The Script for the Season?
The Script for the Season?
DGPT+ Prodigy Presents WACO – Final Round Recap
The winners of the first DGPT+ event of 2024 – Kristin Tattar and Gannon Buhr. Photo: Kevin Huver / DGPT
Technically, the Disc Golf Pro Tour – Prodigy presents WACO event was the second stop in the 2024 pro tour season. But, viewers in-person and on-the-flatscreens alike witnessed a number of firsts…
The first event for 2023 PDGA Major grand slam owner Kristin Tattar;
The first multi-course event of the season;
The first 4+ round event of the season with increased DGPT championship points available;
The first missed-cuts for big names in both divisions;
The first runaway victory in one division (by a player known for the feat);
The first final-putt victory in the other division (with many more expected).
The question for players and fans alike is, does WACO foreshadow the themes for the 2024 season?
It’s a compelling question, if only because it feels possible… even probable… that the way things unfolded in each of the two respective divisions – FPO and MPO – may repeat more often than not as the season unfolds.
Time will tell.
- DGPT - Prodigy Presents WACO – Full Scores & Stats via PDGA Live »
- DGPT - Prodigy presents WACO — Full Coverage »
Spring Forward, Tattar’s Back
Even without every tool in the toolbox working, Kristin Tattar can put the finishing touches on a masterpiece.
Early on it looked like an inconsistent driver might give hope to Tattar’s pursuers. But good-enough approaches and great putting resulted in a string of par-saves and a few birdies during a nine-hole stretch in the middle of the final round that effectively eliminated any threat.
In fact, with no one ever getting within five strokes of Tattar, the excitement of the final round was left to those trailing the Estonian. And, two performances bested the rest.
Playing from the chase card, Holyn Handley started with birdies on the first three holes. Then, while others ahead of her stumbled, Handley managed even-par golf the rest of the way. A three-under-par effort was enough to edge her way onto the podium for the DGPT+ event points that come with a top-three finish.
Two-thirds of the way through the round, Ohn Scoggins seemed out of contention for a medal. With zero putts made longer than 13 feet, and many of them saving par or bogey, Scoggins began finding the 10-meter circle with her drives and approaches starting at the 13th hole. She would birdie five of the closing six holes in a march up the ladder to a 1007-rated (unofficial) round and a second-place finish.
First to Flinch Loses
Don’t be the one to blink. It’s true in playground standoffs, used-car negotiations, and Disc Golf Pro Tour final rounds.
As the last groupings in the MPO field moved to the back nine, it felt like half-a-dozen players had a chance at the title. But already-completed rounds had shown that scores of 10-under-par or better were possible… and might even be necessary.
With pars feeling like bogeys and bogeys feeling like knock-out blows, every throw took on a growing pressure.
As birdie droughts and untimely bogeys dropped players from the race, the final grouping approached hole 18 with three men still standing. Niklas Antilla’s course-record-tying 11-under-par from the chase card helped him post 36-under as the clubhouse lead.
Gannon Buhr, who held the lead or a share of it much of the day stepped to the 18th tee at 36-under par, with one more birdie opportunity to play.
And, Luke Humphries, who followed a bogey at the first with 11 birdies in the next 16 holes, teed off the 18th with a one-throw lead at 37-under-par.
Humphries, playing first from the fairway on the par-4 found OB with his approach, leaving 140 feet for par.
Seconds later, Buhr’s approach danced by the basket, leaving a 20-foot putt for birdie and a score of -37 for the tournament.
After Humphrey’s bid missed, it was down to Gannon’s putt.
And, with an echoing, “Come on!” Buhr’s putt found the bottom of the basket.
Humphries would share second with Antilla at 36-under. It's Humphries second runner-up result in this event (2022).
Anthony Barela, up 11 positions thanks to a course-record-tying 11-under day, which included an ace on the 11th hole, would tie for fourth with Mason Ford at 31-under-par.
So the question remains… is WACO a harbinger of things to come on the pro tour for 2024. Will Tattar dominate the FPO field virtually every weekend? Will each MPO final round feature a battle royale between young-but-proven champions, crafty veterans, European upstarts, and those seeking their first career elite series victory?
We’ll see.
This is going to be fun.
Comments
Bouncing off a spectator
Bouncing off a spectator barricade back in bounds that is 5 ft from ob is, quite frankly bad course design , and is a random stroke of luck that could easily be eradicated to eliminate such situations that can have drastic impacts on such a tight battle down the stretch. Not to take away from a very exciting finish. Great win G.B.