at that time, Jussi Meresmaa announced his plan for the inaugural Disc Golf World Tour. Shortly after the DGWT announcement, the news broke that Jenkins had agreed to become a co-commentator for the 2016 Disc Golf World Tour. In an official interview with All Things Disc Golf, Jenkins described the upcoming transition like this:

I have played disc golf for the past 30-years of my life and I’ve competed as an elite touring player for the past 16-years. It’s been a great run, but things will be slowing down a bit as I plan on dialing back the tournament schedule. I still plan on playing a few sentimental events and other extraordinary tournaments including the World Championships to keep my streak of 18 consecutive appearances. I will continue to be present at many of the Major Championships and the Disc Golf World Tour events as I want to see those become more professional.
– Avery Jenkins

We are excited to see Avery expanding his role this year to include even more promotional activity for the game. This should be one of the most exciting years in disc golf history and Avery is stepping up in an extremely visible and significant way. Part of Innova’s support for Avery in this new season will be a Signature Series Star TeeBird. Like the Destroyer, the TeeBird has been an influential disc for countless players of nearly all skill levels.

“I am honored to have the Star TeeBird as my new Signature Series disc, as it’s a model that I have been personally throwing for over a decade. I really look forward to seeing new players come to appreciate the need for accuracy over distance, which is crucial to scoring success,” said Jenkins.

Since the TeeBird made its debut in 2004, it has been a prominent disc in Avery’s bag. “I absolutely love the consistency of the Star TeeBird. I believe it is easiest to control and the most accurate driver in the game. It goes exactly where you throw it. For years the TeeBird has been my go-to fairway driver for accurate, shorter drives that must be center cut.”
Both Signature Series models should be in full distribution by early spring. If you have not yet thrown one of these models be sure to test one out. We also encourage you to visit the Disc Golf World Tour website. The DGWT promises to be one of the brightest new additions to the landscape of professional disc golf. See you on tour!

Barry Schultz Gets 20th Win of the Season

11.17.15

Barry Schultz and Brian Schweberger have been dominant forces throughout the season, particularly in the Carolinas. This weekend the two slugged it out once again at the Spike Hyzer Invitational Championship Series Finale in Rocky Mount, NC. Schultz grabbed the lead at the end of day one with solid rounds of 48 and 50. Schweberger found himself in second place on Saturday night, five shots back.

Schultz is one of the more accomplished, professional disc golfers. He is a 2-time PDGA World Champion, a 3-time United States Champion, and winner of nearly 200 PDGA events around the world. You do not reach that level of success without learning how to finish events strong. That is precisely what he did on Sunday. Barry closed with rounds of 51 and 47 to preserve his five shot lead and his 20th win of the season. The win also makes Schultz the Spike Hyzer Tour Champion for 2015.

We would like to acknowledge Innova Ambassador, Chuck Connelly. The Spike Hyzer Season Finale was Connelly’s 27th outing as a PDGA tournament director this year. That is more events than most people play in a season, much less run. Chuck received the Tournament Director of the Year award in 2014, when he directed a total of 40 sanctioned events. If you would like more information on the Spike Hyzer Tour Series be sure to visit www.spikehyzer.com.

Other top performances this weekend include:

Sara Lamberson, The Open at Callaway Gardens – 1st Place Open Women
Madison Walker, 5th Annual Valdosta Open – 1st Place Open Women
Gregg Hosfeld, Kastaplast Coachman Classic – 1st Place Masters
Matt Peckham, Spike Hyzer Invitational Championship – 1st Place Masters
JD Ramirez, Piney Woods Open – 1st Place Masters
Jim Oates, Turkey Toss at Lizard Peak – 1st Place Masters

Innova Holiday Design Contest

10.30.15

In 1984, Innova featured the first ’Christmas Golf Disc’ on Patent Pending Aeros. Every December since then, Innova presents a new Christmas design to celebrate the Holidays. This season, we’re extending our holiday cheer to Disc Golf fans….

