Battle Lines Drawn at the 2011 USADGC
Date Published
The 2011 US Amateur Disc Golf Championship (USADGC) kicked off today with check-in and doubles day at the Toboggan course. Despite ominous weather forecasts, the sun made an appearance, bringing pleasant conditions to the event. The field this year is strong, with no single player declared a prohibitive favorite like David Wiggins Jr in 2010.
Traditionally, players are grouped according to their ratings for the first round, but due to popular demand and TD Phil Shelton's willingness to accommodate, the second-round pairings will be done based on first-round scores. This change allows top players to tee off last, adding an extra layer of excitement to the competition.
To prepare for the tournament, the course was closed to casual players, giving entrants a chance to practice and doubles teams to get familiar with the layout. The Toboggan's signature holes were on full display, with players straining to make tough turnovers and powerful throws on hole 1. The iconic USADGC graphic carved into the grass at the first tee was a constant reminder of the event's prestige.
Doubles action took center stage today, with 18 teams competing for top honors. The results saw Jason Labella-Mike Rabin take home first place with a score of 52, followed closely by Scott Ryther-David Gaulden in second (53) and Chris Kapitan Pierre Bowring in third (54). Jessie Cahill-Scott Kanuth and Jeremy Johns-Josh Lowe tied for sixth place, but only two teams could claim the coveted stack of discs.
In a tiebreaker "lizard game" concocted by Mark Ellis, the tied teams had to blindly flip a mini disc from a cardboard box. The challenge was eventually broken with a 10-meter mini roller test. Winners were awarded their prizes in a ceremony overseen by doubles TD Mark Ellis.
One notable development this year is the introduction of the PDGA Officials test for Amateur players. Seven participants hadn't completed the online test before arriving, but all passed after taking the written exam at check-in.
The evening's festivities began with the Player Meeting meal at Holdens, which included a comprehensive rules briefing by TD Phil Shelton. As the tournament progressed, so did the excitement, with mini lizard games and CTP competitions offering Discraft prizes to the winners.
As players headed out for a well-deserved rest, many were no doubt dreaming of their chances on Sunday's final hole. The stage is set for an intense battle at the 2011 USADGC – stay tuned for the action-packed conclusion!
This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/2011-usadgc-checkin