Hammes Snags First Big Win, Joins Elite Company in Santa Cruz | Professional Disc Golf Association

**TITLE:** "Hammes Conquers DeLa with Composure: Claims First Elite Series Victory"

**META_TITLE:** "Adam Hammes Masters Cup victory, first Elite Series win, at DeLaveaga"

**META_DESCRIPTION:** "Adam Hammes secures his first Elite Series title and becomes part of Santa Cruz Masters Cup history. Read about his impressive performance and the events leading up to his win."

**ARTICLE:**

In a display of exceptional composure and skill, Adam Hammes emerged victorious at the 35th Annual Santa Cruz Masters Cup presented by Innova. The prestigious PDGA National Tour event took place at DeLaveaga, one of the most challenging courses in the world.

Hammes' journey to victory was anything but straightforward. He navigated the treacherous terrain with ease, utilizing his expertise in shot shaping, angle control, and speed control. His mental game also shone through as he expertly handled the course's obstacles, such as rollaways, cliffs, trees, and roots.

The putting greens proved to be Hammes' domain throughout the tournament. He consistently demonstrated superb putting skills, particularly in Sunday's finale, where he entered in a tie with Kevin Jones. His 60-foot birdie on hole 2 and 49-foot jam on three set the tone for his impressive display of accuracy and finesse.

Hammes' poise under pressure was evident as he commented, "No moment to breathe out here. It doesn't matter if you're up two, three, four, five, six out here." He went on to describe how even a significant lead is never truly safe at DeLaveaga, and that one must always remain focused.

The turning points of the tournament came when Hammes executed crucial putts on holes 20 and 21. The first attempt at the Gravity hole resulted in a rollaway, which he managed to recover from. On the second occasion, a par putt of 38 feet sealed his victory as Jones and James Proctor attempted to close the gap.

In the end, Hammes emerged victorious by a single stroke, securing his first Elite Series title with an impressive 33-under total. Proctor took second place with a hot round of 13-under, while Jones rounded out the podium at 30-under.

Hammes' dominance on the putting greens was reflected in his statistics, where he led the field in C1X putting (92% on the weekend) and strokes gained putting (9.69). His birdie count of half of the 72 holes only adds to his impressive display of skill.

When asked about his victory, Hammes attributed it to his focus on maintaining a positive attitude throughout the tournament. He emphasized the importance of staying calm and composed under pressure, a trait that has become synonymous with champions in the world of professional disc golf.

The Santa Cruz Masters Cup has once again lived up to its reputation as one of the most prestigious events in the sport, and Adam Hammes' victory will undoubtedly be remembered for years to come.

This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/news/hammes-snags-first-big-win-joins-elite-company-santa-cruz