McBeth Takes Nokia By Storm with Stunning Comeback Victory
Date Published
The third and final day of the European Open 2016 at Nokia, Finland, was one for the ages. After two days of sweltering heat, the players were greeted with a welcome change in weather – cooler temperatures and plenty of sunshine. The wind, however, remained a challenge, forcing even the most skilled disc golfers to think carefully about their shot selection.
Going into the final round, Ricky Wysocki was in the lead by one stroke, closely followed by KJ Nybo and Simon Lizotte. Paul McBeth, the four-time World Champion, was hot on their heels, looking for his second European Open title.
As the players made their way through the course, McBeth's "beastmode" was evident. He carded ten consecutive birdies from holes 5 to 14, a remarkable feat that left many spectators in awe. McBeth's accuracy and precision were on full display, with a staggering 100% green hit percentage on the front nine.
However, the lead group remained tight, with Wysocki and Nybo refusing to give up. As they entered the final four holes, anything could have happened. And it did. On hole 15, Wysocki made a crucial bogey, while McBeth played it safe to card a par.
The drama continued on the 16th, where McBeth was lucky to escape with a tap-in birdie after his disc skipped over the hay bales. Wysocki, meanwhile, carded a solid birdie to close the gap to one shot behind McBeth.
But it was the 17th hole that would prove decisive. Wysocki teed off first and rode the wind all the way to the basket with a huge sidearm shot, tying McBeth for the lead. The two Americans were now level, setting up an epic finish on the final hole.
The legendary "video game hole" at Nokia proved to be just that – a true test of skill and nerves. Wysocki's sidearm drive sailed out of bounds left off the tee, while McBeth seized the opportunity with a precise drive down the middle of the fairway.
McBeth's second shot was a tap-in birdie, securing his 2-stroke victory over Wysocki, who missed his last putt from about 6 meters. It was an incredible comeback win for McBeth, who carded an 11-under-par 54 on the final round.
In other news, KJ Nybo and Simon Lizotte finished tied for third place after a playoff, while Leo Piironen and Pasi Koivu ended their tournaments strongly with impressive scores. The top ten was completed by Ville Ahokas, Seppo Paju, Lassi Hakulinen, Teemu Nissinen, and Janne Hirsimäki.
The European Open 2016 has been an unforgettable event, with plenty of drama and excitement on the final day. Stay tuned for more highlights and analysis from our production crew later tonight.
This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/eo2016-final-round-recap-epic-come-behind-victory