Nikko Locastro Wins Fourth Consecutive St Louis Open Title

The 2012 St Louis Open came to an exciting close with a highly anticipated final showdown between four top-notch players: Paul Ulibarri, Will Schusterick, Cale Leiviska, and hometown hero Nikko Locastro. All four athletes boasted impressive player ratings of over 1035, making the competition even more intense.

The St Louis Open has been a staple in the disc golf community since its inception seven years ago, with the mission of promoting the sport in the region. This year's event was no exception, attracting 200 players from across the country to the Midwest. Among them were 80 out-of-state competitors representing 16 different states.

The tournament featured a diverse range of divisions, including Intermediate (64 players), Advanced (49 players), and Advanced Grandmasters (18 players). The weekend offered an array of special events, such as a doubles competition hosted by LS Discs, cave golfing at Crystal City Underground on Friday night, and a Saturday evening disc golf clinic led by the Non-Stop Disc Golf crew.

The competition was held across four courses in the area, with each one set to its longest layout. The weather proved to be scorching hot on Saturday, reaching 92 degrees with humidity levels of 50%. The professionals kicked off the day at Jefferson Barracks historical park, where Locastro and Ulibarri took an early lead with 9-under par rounds.

However, Schusterick stole the spotlight in the afternoon round at Sioux Passage Park, shooting a blistering 12-under, 1057-rated 54. Brian Miller from Fort Wayne, Indiana, also made a strong showing with a 55, while Locastro fell back to a 60. The standings after the first day saw Schusterick take the lead with a 104, followed closely by Ulibarri and Miller with 105s, and then Leiviska and Locastro with 108s.

Sunday's round was eerily similar to Saturday's, with Nikko playing one of his familiar "home" courses at Endicott Park. He delivered an exceptional performance, shooting a 12-under, 1083-rated round of 45 – including just one bogey! Schusterick kept pace with a strong 9-under, 1055-rated round of 48. Leiviska leapfrogged Ulibarri with a solid 7-under for a 50. The final four was set in motion, with Schusterick still leading at 152 and Locastro hot on his heels at 153.

The safari finale stretched across the entire Endicott Park course, estimated to be 4425 feet long and featuring a pro par of 34. Designed by Assistant Tournament Director Greg Dohogne, the challenging layout culminated in a thrilling finish at a flagpole next to tournament headquarters, providing an electric atmosphere for the spectators.

Locastro set the pace on the first hole with a 45-foot "putt" for a deuce, while Schusterick faltered early and missed a 40-foot putt. This gave Locastro a one-throw lead, which he expanded to two throws on the next hole. Schusterick fought back over the subsequent holes, tying the overall lead after four holes. After an intense battle, Locastro regained the lead on the sixth hole, only for Schusterick to tie it again on the seventh.

With two holes remaining, the pressure was mounting! The eighth hole proved to be a nail-biter, with Will having an easy par-four putt and Nikko facing a 50-foot birdie attempt just yards from tournament headquarters. Locastro took his time and nailed the shot, taking the lead for the third time in eight holes. Schusterick attempted to force a tie on the final hole but couldn't get his approach shot to go in, while Locastro sealed the deal with a short putt.

The crowd was electric as Nikko celebrated his fourth consecutive St Louis Open victory, receiving congratulations from his fellow competitors and cheers from the local fans. He took home an impressive "Arch" trophy made from an elevator cable used in the St Louis Arch. The event showcased disc golf at its finest, with young pros like Locastro doing a great job of promoting the sport. A huge thank you goes out to the volunteers and three neighboring clubs who helped make this year's event a success.

This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/stl-open-and-the-final-four