Disc Golf Tournament Disrupted by Torrential Rain and Lightning Strikes

The 2014 Amateur World Doubles Championships got off to a rocky start when severe thunderstorms rolled into the Selah Ranch course in Mt. Vernon, TX, causing a two-hour delay on Friday evening. The storm, which produced small tornadoes in the area, left behind a trail of destruction, with dozens of trees fallen onto fairways and walking paths.

Despite the early morning cleanup efforts, weather continued to be a major concern throughout the weekend. On Saturday morning, strong winds forced competitors to lay up their putts on the Texas State Championships course just weeks prior, and it seemed like history might repeat itself at Selah Ranch.

The tournament schedule was already tight, but the relentless rain and lightning strikes made every minute count. The first round of the Lakeside course at Selah Ranch was delayed, causing a ripple effect that would eventually lead to more delays throughout the weekend.

As players teed off as early as 7:30AM on Saturday morning, they were met with yet another challenge: lightning. By 6:15AM on Sunday morning, the first of many lightning delays had already been called, and Selah Ranch was forced to suspend play until later in the day.

Meanwhile, just 20 miles away at Trey Texas Ranch, the situation was even more dire. The D pool (Intermediate) teams were set to tee off at 7:30AM but were delayed by nearly an hour due to a lack of communication from dropped-out teams. Just 45 minutes into their round, lightning forced them back in, and this pattern would continue for hours.

As the rain continued to pour down on the courses, tournament staff were left with no choice but to make tough decisions. Several holes at Trey Deuce and Texas Twist became unplayable, forcing the top teams from the C pool to return to Selah Ranch for a rain-soaked final round.

In the end, it was the Advanced Masters and Grandmasters who emerged victorious, with Addison Collins and Ryan Draper taking home the championship title in the Advanced division. When asked what separated them from the rest of the field, Ryan attributed their success to their ability to "hit our lines on the tight tunnel shots really well all weekend" and play great partner golf.

As for the tournament staff and volunteers who suffered through the elements, they deserve a special thank you for their dedication and hard work. The entire crew from Straight Line Discs stepped up to help out throughout the weekend, and their efforts were instrumental in making the tournament possible.

Congratulations to all the winners and competitors who braved the challenging weather conditions. And to those who are eager to get back on the course, the next PDGA Major is just around the corner – the National Collegiate Disc Golf Championships in Augusta, GA, set to take place in less than two weeks.

This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/theres-floodin-down-texas