Team Innova, Making the Grade at A-Tiers

10.27.15

Team Innova was busy making the grade at a-tiers across the country this weekend. Congratulations to Drew Gibson on his weekend win at the 30th Shelly Sharpe Memorial in Scottsdale, Arizona. A hot, second round propelled him into a lead Drew refused to surrender down the stretch. Gibson is wrapping up an extensive touring season during which he played more than 30 events around the world.

The win in Arizona was especially sweet as it marked the first PDGA A-tier sanctioned victory of his career. “It feels great to grind all season and end it with a solid win! I plan to take this momentum into the offseason and come back better than ever”, Gibson said.

Two other players have racked up their first career A-tier wins lately as well. Sara Lamberson and Logan Bowers were victorious at the Kentucky State Championships earlier this month. Both player have continued to finish the season strong. This weekend Sara picked up her second A-tier win at the Harmon Hills Highland Fling in Tennessee. While she was busy there, Bowers was in Huntsville, AL where he added the Alabama State Championship title to his season’s resume as well.

Only two more PDGA A-tier events remain this season. The Veteran’s Park Open will take place in Arlington, TX for the 25th year. That action begins on November 7th. Then the Spike Hyzer Invitational Championship Season Finale will wrap things up in Rocky Mount, NC the very next weekend. Good luck to all, and we will see you on the course!

Other top performances this weekend include:

Jennifer Allen, Oklahoma Open – 1st Place Open Women
Hannah Leatherman, South Jersey Open – 1st Place Open Women
Matt LaCourte, South Jersey Open – 1st Place Grandmasters
Tom Carrillo, Pendaries Fall Classic – 1st Place Masters
Max Nichols, Shelly Sharpe Memorial – T-3rd Place Open

Brinster Leads the Way in Warwick

10.19.15

Steve Brinster is a rock-solid PDGA Tour veteran whose pro career dates back to 1997. He now has 80 Open Division wins including the 2013 United States Disc Golf Championship, a PDGA Major. Brinster is fan-favorite for many, not just because of his success and demeanor on the course, but too because he holds down time a full-time job and is a dedicated family man.

In addition to his other responsibilities, Brinster found time to be the tournament director of this weekend’s Warwick Disc Golf Championships. It is not easy to organize and compete in an event simultaneously. However, Brinster managed to do both extremely well. Steve finished at -16 for the tournament which was enough to outlast teammates Bobby Cowperthwait and Andrew Fish who finished tied for second at -13. “Being the TD added to the challenge, so I am pretty psyched to come out on top” said Brinster.

Brinster quickly gave credit to a team of people who made the tournament a success. He pointed first and foremost to teammate and good friend, Craig Cutler. Cutler has run the fall tournament at Warwick since 2009 and was heavily involved again this year. “I wanted to relieve some of the responsibility from Craig this year so he could enjoy the experience even more as a competitor” Brinster said. “Craig has without a doubt been a primary influence for this tournament and for disc golf throughout the region” added Brinster. Cutler would wind up finishing in a tie for 10th in Men’s Open.

Team Innova found success in the Open Women and Masters Divisions as well. Hannah Leatherman was in attendance, still flying high from her recent win at the US Women’s Championship. Leatherman grabbed the lead in round one and cruised to her tenth win of the season. Joe Mela edged out Bobby Jones for a one throw victory in Masters. Glenn Patterson also played well in Masters, taking home the third spot.

Innova also notched wins in three separate divisions at the Norcal Series Championship in Lakeport, CA. Jessica Weese turned in a dominant performance to win Open Women, while Patrick Brown rallied in the final round to capture the Master’s crown. Jim Oates lead wire-to-wire in Grandmasters and went on to win by two.

