Chaos Reigns at Goat Hill as Pros Battle it Out in Thrilling Tournament
Date Published
The sun was shining bright at the Goat Hill course in Oceanside, California, but it couldn't have prepared anyone for the excitement that unfolded during The Challenge @ Goat Hill. This C-tier PDGA tournament brought together 108 players from far and wide, each hoping to take home the top prize.
In the Men's Open division, local San Diegan Micah Dorius and Huntington Beach's Jeff Spohr set the pace early on with matching 6-under 57s. Trey McKelvey was hot on their heels with a 59, but Steve Rico of Nevada had other plans. After firing a stunning 1050-rated, 10-under par 54 in the second round, Rico catapulted himself to the top of the leaderboard, leaving the rest of the field in his wake.
But Rico wasn't the only one putting on a show. Kimmy Jones from Phoenix, Arizona, battled her way to victory in the Open Women's division, adding two strokes to her first-round lead and taking home the coveted "goat" trophy. Meanwhile, Chris Brophy edged out good friend Dan Duron in sudden-death overtime to claim the Pro Masters title.
The competition was just as fierce in the amateur divisions, with several players requiring a trip to the playoff hole to determine the winner. In Men's Advanced, Ethan Wellin emerged victorious after making up a two-shot deficit and sinking a crucial birdie putt on the treacherous peninsula hole (#2). Nick Wright took home the top prize in Men's Intermediate, while Wes Scheider triumphed over David Phillips in the Men's Recreational Division.
As if all this wasn't enough, the tournament organizers threw in an extra layer of excitement with the VooDoo Disc Golf Final 4 Challenge. Four pros were paired with four lucky raffle winners to compete in a thrilling alternate-shot doubles competition. Even as the sun dipped below the horizon, the teams battled on, finishing the final hole under the sprinklers.
In the end, it was Rico and his partner Alex Sardelich who emerged victorious, taking home $400 for their low score. A big thank you to all the sponsors who made this event possible, including Bellows Golf Management, DiscGolfValues.com, Innova Disc Golf, SDSF Pro Shop, Legacy Discs, DGA, and the Las Vegas Disc Golf Club. And to Mark from The CheeseSteak Grill, whose generous contribution of free 9-inch cheesesteak sandwiches kept everyone fueled throughout the tournament!
This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/the-challenge-goat-hill