With a history of producing the next big names of the sport, the 22nd United States Amateur Disc Golf Championship on Friday at the famed Toboggan Course in Milford, Michigan.
You know the names of the previous winners of this PDGA Major — David Wiggins Jr., Benjamin Callaway, Anthony Barela, Gavin Rathbun, Kyle Klein and Robert Burridge, among many others — and at the end of three days on the demanding hills in Michigan, you'll learn a new name.
Ryan Mulder tees off during Round 1 of the 2023 USADGC in Michigan. Photo: Justin Anderson / PDGA
The 2023 United States Amateur Disc Golf Championships started off hot as the top amateurs in the country played their first round on the Toboggan Disc Golf Course in Milford, Michigan. After just one round, two players have already beaten last year’s hot round to get themselves to the top of the leaderboard at the end of day 1.
This PDGA Amateur Major is one of the best chances for U.S. amateurs to perform at the highest level of competition and get a taste of professional life. Winning the USADGC has jumpstarted the professional careers of players like Benjamin Callaway (2011), Colten Montgomery (2014), Anthony Barela (2015), Gavin Rathbun (2016), Kyle Klein (2019), and Robert Burridge (2021).
Ilkin Groh lifts his arms in celebration after emerging from a seven-hole playoff to become the 2022 U.S. Amateur champion. Photo: Justin Anderson / PDGA
Scrolling down the list of former champions, you see the names of future Pro Tour stars: Kyle Klein, Anthony Barela, Colten Montgomery– to name a few.
And so, it is only natural that, when attending a United States Amateur Disc Golf Championship, one looks around to see if they can spot, among the hopeful unknowns, glimmers of the next Klein, Barela, or Montgomery.
Zachary Tesone played steady, limiting himself to just one bogey during the second round. Photo: Conrad Meyer / PDGA
Toboggan Bites
If anyone thought this was going to be an easy ride, that notion was quickly dispelled as the Toboggan course, home of the 2022 United States Amateur Disc Golf Championship, sunk its teeth into the field during Friday’s opening round.
Only nine players out of 158 managed to get under par, with three of those – Zachary Tesone, Ilkin Groh and Paul Krans – breaking away from the field.
Ilkin Groh (left) and Zachary Tesone (right) tee off on the iconic opening hole of the Toboggan course in Milford, MI. Photo: Justin Anderson / PDGA
Early Worm Gets the Birdies
Pulling a 7:30 a.m. tee time on the first day of a major championship may not sound like the ideal start to what is sure to be a long, draining battle – against a grueling 10,000 ft. course, full of intimidating steeps and gnarly rough, and against a stacked field of the world’s most talented amateur disc golfers.
But the early birds really did get the worm Friday as the weather gradually worsened throughout the opening round of the 2022 United States Amateur Disc Golf Championships.
Robert Burridge took down the 2021 USADGC. Photo: PDGA Media
Who’s got next?
A record field of 158 players will hit the famed Toboggan course in Milford, Michigan this weekend with a chance to join elite company, chase a PDGA Major title and continue their rise through the disc golf ranks.
Robert Burridge is the 2021 USADGC Champion. Photo: Mike Downes / PDGA
Touted as one of the last stops in the disc golf amateur ranks, the United States Amateur Disc Golf Championships has helped spark the professional careers of a number of players in its 20-year history.
A look at the previous winners, especially in recent years, has proven that the goal has been accomplished.
Now, it's time to see who is next.
Over 150 players from throughout the country will tackle the famed Toboggan Course in Milford, Michigan for the 20th running of the USADGC, a PDGA Amateur Major Event, beginning Friday.
At the final round of the 2015 United States Amateur Disc Golf Championship, 15 year old disc golf prodigy Anthony Barela #44382 started in the lead by one and never looked back. After just three holes, he had already gained two additional throws on 17 year old Matthew Kashima #43528, carding an eagle on the uphill par five Hole 2 and a birdie on the 915' par four downhill Hole 3. Kashima, having set the USADGC course record two days prior, did his best to keep Barela from running away with it. In the end, there was simply no stopping him.
"That was the best round I've ever seen anyone play here." That's what Jeff Kaluk, father of Andrew Kaluk #35027, said after watching 15 year old Anthony Barela #44382 hit a birdie putt from 30 feet on Hole 18 to finish Round 1 of the 2015 USADGC with a nine under par, 53. That's a bold statement, considering Jeff and Andrew Kaluk are locals and have likely seen and played more rounds on the Toboggan course than most.
