GBO's Final Round Becomes Latest Victim of Severe Weather | Professional Disc Golf Association
Date Published
The Glass Blown Open (GBO), the second stop on the 2017 PDGA National Tour, was forced to cancel its third and final round after hours of deliberation between tournament staff and the Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA). The decision was made due to severe weather conditions that posed a significant risk to player safety.
The massive storm system, which stretched over 1300 miles across the United States, brought lightning detectors to high alert. The number of lightning strikes in the area was alarming, with multiple strikes recorded within a short radius of the courses. Despite efforts to wait out the storm, it became clear that conditions would not improve soon enough for safe play.
The cancellation of the round is the third major PDGA event to be affected by bad weather in six months. The United States Disc Golf Championship's final round was canceled due to severe thunderstorms in October 2016, and a powerful thunderstorm also forced the cancellation of the Nick Hyde Memorial's final round four weeks prior.
The GBO had attracted nearly 1100 competitors, spread across six courses in the Emporia, Kansas area. The event's organizers, Dynamic Discs, had put in countless hours to prepare for the tournament, and their efforts were met with an overwhelming amount of support from fans and players alike.
While some may be disappointed by the cancellation, the decision was made with player safety as the top priority. Paul McBeth, the Open division champion, and Paige Pierce and Hannah Leatherman, co-champions in the Open Women division, are among those who will receive their prizes despite not completing the full round.
The City of Emporia and Dynamic Discs have been praised for their exceptional hospitality and professionalism throughout the event. Their efforts have made the Glass Blown Open a memorable experience for all involved.
This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/gbo-becomes-latest-victim-severe-weather