In Lula, GA Sarah Cunningham picked up an impressive, late season win at the Zip Line Open Invitational. Sarah was able to hold off the top rated player in the world, Paige Pierce, as well as 5-time Women’s World Champion, Elaine King. Sarah had plenty of teammates to help encourage her along including Sara Lamberson, Debbie Scott, and Madison Walker who finished in the 4th, 7th, and 8th places respectively.

Other top performances this weekend include:

Lacey Brugler, Matt Lovasko “Homie” Fall Celebration – 1st Junior Girls U16
Colleen Thompson, Matt Lovasko “Homie” Fall Celebration – 2nd Open Women
Kyle Eckmann, Sun Valley Open – 1st Place Open
Dustin Keegan, Norcal Series Championships – 3rd Place Open
J.D. Ramirez, Fritz Park Open – 1st Place Masters
Patrick Todd, Fritz Park Open – 2nd Place Masters
George Smith, Jefferson City Open – 2nd Place Open
Jay Reading, Waterloo Disc Golf Classic – 1st Place Open
Des Reading, Waterloo Golf Classic – 1st Place Open Women

2016 Calendar Contest Winners

10.19.15

Thank you to all the photographers that submitted photos to the 2016 INNOVA Calendar contest. This year we reviewed nearly 1000 photo submissions from around the world. The final photos have been selected. The winner of the drawing for the DISCatcher Sport Target is Lauren Lakeberg, who submitted a photo of O’Brien Disc Golf Course in Downers Grove, Illinois.

The 2016 INNOVA Calendar will be available at retailers in November. As a reminder, calendar submissions are accepted year round. It’s never too early to submit your photos to calendar@innovadiscgolf.com for next year.

McBeth Caps Off Incredible Season With First Win at USDGC

10.12.15

After winning the USDGC on Saturday and completing disc golf’s Grand Slam, it’s safe to say that 2015 was Paul McBeth’s best season ever. And maybe the best season ever by anyone. Looking at his tournament results for the year, it’s amazing, all you see in the ‘place’ column are a bunch of 1’s and only a few 2’s and 3’s.

Of his 22 events he played this year, he won 16 of them. The worst he did all year was third place, which happened only twice (The Aussie Open Warm Up and the Maple Hill Open).
“Just to have third place as my worst event was a huge success for the year,” said McBeth after the USDGC.

And when it came to winning major events, no one does it like McBeth. This year McBeth took down one major tournament after the other and often having to come from behind to do it.
Following McBeth during the Pro World Championships this year was mind blowing for many disc golf fans. Trailing Will Schusterick by eight strokes after Round 3, McBeth flipped the switch to beast mode and eventually left everyone in the dust to where the Final 9 was basically a victory lap. “The Worlds was just a never say never event,” said McBeth, later adding “…It was a never say never moment because you don’t know what can happen in one round.”

When it came time for the season’s final major, the USDGC, some wondered if McBeth could live up to all of the hype and capture the event that has remained elusive to him.
However, McBeth definitely came through. He shot (-26) for the Championship and submitted eight birdies and only made two bogeys on a soggy final day that made the challenging Winthrop Gold Course even harder. McBeth and Ricky Wysocki, who had a similar battle at the European Open, gave the sizable USDGC crowd something to cheer about even in the rain.

The show that Ricky and I put on for the European Open as well as the USDGC was an experience in itself. The pressure that we had, the lead swings, just the entertainment value that we had in those two events was incredible. Those are moments that I will relive probably for the rest of my life.
-Paul McBeth

McBeth says his route to success has been fairly straight forward. “It’s all dedication and hard work … And that’s mainly what I think I’ve done more than anyone else in the sport right now is that I’ve made it my life basically to get better as a player …,” said McBeth, adding that there’s still room for improvement for him.

So what’s next for McBeth as disc golf’s first Grand Slam Champion? We’ll see, he’s certainly proved he can fulfill even the toughest expectations.

Follow the 2015 USDGC

10.07.15

The 2015 USDGC has begun! Not everyone can make it out to Rock Hill, SC for the United States Disc Golf Championship, but it’s easy to get in on the action. Check out the following viewer’s guide for tips and links to satisfy your USDGC coverage cravings.

