Arizona A-Tier Kicks Off the 2016 Season | Professional Disc Golf Association
Date Published
The disc golf season officially got underway in Arizona over the weekend as Dave Feldberg and Latitude 64 presented the Maricopa Meadows Open, a PDGA A-tier event that attracted 135 players from across the country. The tournament was not only an exciting competition but also served as a fundraiser for the Mountain View Community Food Bank.
Feldberg's team ensured that all participants had an enjoyable experience with excellent golf, generous player packs, delicious food, and live entertainment in the beautiful Arizona sunshine. The event was a huge success, with Feldberg himself taking home the gold medal in the Open division, achieving an impressive round rating of 1047 (unofficially).
In the amateur divisions, Anthony Barela proved to be a force to be reckoned with. The 16-year-old rising talent from California finished second just six strokes behind Feldberg and earned his first cash prize, officially cementing his status as a professional disc golfer. This achievement is all the more impressive considering his relatively young age.
In other divisions, Shane Dehner emerged victorious in the Masters category after a nail-biting comeback win over local players Rex Rogers and Jeff Wilson, who tied for second place. Harvey Brandt secured another victory in the Grandmasters division, showcasing his dominance on the Arizona disc golf scene.
The Maricopa Meadows Open was also the launchpad for the Next Generation Tour, a 12-part event series conceived by Latitude 64 to provide amateur players with opportunities to compete against professional-level golfers. The tour aims to promote local charities and create an engaging experience for participants. Feldberg described the initiative as "a new kind of tour, run by professionals, for amateurs."
The tour's leadership consists of top-notch players Kris Linscott, Matthew Rotunno, Fernando Barela in the Advanced division, while Trina Lettig emerged victorious in the Advanced Women's category. Each event on the Next Generation Tour will benefit a local charity, as demonstrated by the success of the Maricopa Meadows Open.
The second event on the tour is scheduled to take place in Northern California in March. Tournament details and updates can be found on the Latitude 64 website and Facebook page. Meanwhile, fans of disc golf can catch footage from the Maricopa Meadows Open on The Disc Golf Guy's YouTube channel, courtesy of Terry Miller's filming efforts.
The next major event on the 2016 PDGA calendar is the Gentlemen's Club Challenge presented by Innova Champion Discs in Las Vegas, NV.
This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/arizona-kicks-2016-season-arizona