Canmore, AB - With black bears, crows, elk, and several enthusiastic people as an audience, 144 players took to the Canmore Nordic Centre this weekend for the 23rd annual Big Bear Classic, the scenic 3rd stop on the Canadian Disc Golf Tour. The weather was hot and sunny in the Canadian Rockies, but the course wasn’t the only star at this legendary and revered B-Tier mainstay.

Players from as far as Toronto, and across Western Canada converged on the course, originally designed in 1995 by Craig Burrows-Johnson. While not the biggest tournament in terms of numbers, the Big Bear Classic is a perpetual hot ticket in the Western Canadian scene, as a completely unique disc golfing experience in Canada. Massive elevation changes off the tee and tight fairways characteristic of a cross-country ski track set the Nordic Center course apart from anything in the country.

A tight FPO battle culminated in multiple two-stroke swings in the final holes that gave French transplant Emilie Gagelin her first FPO victory over sharp up-and-comer (and current FPO points leader on the CDGT) Teri Hong. 

Emilie Gagelin earned her first FPO title at the 23rd Big Bear Classic.

The MPO final round was a roller coaster of a finish, with an ace on film, and 5 different leaders throughout the final round. In the end, Noah Higgins, a young but experienced professional from Lethbridge, Alberta took the victory on the final hole despite not leading at any point during the tournament.

Noah Higgins shot the hot final round to win the 23rd Big Bear Classic by a single throw.

"The third stop on the Canadian Disc Golf Tour was a great success, with tons of action in the MPO division, all the way down to the third card. The FPO side came down to one stroke on the final hole. Couldn’t have asked for better disc golf at one of Canada’s premiere courses." - Andre Lodder, CEO Parked Pro Media

Parked Pro Media, Canada’s leading YouTube channel for disc golf coverage, will be providing post-produced coverage of the MPO division, allowing fans around the world to tune in and follow the action after play has completed.