Collegiate Disc Golfers Converge on IDGC for National Championships

The stage is set for a thrilling week of disc golf as nearly 300 student-athletes representing 41 colleges and universities descend upon the International Disc Golf Center (IDGC) for the National Collegiate Disc Golf Championships. This year's tournament marks a new venue for the PDGA Major, with the IDGC hosting four rounds of team doubles competition and two rounds of singles play.

The IDGC, home to three championship-level courses, has proven itself as a top destination for disc golf enthusiasts, having hosted several professional events including the Ed Headrick Disc Golf Hall of Fame Classic and the 2017 PDGA Professional Disc Golf World Championship. The venue's welcoming atmosphere and high-quality courses have made it an ideal choice for this year's tournament.

According to Tournament Director John Baker, a former college disc golfer himself, the new venue has brought added excitement to the event. "When you're competing for your school, representing your university – that really gets your blood pumping," he said. "There's not many things that compete with that level of passion these students have."

The NCDGC has also undergone some significant changes this year, including a shift from two rounds and a final 9 to determine the individual champion in each division to one round and a final 9. This tweak puts a greater emphasis on team scoring, which Baker believes will bring the competition closer together.

For some teams, like Mississippi State's Bulldogs, this change could be an advantage. With only one returning player from last year's team, they will likely rely more on their cooperative team play to succeed. "This year we have really good chemistry with doubles, so having the opportunity for the doubles to count the same as the singles is gonna help our case a little bit," said senior Steven Hillerman.

The Women's division has also seen changes, with teams now only requiring two women from the same school to compete. This tweak has been welcomed by players like Alex Lambert, who competed with Clemson in 2018 but will be paired with Emily Huffer this year. "I think it lets more teams bring girls," said Lambert. "The women's side of the sport is smaller, so having smaller teams allows us to play with different people."

As the tournament gets underway, the energy and excitement are palpable. With carloads of coeds arriving at the IDGC and a tailgate-style vibe starting to unfold, it's clear that this year's National Collegiate Disc Golf Championships will be an event to remember.

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This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/news/changes-abound-national-collegiate-disc-golf-championships