PDGA Major events are the premier competitions for disc golf each year, featuring the world’s best disc golfers competing for Major titles in multiple skill, age, and gender-based divisions. These PDGA marquee events offer any city or town the chance to host an international sporting event in their community, to draw interest and attention to the location, and to generate a significant economic impact for local businesses.
Hosting a PDGA Major is a challenging task, and interest was shown from several involved local organizing committees (LOC), meaning selecting these events was difficult, as so many excellent bid packages were submitted.
Twenty-three years ago, Tim Selinske created the U.S. Masters Championships to celebrate sportsmanship and community.
On Sunday in Eugene, Oregon, those two elements were on display.
Championship Sunday of the 2023 PDGA Tim Selinske U.S. Masters Championships presented by Innova featured a little bit of everything — playoff wins, comeback wins, come-from-behind wins and blowout wins. But after those wins, and even the losses, the community aspect was on full display in a record gathering of 422 players.
The cut has been made in Eugene, Oregon and seven of the 21 divisions are separated by less than three strokes with 18 holes to go in Eugene, Oregon.
In MP40, Philo Brathwaite made a moving day charge with a course-record round at Circle Bar Golf Club to take a two-stroke lead in Championship Sunday. Brathwaite's 12-under round — rated 1060 — propelled him to the top of the leaderboard, two strokes clear of Matthew Blakely, who kept his spot on the lead card with a 9-under round on Saturday.
No one told them that Saturday was moving day at the PDGA Major.
New Leaders
Dutch Napier leads a brand-new MP40 lead card heading into Saturday's third round after finishing with the second-hottest rounds of the day at Dexter Park. The defending FP40 champion, Ohn Scoggins, blistered the woods of Dexter to build a seven-stroke lead with two rounds to go.
The 422-player Major features strong MP40 and FP40 fields and players with PDGA numbers in the double digits — all competing in a beautiful PNW setting.
KANSAS CITY, MO (May 10, 2023) – Visit Quad Cities was honored by Sports ETA as Event Partnership of the Year, population under 500,000 category, for the Professional Disc Golf Association’s Tim Selinske U.S. Masters Championship event. Visit Quad Cities was one of 10 awardees honored today among the 600 Sports ETA member organizations.
The PDGA is proud to announce Innova Champion Discs as the presenting sponsor for the 23rd edition of the masters-focused PDGA Major.
Innova brings a wealth of passion for the game and major experience to the event. The event is further underscored by a partnership with the Eugene, Cascades, and Coast Sports Commission to host the 2023 PDGA Tim Selinske U.S. Masters Championships.
PDGA Major Events are the premier national and international competitions for disc golf each year, featuring the world’s best disc golfers competing for World and National Titles in multiple skill, age, and gender-based divisions. These PDGA marquee events offer any city or town the chance to host an international sporting event in their community, to draw interest and attention to the location, and to generate a significant economic impact for local businesses.
Hosting a PDGA Major is a challenging task. Interest was shown from several involved local organizing committees (LOC), meaning selecting these events was difficult, as so many excellent bid packages were submitted.
Former champions and a few newcomers highlight the 12th running of the PDGA Major that honors the late Tim Selinske.
In MP40, Brad Schick is back to defend his title, but 2022 PDGA Masters World Champion Joe Rovere and Patrick Brown, the defending MP50 champion, join the mix. Christian Diertrich and Tyler Horne are among the highest-rated players in the field.
Patrick Brown taps out on 18 to win his third U.S. Masters championship. Photo: Kevin Huver / PDGA
After completing a wire-to-wire win, Patrick Brown got a little emotional on the 18th green at Harmony Bends.
All the practice, the patience and the lessons learned boiled over after taking down the title in MP50 at the 2021 PDGA Tim Selinske U.S. Masters Championship.
“It’ll really hit when I called my mom,” Allen said. “I almost dropped out on Monday to be with her. She had a bad surgery and a rough go, but she told me to come play and there was a reason I was supposed to be here. So, it’s special in many ways.”
As a disc golf coach in central Ohio, Schick, a 30-plus-year veteran of the sport, is teaching the game to new players week-in and week-out.
“The sport is just exploding right now – everywhere,” Schick said. “I teach lessons three nights a week and I don’t know any of these players that are looking to learn the game. Before, it was word of mouth from people in our club or area, but now it’s just all brand-new people who are hooked and want to improve.”
Hosfeld and Rainey are tied at the top at 14-under par. Bill Rohe is one stroke back. LaRon Harris is four out of the lead with 18 holes to play in Columbia, Missouri.
Ohn Scoggins putts during round two of the U.S. Masters. Photo: Conrad Meyer / PDGA
Ohn Scoggins suffered an injury setback early in the round, but she powered through and her competitors, who are vying for a PDGA Major title like her, were there to help each step of the way.
Literally.
“It was painful, but there’s nothing I can do but play through it,” said Scoggins, who maintained her one-stroke lead in FP40 at the 2021 PDGA Tim Selinske U.S. Masters Championships. “It bothered me so much, sidearm, backhand or just standing there. This is the first time I’ve gone through something like this, so I hope tomorrow is better.”
Harmony Bends is one of four courses in play at the 2021 Tim Selinske Masters Championships. Photo: Kevin Huver / PDGA
Tim Selinske could see around the corner.
Pairing a passion for all things disc, a dream of what the future looked like for disc golf and the hard work to help lay the foundation for that bright future, Selinske motivated those around around him to encompass those same things.
“He was thinking about what is possible, what’s next,” Crazy John Brooks said Wednesday at the opening ceremony of the 2021 PDGA Tim Selinske U.S. Masters Championships. “It was like Tim could look around the corner and see the future.
After escaping remnants of Hurricane Isaac most of the weekend, the players in the Tim Selinske U.S. Masters Disc Golf Championship had to play out their last few holes in the rain. Condsidering that the forecast called for downpours all weekend, everyone was extremely pleased to only have to endure an hour or so of drizzle.
Ske would have loved it. Iffy weather, challenging courses, a relatively unknown player charging hard, the usual suspects lurking in the wings. Just a great day at the IDGC.
Players arrived at the park for the first of two rounds going out at 9:00 am. The sky was cloudy, forecast for some sort of precipitation during the day. The sound of chains ringing sifted through the forest back up to the clubhouse area. Just another day in disc golf paradise. The reality of a grueling day had set in, but the mood was up and everyone was in high gear.
