Gilbert Reigns Supreme at Tournament Capital Open, Levesque and Vester Follow Close Behind

The stage was set for an epic battle at the 2024 Tournament Capital Open in Kamloops, BC, as reigning champion Thomas Gilbert returned to defend his title. The Canadian disc golf superstar has been making waves on the circuit with his incredible skills, and the pressure was palpable as he faced a fresh crop of young talent.

Gilbert, known for his dominating performances, started the weekend by crushing the competition at Sawyer's Disc Golf Trivia Night, scoring an impressive 39 out of 40. This ominous sign of things to come hinted that the defending champion would be hard to beat. However, the field was not intimidated, and Victoria's Luke Levesque, Kelowna's Carver Whitford, and Calgary's Conall McLeod were ready to give Gilbert a run for his money.

The Copper Ridge course at Logan Lake proved to be a challenging and technical layout, but the young guns were up to the task. Levesque, in particular, made a stunning comeback with a scorching second round that carried over into day three, securing his best finish at an A-Tier event.

Meanwhile, Gryphon Vester made his Parked Pro coverage debut for round two, but after strong rounds from Levesque and McLeod, Vester was forced to battle the challenging day-three weather from the chase card. He rose to the occasion, throwing a remarkable minus-4 final round to complete the podium.

Gilbert's first round featured a remarkable blind ace, which went unnoticed until the players approached the basket. It was one of three aces on the day, but surely the most subtle. The defending champion's performance solidified his position as a force to be reckoned with in the disc golf world.

TD Carrie Neal praised Gilbert for bringing a special energy to the tournament, saying, "Having Thomas make the TCO a 'must play' on his tour schedule is special. No other Pro has made that commitment to Kamloops and it definitely draws the Amateur players in!"

Andre Lodder, CEO of Parked Pro Media, added, "Kamloops deserves its moniker of the Tournament Capital of Canada. A home away from home for athletes and tourists, it has all the amenities you could ask for, both from a disc golf perspective as well as great dining, outdoor activities, and scenery for days."

On the FPO side, Victoria's Julie Moens, propelled by a 940-rated second round in the rain and sleet atop Copper Ridge, held on for the win despite a final-round push from Gabby Lee and Kristy Lee (no relation). The victory puts Moens in tenth place on the CDGT leaderboard.

Teri Hong, who finished fourth at the TCO, now leads the CDGT on the FPO side. The full standings of the CDGT can be found at CDGT.ca.

The 2024 Tournament Capital Open was an exciting event that showcased emerging talent and highlighted the region's growing disc golf scene. With its challenging courses and stunning scenery, Kamloops has cemented its position as a must-visit destination for disc golf enthusiasts.

This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/news/big-maple-re-asserts-dominance-ace-filled-tournament-capital-open