Broadcast Schedule

SpinTV USDGC Playlist

Live Broadcasts

The Insider Show

Round Coverage

Scoring

Social Media

Photo Galleries

See all official Photo Galleries here

Daily Recaps & stories

Daily recaps and stories from the field are updated on the tournament website throughout the tournament week. See archives here.

Hannah Leatherman Captures US Women’s Championship

09.28.15

Hannah Leatherman proved this weekend that persistence is vital to success. After a neck injury forced Leatherman to withdraw from the World Championships in August, Hannah was determined to go home, rehab the injury, and return quickly to the process of sharpening her game. Hannah did just that.

This weekend Hannah found herself in contention at the US Women’s Championship in Ohio. After two rounds Leatherman was trailing tournament leader Valarie Jenkins by 5 shots. A win was definitely within reach, however chasing down savvy veterans such as Jenkins, Paige Pierce, Sarah Hokom, and Catrina Allen would be no easy task.

Hannah went to work in round three and fired a 52. Not only did that hot score tie Allen for the round’s best, it completely erased Val’s lead. She had done the only thing a competitor can hope to do, which is putting yourself in position to win. Going into the final round Hannah and Val were tied, four shots back of Allen. Pierce was three back. And Hokom was back just one. Game on.

Sunday proved to be a long and close battle. Allen fell off the pace early carding 4 bogies through the first 10 holes. Allen’s struggles left a neck and neck race between Leatherman and Pierce that lasted right down to the final two holes. Ultimately Hannah would emerge victorious after a critical drive by Pierce found the water OB. That sealed the deal and a one shot, Major championship win for Leatherman, the first of her career.

Photo courtesy of Dave Sage

Two more Innova ladies were also in fine form this weekend. Des Reading and Jennifer Allen battled all weekend long at the 10th Annual Four States Open in Joplin, MO. Des Reading was able to maintain the lead from wire-to-wire, but just barely. Allen kept the heat on and would finish in the second spot just one shot back. George Smith also held the lead in Masters from beginning to end, picking up a nice, two shot win.

Other notable finishes from this week:

Madison Walker, US Women’s Championship – 7th Place Open
Erica Johnson, US Women’s Championship – 8th Place Open
Melodie Bailey, US Women’s Championship – 9th Place Open
JD Ramirez, Waxahachie Open – 1st Place Masters

We are now down to the season’s final Major, the United States Disc Golf Championship. Championship Week kicks off this Friday with the US Amateur Doubles contest in Charlotte and Rock Hill. Then on Monday, October 5th, Monday Qualifying rounds are open to the general public and provide one last chance to qualify for the USDGC. The Championship itself begins on Wednesday, October 7th and runs through Saturday, October 10th. For more information visit www.usdgc.com.

Jay Reading and Andrew Fish Deliver A+ Performances

09.21.15

Andrew Fish took down the win at the A-tier Eric Yetter Champions’ Cup in Pennsylvania. Fish was down six shots after round one, in an event that consisted of only three rounds. He blasted right back up in round two, shooting a 1053-rated round of 57 and took the lead. Fish then shot the best final round and claimed a 4-shot win over Jeremy Koling. Fish was also joined atop the leaderboard by teammates Joe Mela who finished in 3rd place, and Mike Moser who finished 4th.

The weekend’s other big A-tier event was the Green Mountain Championship, just up the road in Smuggler’s Notch, Vermont. Jay Reading picked up a nice win in Masters. Reading grabbed the lead in round one with an impressive, 1048-rated round of 56. He would go on to lead wire-to-wire and a 9-shot win. Valarie Jenkins finished in 2nd place, while Des Reading and Hannah Leatherman snagged the 4th and 5th place spots. Steve Brinster lead the way in the Open finishing 5th. Avery Jenkins and Drew Gibson tied for 6th place.

