Ken Climo Saves Best for Last to Secure Sunshine State Shootout Title

Ken Climo's illustrious disc golf career continues to write its own chapters with each passing event. The legendary golfer welcomed the PDGA National Tour to Florida for the Sunshine State Shootout, and while many may have expected a dominant performance from the home state star, what they got was a masterclass in perseverance and clutch playing.

Climo's day began much like that of his competitors, with all players putting up impressive numbers. However, it wasn't until he started birdying on nine consecutive holes that The Champ truly showed his hand. His incredible run of form continued unabated, even after a two-hour rain delay forced the players to regroup and refocus.

The delay did little to deter Climo's momentum, though. On the final 12 holes, he played an astonishing 11-under par, while Nate Doss matched him with 12-under on the same stretch. Neither golfer surrendered a single bogey over the entire 48-hole Pine Oaks course, leaving them inextricably linked at the top of the leaderboard.

Climo's record-breaking performance was a testament to his enduring talent and experience. Yet, even this wasn't enough to secure him the tournament title outright. Doss's impressive display forced a playoff, one that would ultimately decide the winner on just one hole.

In a moment of pure drama, Climo stepped up to the first tee and delivered what he described as "the best shot I've ever thrown." His drive sailed an impressive 420 feet, landing safely in the fairway. The pressure was then passed back to Doss, who, unfortunately, let his focus slip on the still-damp tee-pad. His drive ended up in the water, leaving him with little chance of catching Climo.

With Doss eliminated from contention, Climo secured the 2010 Sunshine State Shootout title and a $1250 first-place check. It was a fitting birthday present for The Champ, who celebrated his 43rd year on this planet in style.

The women's open division saw Valarie Jenkins assert her dominance with a 14-throw victory over Carrie Berlogar. Jenkins took home the $625 prize money, while Berlogar secured $425 and Liz Carr rounded out the top three with a third-place finish worth $300.

With the Sunshine State Shootout now in the books, the PDGA National Tour is set to head to Charlotte, North Carolina for the Carolina Clash on April 23-25.

This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/climo-wins-sunshine-state-shootout