Collegiate Disc Golf Takes Center Stage at SEC Rivalry Game

The highly anticipated match-up between the undefeated Mississippi State Bulldogs and Alabama Crimson Tide had everyone's attention last weekend, but what caught many by surprise was the feature on Collegiate Disc Golf in the SEC rivalry game broadcast on ESPN. The network showcased a thrilling 30-second segment of the two nationally ranked disc golf teams competing against each other, highlighting the growing presence of intercollegiate disc golf.

But that wasn't all – the Mississippi State Women's team, which is the reigning National Champion, was also honored at halftime of the game on October 13th. As the Bulldogs took a commanding lead in the football match, the crowd erupted as the game announcers called out the Ladies' team to mid-field for a special recognition. A photograph of them appearing on the Jumbotron at Davis Wade Stadium has been widely shared.

Meanwhile, two National Collegiate Disc Golf Championships (NCDGC) qualifier events took place over the weekend, October 27th and 28th. The Lower Midwest Region hosted the Texas Collegiate Disc Golf Championships in Austin, while the Upper Midwest Region welcomed the Great Lakes Collegiate Open in Kalamazoo, Michigan. These inaugural events marked significant growth for intercollegiate disc golf.

The NCDGC released its latest rankings after the two qualifier events, and the winning teams made notable jumps in the top 25 standings. With only one more qualifier event left on this semester's schedule, colleges from across the country are gearing up for the West Coast College Open, taking place in Santa Cruz, California from November 2nd to 4th.

In Kalamazoo, Michigan, the Great Lakes Collegiate Open took center stage at Blue Gill Disc Golf Course and Oshtemo Park. Saturday's competition was marked by a few teams getting stuck in the mud while navigating to the course, but once underway, the day unfolded into an exciting adventure. Wisconsin-Stevens Point and Ferris State led the pack after the first round, only to see newcomers Wright State make a stunning comeback thanks to individual hot rounds from players like Ben Kahut.

Sunday's action saw teams seeded based on their scores, with the hottest players from top 4 schools competing against each other. After 288 holes and over 1,000 throws, the Great Lakes Collegiate Open concluded, with Wisconsin-Stevens Point taking home the title and berths to the National Collegiate Disc Golf Championships.

In Texas, the first-ever Texas Collegiate Disc Golf Championship was held at Twin Parks Country Club in Austin, paired with the Team Justice Amateur Match Play event. The collegiate side saw five schools represented, including the University of Arkansas, who made the long trek from their home state to compete for a coveted Lower Midwest Region qualifying spot.

The U of A Razorbacks dominated early rounds but were eventually tied up by the Texas State Bobcats in the third round. In a thrilling finale, Mark Olden of the Texas State Bobcats led his team to victory after a nail-biting sudden-death finish on Hole 7 at Twin Parks Crown Course. The win secured a Region 4 automatic bid to the NCDGC and marked an incredible upset for the Bobcats.

A huge thank you goes out to Team Justice, Des & Jay Reading, and sponsors like Disc Nation, Fully Loaded Disc Golf, Innova Champion, KEEN Footwear, HOTT Tour, and YetiDisc.com for making this event possible.

This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/texas-state-ferris-state-and-wisconsin