Other notable finishes from this week:

Steve Boylan, Checkered Flag Open – 1st Place Masters
Barry Schultz, Craven Chains Classic – 1st Place Open
Nate Sexton, Craven Chains Classic – 2nd Place Open
Joe Rovere, Johnny Roberts Memorial – 1st Place Open
Jessica Weese, Nevada State DGC – 1st Place Open Women
Sara Lamberson, Middle TN DGA Championship – 1st Place Open Women
Vanessa Van Dyken, La Pura Sangre – 1st Place Open Women

Good luck to all of the ladies heading to Ohio this weekend for the United States Women’s Disc Golf Championships. It is sure to be an exciting event to close out the women’s touring season. The weekend after should be fairly quiet tournament-wise, as players move towards Rock Hill, South Carolina and the 2015 United States Disc Golf Championship. We’ll be there, and hope that you’ll be there too.

NT Series Finale Leads to Excitement

09.16.15

The 2015 National Tour wrapped up this weekend at the Disc Golf Hall of Fame Classic. Paul McBeth once again found himself in contention for the win, however was unable to outlast Michael Johansen in a sudden death playoff. A host of players were in contention all week long but it was “MJ versus McBeast” for all the marbles and it took them extra holes to determine the winner. However, Paul was victorious in the pursuit of his 4th consecutive NT Series Championship title, winning by over 80 points.

As we march towards the season’s final Open Major, the United States Disc Golf Championship, let’s recap some of the season’s top competitive storylines to help set the tone. Perhaps the biggest storyline of them all is Paul McBeth’s run at disc golf’s first, in-season grand slam. McBeth won the Australian Open back in January to claim the season’s first Major. He went on to capture wins at the Scandinavian Open, European Open, and the PDGA World Championships. Paul has only one event left to make history and it will be on a course and at an event, where he has never won.

The US Championship crown has proven to be difficult to capture over the years. This is especially true for those attempting to pull of the “Kenny Slam”, a phrase that affectionately describes the feat of winning both the World and US titles in the same season. Ken Climo was the first to accomplish the slam in 2000. He did so again in 2002, which gave birth to the Kenny Slam phrase. Barry Schultz is the only other player to win both events in the same year, which he did in 2003. It has not happened since.

Note: The PDGA Championship in Augusta, GA served as the national championship for 2011.

For those who are now weighing Paul McBeth’s odds on the elusive grand slam, consider that the average USDGC finish for the player who won the World title that same year is 6th place. Paul McBeth’s average USDGC finish is 5th place (5.6) for his three years as World Champion. His lifetime average finish at the USDGC is 12th (12.6) place.

Another interesting storyline is how many playoff scenarios we have seen at recent National Tour and Major events. Last year at Pro Worlds we witnessed arguably the greatest final and playoff in World Championship history. Paul McBeth was able to outlast Ricky Wysocki in Portland to defend his World title. Then just two months later it was Will Schusterick, JohnE McCray, and Paul McBeth in overtime at the 2014 USDGC. Will Schusterick was victorious there, capturing his third US title. Shusterick now heads to Winthrop seeking not only to surpass Schultz in US titles, but also to keep McBeth from the grand slam.

Another fact that might have escaped the casual fan relates to Ken Climo and Barry Schultz. Along with Will Schusterick, Ken and Barry are the most decorated US Champions. Climo has five US titles. Barry and Will each have three. However heading into the Hall of Fame Classic, neither Climo or Schultz had even qualified for the 2015 USDGC. Both Ken and Barry delivered a strong message however, playing extremely well in the Open division and punching their tickets to Rock Hill. You can bet that players who are eyeing USDGC Monday Qualifying rounds for a tin cup effort to make the Open, breathed a collective sigh of relief.

There is no doubt Paul McBeth deserves the world’s #1 ranking. He is clearly the player to beat. However recent history might suggest that there are more players than ever heading to Winthrop with a legitimate opportunity to win. If that is not an exciting way to close out a phenomenal tournament season, we don’t know what is.

