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Disc Golf's Best Amateurs Take on the Toboggan

Disc Golf's Best Amateurs Take on the Toboggan

2019 USADGC Underway

Wednesday, June 5, 2019 - 13:12

2019 USADGC competitors gathered at the players meeting. Photo: Discraft

When Discraft co-founder Jim Kenner created the United States Amateur Disc Golf Championship nearly two decades ago, the idea was to give amateur disc golfers an opportunity to compete at an event that would look and feel like any of the top professional events in the world. Now in its 18th running and a staple on the PDGA Majors schedule, the USADGC is one of the most iconic amateur disc golf tournaments on the planet. In addition to pitting the top amateur competitors against each other,  the event is also home to one of the most renowned courses in the sport today, Kensington Toboggan DGC, known to most as simply "The Toboggan", in Milford, Michigan, USA.

Despite only being in the ground for a few weeks a year, The Toboggan has been home to a slew of championship disc golf events since it was originally installed for the 2000 PDGA Pro/Am Disc Golf World Championships. Two years after Ken Climo and Juliana Korver earned their 10th and 3rd world championship victories in a row, respectively, The Toboggan became the home of the USADGC and has since played host to several PDGA Majors, PDGA National Tour events, and as of 2018, Disc Golf Pro Tour events as well. Built on the grounds of what is normally used for toboggan runs in the winter in Milford's scenic Kensington Metropark, the slopes of the park combined with towering trees and treacherous rough make for some exciting and incredibly challenging disc golf.

Late spring in Michigan can lead to some tricky conditions. If storms and gusting winds are avoided, they are often replaced by soaring temperatures and maxed-out humidity. However, the weather for this weekend is forecasted to be nearly ideal conditions. A special thanks to WWMT's meteorologist and disc golf enthusiast Will Haenni for the forecast details below!

The USADGC has seen many great players come and go since 2002. The talented few that play well enough to take home the title often go on to become some of the most successful athletes in the sport. The field is stacked as usual for 2019, including 20 competitors already rated 960 or above. Tee times begin at 7:30 a.m. on Friday morning and will continue on through the late afternoon.  Follow the live scores all weekend at pdgalive.com. 

USADGC Past Champions

  • 2018: Clint Calvin, #84958, California
  • 2017: Brandon Oleskie, #84911, Michigan
  • 2016: Gavin Rathbun, #60436, Illinois
  • 2015: Anthony Barela #44382, Arizona
  • 2014: Colten Montgomery #35876, Colorado
  • 2013: Raymond Oberley Jr #49255, Minnesota
  • 2012: Ted Stoebling #36486, Michigan
  • 2011: Benjamin Callaway #39015 Iowa
  • 2010: David Wiggins Jr #24437, North Carolina
  • 2009: Blaine Kinkel #34968, South Carolina
  • 2008: Daemon Stahlin #24185, Michigan
  • 2007: Jake Newell #29989, Kansas
  • 2006: Steve Mills #23516, California
  • 2005: Adam Olsen #26100, Iowa
  • 2004: Scott Slater #20695, Michigan
  • 2003: Peter Middlecamp #19026, Minnesota
  • 2002: Scott Burnett #20173, Ohio

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The toboggan runs of Kensington Metropark are home to disc golf for just a few weeks a year. Photo: Matt Gregoire, PDGA