Nikko Locastro Wins NT Title at Memorial with Impressive Victory
Date Published
The first stop on the 2009 PDGA National Tour (NT) concluded in style at The Memorial in Scottsdale, Arizona, with a thrilling victory for Nikko Locastro. In a closely contested tournament, the young Missouri native outshone world-class golfers including Avery Jenkins and three-time Memorial champion Barry Schultz to claim his first NT title.
Locastro's winning streak has been building momentum since the early part of the season, with two other wins and a second place finish already under his belt. His impressive form at The Memorial was particularly noteworthy, as he rode the wave of success from his 1089-rated performance in Fountain Hills to pocket the $2,500 first prize.
Val Jenkins also made headlines at The Memorial, following up her Gentlemen's Club title with another consecutive win in the Women's Open division. Her two-throw victory over rival Des Reading and three throws over Liz Lopez demonstrated her growing confidence on the course, particularly in her intermediate approach shots.
Meanwhile, the Men's Masters division saw a close battle between Dean Tannock and Robert Ryan from Colorado, who tied for first place with -10 scores. The event got off to a quick start, with defending World Champion Dave Feldberg initially leading the field before being overtaken by Avery Jenkins and Eric McCabe in the early rounds.
The PDGA National Tour has kicked off its 7th year of action-packed disc golf events, with The Memorial setting the tone for an exciting season. Over 350 players from around the world gathered at Vista del Camino Park in Scottsdale and the desert oasis at Fountain Hills to compete in the prestigious event, which combined pro and amateur sides.
As the presenting sponsor, Discraft has been instrumental in making The Memorial a highlight of the disc golf calendar, with its challenging courses providing the perfect backdrop for top-ranked players to showcase their skills.
This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/memorial09-preview