Brad Schick Secures Spot at USDGC with Strong Finish

For Brad Schick, qualifying for his 13th United States Disc Golf Championship (USDGC) was a priority this year. And with a third-place finish at the Brent Hambrick Memorial in Columbus, Ohio, he can now focus on preparing for the big event without having to travel far. "I just want to be a part of it," Schick said, reflecting on his excitement about returning to Winthrop University's Gold Course, where the USDGC is held.

Schick's solid performance at the Brent Hambrick Memorial earned him a spot among some talented players who also qualified for the NT. Geoff Bennett from Canton, Michigan, shot an impressive -10, while Mathew Blakely of Lebanon, Ohio, and Aaron Deihl of Evansville, Indiana, both carded respectable scores of -7 and -2 respectively, alongside Ziggy Bierekoven from Bloomfield, Michigan.

Despite having a tough year overall, Schick was relieved that his game came together just in time for the Brent Hambrick Memorial. With over 20 years of experience playing on this particular course, he has developed an intuitive sense of when to take risks and when to play it safe. In fact, he's had some notable successes here before, winning the tournament back in 2008 and finishing as runner-up twice.

However, Schick acknowledged that home-field advantage is not a guarantee, especially with top pros regularly competing on this course. This year was no exception, with Richard Wysocki - who used to live in Ohio - taking an early lead alongside Gregg Barsby. Although Schick couldn't catch up with the leaders, he set his sights on Barsby and managed to hold onto third place.

For Schick, attending the USDGC is a must despite the long travel distance from his home state. He values the unique atmosphere and deep payout of the event, as well as the ongoing development and rule changes that make each tournament more competitive. "If I'm going to play in one tournament a year, it's going to be the USDGC," he said.

While Schick would certainly love to win at the USDGC, he's realistic about his chances given the incredibly talented field of competitors. For him, securing a top 20 finish is a worthy goal, and he's happy to take on that challenge.

Interestingly, Schick still considers disc golf a hobby despite being an accomplished player. With a full-time job in publishing and family commitments, touring professionally is not feasible for him. He prefers to play mostly around Ohio on the weekends, enjoying the fun aspect of the game without feeling pressured by prize winnings. As he noted, "I've seen people go on the tour, and it's kind of disheartening to see them lose the love for the game." For Schick, keeping disc golf as a hobby is essential to preserving his passion for the sport.

This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/usdgc-qualifiers-hambrick-memorial