International Women's Day Tournament | Professional Disc Golf Association

This past March 8th marked a significant milestone in the world of disc golf as the inaugural International Women's Day Disc Golf Tournament took place at Brent Baca Memorial Disc Golf Course in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Organized by Myrriah Gomez #40238, this event was designed to celebrate and promote women's participation in the sport while also supporting Young Women United, a membership-led organizing project created by and for young women of color.

Despite the challenging weather conditions, with snow flurries and strong winds blowing through the course, 67 players from around New Mexico, Colorado, and Arizona turned out to participate. This was an impressive turnout, especially considering that this event made history as the largest women's division tournament in New Mexico, with a total of 20 amateur women players competing.

The Advanced women's division drew the most excitement, with Melissa Berryhill #45646 and Maria Diaz tied after two rounds and going into a playoff. Maria, a former softball player at New Mexico Highlands University who had only started playing disc golf five months prior, showed incredible potential, but ultimately fell to Melissa in the playoff.

Meanwhile, Carrie Brodeur #27924, a local Advanced Grandmaster, threw an impressive 66 on one of her rounds, earning her division win by a whopping 20 strokes. In the Men's Open division, Jeremiah Jacobsen #13959 edged out Marcos Castillo #39338 by just one stroke, taking pride in his home course and hosting an annual non-sanctioned event there.

The tournament not only showcased the skills and determination of these women but also raised $415 for Young Women United. This Albuquerque-based organization focuses on changing power dynamics through education and community engagement to reduce violence, improve health, and build collective strength.

As word spreads about this groundbreaking event, Myrriah Gomez is already looking forward to hosting the 2nd Annual International Women's Day Disc Golf Tournament in 2014. With plans to attract more sponsors, host a two-day tournament, and transition it into an all-women's event, she has set the stage for a lasting tradition that celebrates equality and inclusion in disc golf.

In her official statement, Valarie Jenkins #17495, Chairperson of the PDGA Women's Committee, expressed her enthusiasm for this new initiative: "Dedicated to Attract, Encourage, and Retain Female Participation in Organized Disc Golf Events."

This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/international-womens-day-tournament