Record-Breaking Female Disc Golfers Make Waves at 3rd Annual WGE

This past Saturday, May 14th, 2016, marked an extraordinary day for women's disc golf as the 3rd biennial PDGA Women's Global Event (WGE) shattered records with a staggering 1,651 registered female competitors from 63 events across 11 countries and 28 states. The WGE is a unique event that brings together women from around the world to compete in a global tournament, breaking down geographical barriers and celebrating the growth of the sport.

The record-breaking participation numbers made this year's WGE the largest PDGA-sanctioned event for a single demographic ever held. Competitors from the United States, Canada, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Australia, Estonia, Iceland, United Kingdom, Germany, and Japan came together to compete in 19 divisions, ranging from junior girls to professional women's divisions.

One of the standout features of this year's WGE was the global reach of the competition. The event saw participants from new countries and regions, with many competing for the first time. "This is a testament to the growing popularity of disc golf among women," said Valarie Jenkins, Women's Global Event Co-Tournament Director and PDGA Women's Committee Chairwoman.

The WGE is a unique format that allows players to compete against others from around the world, regardless of their location or experience level. The event uses a rating-based system, where players' scores are rated against the difficulty of the course and their competitors' ratings and scores. This creates a truly global competition, with players able to see how they stack up against others from different regions.

The Chick Flick and Women of DGOD in North Plains, Oregon hosted the largest WGE tournament this year, drawing 97 female competitors. Other notable events included the KC Diva Spring Feeva in Kansas City, Missouri, which attracted 89 competitors, and the Sea to Sky Women's Global Event in British Columbia, Canada, which saw a strong turnout of junior girls.

In the professional divisions, Paige Pierce claimed her second WGE title, edging out Valarie Jenkins. Hannah Leatherman finished third in the Open Women's division, just one point behind Jenkins. Debbie Scott won her second WGE title in the Masters Women's division, while Deb Renner dominated the Grandmasters division with a Global Score of 885.

The amateur divisions also saw some remarkable performances, with Sheryl Johnson topping the field in the Advanced Women's division and Denise Gentry winning her third WGE title in the Advanced Senior Grandmasters Women division. Judy Gipson, a non-PDGA member, won the Advanced Legends Women division, finishing with an outstanding score that was 173 points above her closest competition.

The junior divisions also saw a strong turnout, with Karin Pisa from Estonia winning the Junior I Girls (18 & Under) division and Joleigh Miller taking first in the Junior II Girls (15 & Under) division. Other notable winners included Ginny Heltsley in the Junior III Girls division (12 & Under), Aria Castruita in the Junior IV Girls division (10 & Under), Kylie Schenavar in the Junior V Girls division (8 & Under), and Jaycee Robles in the Junior VI Girls division (6 & Under).

The WGE would not have been possible without the tireless efforts of 63 hardworking volunteer Tournament Directors, who worked tirelessly to make this event a success. The PDGA also extends its gratitude to the sponsors, including Disc Diva, GRIP Equipment, KEEN Footwear, and Discraft, for their generous support.

The fundraising effort benefiting Right To Play, a nonprofit that helps educate and empower children and youth in disadvantaged communities, continues with a few days left to earn prizes for being the top fundraising team or individual. Set up your Right To Play fundraising account on the WGE website and help make a difference.

This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/2016-wge-international-success-story