The upcoming United States Disc Golf Championship is one of the most fan-friendly events on tour. Please visit the tournament website for information, or follow the events live online. It is sure to be an exciting show and we look forward to seeing you there.

We would also like to congratulate Team Innova’s other top performers this past weekend:

Barry Schultz, Disc Golf Hall of Fame Classic – 6th Place Open
Ken Climo, Disc Golf Hall of Fame Classic – 8th Place Open
Valarie Jenkins, Disc Golf Hall of Fame Classic – 2nd Place Open Women
KJ Nybo, Danish Disc Golf Championships – 1st Place Open
Chris Becker, Eugene Disc Golf Celebration – 1st Place Open
Kyle Crabtree, Mountain High Disc Golf Tournament – 1st Place Open
Stephen Miller, Red Oak Rumble – 1st Place Open

Innova Veterans Shine at Selinske US Masters

08.31.15

An extremely talented masters field assembled in Charlotte this weekend for the 2015 Tim Selinske US Masters Championship. The event often referred to simply as “the Selinske” has become one of the most coveted Major titles in disc golf. Innova would like to thank the Charlotte Disc Golf Club, the tournament staff, and each of the 301 competitors who joined us to celebrate Tim’s life through this wonderful competition.

One of those gritty competitors was 4-time US Masters Champion, Barry Schultz. The 2010 US Masters was Barry’s first-ever tournament in the Masters division. He won. Barry was able to slip past Patrick Brown that year in a sudden death playoff. Schultz successfully defended the title in 2011, and again in 2012. Barry added his fourth title in 2014 so he was once again looking at an opportunity to defend.

After skipping Pro Worlds earlier this month, Barry came into this tournament fresh and exceedingly focused. Schultz was especially close to Tim Selinske and was chosen to speak on his behalf at the opening ceremony. Barry provided a warm welcome to competitors and shared some memories of Tim, who passed away in 2009 after a lengthy battle with Langerhans’ Cell Histiocytosis.

Schultz also came out strong on the course. He fired an opening round of 55, landing him just two back of teammate Kevin McCoy. On day two Barry took over the top spot with a 1052-rated round of 51. Barry had plenty of fellow team members to keep him company. McCoy, Patrick Brown, Brian Schweberger, George Smith, and Ken Climo all spent time at or near the top. But in round four Barry posted his best round of the tournament, a 1073-rated 41, which put him in complete control heading into the final day.

Barry played relatively safe on Sunday, cruising to 6-throw win and his 5th US Masters crown. Kevin McCoy locked down the second spot. Patrick Brown hung in to round out the top five. Stan McDaniel was able to edge out Laymon Gray for the win in Grandmasters. Stan now adds a US Masters title to his career resume that includes three Masters World Championship titles in 1994, 1996, and 1997. Stan is also a member of the Disc Golf Hall of Fame.

Another Charlotte legend and Hall of Famer is Alan Beaver. Alan battled hard all weekend and his efforts paid off as well. “Al Birdie” rallied down the stretch and captured his second US Masters title in the Senior Grandmasters division. Debbie Scott lead the way in Masters Women, taking home the second spot behind the venerable Elaine King. Des Reading finished in third.

Other top team performances include:

Karina Nowels, Mello Yellow Challenge – 1st Place Open Women
Chris Sprague, Des Moines Challenge – 1st Place Open
Justin McLuen, Des Moines Challenge – 1st Place Masters
Mike Moser, Pennsylvania State Championship – 1st Place Open
Jessica Weese, Sierra College Pro Am – 1st Place Open Women

Even though the touring season is beginning to wind down there are several extremely important events on the calendar. The final stop on the PDGA National Tour is the Disc Golf Hall of Fame Classic. This event will be held on September 11-13 at the International Disc Golf Center in Appling, GA. The ladies have their last big dance at the US Women’s Championship on September 25-27 in Ohio.

