Northern California Disc Golf Teams Unite in Epic Showdown
Date Published
This past weekend, history was made at the 2016 NorCal Team Invitational in Monterey, California. Twelve of Northern California's top disc golf clubs gathered at Ryan Ranch Championship Disc Golf Course for an epic event featuring a unique team alternate doubles format.
Tournament Director Nick Maffei, who drew inspiration from his experience competing at the 2010 National Collegiate Disc Golf Championships, modified the format to include each club's top 12 male players, two female players, and two Masters players. This created teams with their overall top 16 disc golfers, resulting in highly competitive play throughout the weekend.
The 12 participating clubs, representing a total of 192 players, were: Monterey Stinging Jellies, Santa Cruz, Silicon Valley, San Francisco, Delta Windjammers, Carmichael Comets, United Flyers of Sonoma, Chico Outsiders, Gold Country, Lake County, Salinas, and Napa. The teams battled it out in a series of 12-hole matches on Saturday, with the United Flyers of Sonoma (UFOS), Santa Cruz, Lake County, and Silicon Valley taking the top spots at the end of day one.
Sunday's competition saw two final matches determine the Final 4 teams, which included UFOS, Santa Cruz, Lake County, and Monterey. The battle for 1st and 2nd place was intense, with Santa Cruz ultimately emerging victorious in a closely contested final match. This win earned them the title of first-ever NorCal Team Champions and a brand new DGA Mach X trophy basket.
Team Santa Cruz, led by Captain Hyuma Ohkawa, demonstrated exceptional teamwork and sportsmanship throughout the event. Their positive attitudes and ability to support each other when needed made all the difference in their victory. As they proudly accepted the championship title and custom trophy basket, it was clear that this team's success was a testament to the power of collaboration and camaraderie.
The NorCal Team Invitational has set a new standard for disc golf tournaments, highlighting the sport's often-overlooked team aspects. Tournament Director Nick Maffei expressed his pride in the event's success, stating, "It could not have been a more perfect way to introduce this team format of disc golf to Northern California." The event's organizers and participants are already looking forward to future competitions, with many clubs planning to adopt this unique format for their own regional tournaments.
This historic event is sure to inspire change in the world of disc golf, promoting teamwork and unity among players. As Maffei noted, "All of the teams had so much fun, which is really what it is all about."
This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/2016-norcal-team-invitational-sets-new-precedent-team-play