Heimburg Soars to Victory in Thrilling Finish at Jonesboro Open

The Disc Golf Pro Tour's Jonesboro Open, powered by Prodigy, came to a close with two compelling storylines unfolding on the final day of competition. On the MPO side, Calvin Heimburg faced off against Paul McBeth and Kevin Jones in a thrilling sudden death playoff, while Kristin Tattar continued her dominance in the FPO division.

The weather was a major concern for the players and fans alike as a storm system rolled into Arkansas on Sunday morning. The light drizzle that greeted the FPO lead card at 9:30 a.m. local time seemed to dissipate quickly, but it left behind an eerie calmness that hung over the course throughout the day.

Meanwhile, Heimburg was mounting his challenge from behind. Starting with a seven-stroke deficit to McBeth, he heated up after his slow start, reeling off six birdies in seven holes from holes 7-13. As McBeth faltered on the back nine, Heimburg seized control of the leaderboard.

The stage was set for an electrifying finish as McBeth and Jones produced eagle shots at hole 16, while McBeth added a crucial birdie at 17 to force a three-way tie heading into the final hole. However, Heimburg's exceptional tee shot on 18 sealed his spot in the playoff against McBeth.

In a sudden death playoff, McBeth slipped up with an errant drive that fell short of the fairway. With the crowd's attention now solely on Heimburg, he responded with an incredible drive that sailed 475 feet through the gusting crosswind and into the shadow of the hole 1 basket. The roars from the gallery echoed through the Disc Side of Heaven course as Heimburg secured his victory.

"It's the best drive I've thrown all week," exclaimed Heimburg. "I'm glad I saved it for now." This triumph marked a triumphant return to form for the champion, who expressed his satisfaction at being back on top.

In contrast to the MPO drama, Kristin Tattar dominated the FPO field with an impressive performance. Despite having limited experience at the Disc Side of Heaven course and a weather-shortened practice day, she maintained her composure throughout the round. A solid game plan coupled with her familiarity with the layout helped her maintain her seven-stroke lead on the final day.

Tattar's bogey-free outing, punctuated by an exclamation point birdie at hole 18, ultimately led to a commanding 10-stroke victory. "I enjoyed myself here," she said in reflection. "I had a really solid game plan and I feel comfortable on this course." This triumph marked another milestone for Tattar as she continued her impressive run.

As the Disc Golf Pro Tour moves forward, the focus shifts to the Dynamic Discs Open in Emporia, Kansas, where players will face the new Jones Park layout, previewing the 2022 PDGA Pro Worlds venue. The tournament begins on April 28 and will be broadcast live on the Disc Golf Network.

This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/news/emphatic-endings-jonesboro