Last but not least comes the season’s finale, the United States Disc Golf Championship. The USDGC will return once again to Winthrop University in Rock Hill, South Carolina on October 7-10. Many eyes will be on Paul McBeth who is chasing history. McBeth is one win away from sweeping every Major championship in the 2015 calendar year. A feat that has not yet been accomplished in the history of Disc Golf.

Paul McBeth 4peats the World Championships

08.10.15

Congratulations to Paul McBeth on his fourth consecutive PDGA World Championship title! Paul won by 9 shots making this year his largest margin of victory to date. At first glance, it might appear Worlds was no sweat for McBeth, however this win was anything but a walk in the park for the defending champion.

The 2015 PDGA World Championships began on Tuesday, August 4th. For the first two days, both Open pools played Moraine Gold once and Slippery Rock Gold twice. After the third round, Pro pools were merged and McBeth found himself on the second card, 8 shots behind Tennessee’s Will Schusterick who was out in front. Paul was facing serious competition and only 54 holes left to fight his way into the finals. Many started to wonder if a comeback was possible. Was McBeast starting to slip? Could he rally to pull off the #4peat?

McBeth himself, had no doubt. He went to work first thing Thursday morning and proceeded to blister Deer Lakes. His round of -15 set a new course record and McBeast Mode had officially been activated. Paul’s round consisted of 13 birdies, 1 eagle, and 4 pars. Just like that he picked up 7 shots on the leader and moved into second place. Fans erupted and began to lick their chops at what appeared to be another epic battle down the stretch. And as one competitor put it on Thursday night, “Paul McBeth broke disc golf”.

Paul was not finished. McBeast Mode had been switched on and McBeth had no intentions of turning it off anytime soon. His hot streak continued Friday at Moraine Gold where Paul carded 15 birdies and 3 pars to set yet another course record! That meant that in just two rounds, McBeth had gone from 8 strokes back to 8 strokes in the lead with just 27 holes to go.

The Semi-Finals were back at Moraine Gold, the same course McBeth had just dominated. With now an 8 stroke lead Paul could relax at bit, and proceeded to gain another 4 strokes on second place, extending his lead to twelve. Steve Brinster shot a bogey free -10 to take the fourth spot in the Final 9.

Paul’s stellar play afforded him what amounted to a victory lap in the Final 9. Steve put on a spectacular show in front of a huge gallery; draining 40+ footers like they were drop-ins. Brinster had secured 4th place, but didn’t stop until the last putt had fallen. McBeth cruised effortlessly on Saturday afternoon to his fourth consecutive World Championship title, which was also his fourth PDGA Major win of the year. McBeth is four for four at the 2015 Majors, winning in Australia, Sweden, Finland, and now the World title here in the US. Paul continues to amaze everyone with consistent play and clutch comebacks when the stakes are highest.

Ken Climo Wins 15th World Title

The Masters leaderboard was topped by Innova team members all week. Jay “Yeti” Reading, Patrick Brown, Ken Climo, Mike Moser, and Tom Carrillo held down top spots all week. As the dust settled on Saturday however, it was Climo who claimed the victory. The win was Ken’s third Masters World title, adding to his twelve Open World Championship crowns. Ken had to a lot of chasing this year. Climo did not grab the tournament lead until halfway through the Final 9. It was a sweet victory for him, made even sweeter by the presence of his wife and daughter who were with him most of the way. Patrick Brown’s brilliant performance earned him the second spot, while Mike Moser and Jay Reading would eventually tie for 3rd place.

Old Guys Rule

Joe Mela aka the “Technician” carved up the demanding Pittsburgh courses to win his second World Championship in the Grandmasters division. While the ageless wonder, Peter Shive, captured his 13th World title in the Legends division. Amazing!

There were countless outstanding performances last week. We could not be more proud of all of Sponsored Athletes and Ambassadors. Here is a breakdown by division of where everyone finished up: