Record-Breaking Numbers and Thrilling Action at the 5th Annual Magnolia Open
Date Published
The 5th Annual Magnolia Open was a weekend to remember, with a record-breaking number of ladies taking part in the disc golf tournament. A total of 55 women from eight different states attended the event, including Alison Blakeman, who traveled all the way from Washington State to take part.
Friday's proceedings kicked off with check-in and practice rounds, followed by a random draw mixed doubles round in the afternoon. This unique format allowed local caddies and gentlemen to team up with some of the region's top female golfers, creating an entertaining and competitive atmosphere.
Saturday morning saw the start of the tournament proper, with a 10:00am shotgun start getting the action underway. The ladies showed no signs of fatigue despite the packed schedule, which included a double elimination KanJam tournament, Hott Shott putting challenge, cornhole games, and dinner from Robolli's Italian Bar & Grill.
Sunday was a more subdued affair, with just one round scheduled for the final day. However, the tension remained high as the ladies vied for top honors. Sarah Cunningham, now a five-time Magnolia Open Champion, dominated the Pro division throughout the weekend, ultimately taking the win by seven strokes over Elaine King.
In other divisions, Christine Barker took the Advanced title, shooting well above her rating to outperform Joy Callan and Phebe Kemmer. Heidi Schaffner continued her impressive form in the Advanced Masters division, claiming her first win since 2009. Tracy Lacue finally broke through in the Grandmaster Division, edging Kari Dianich by ten strokes.
The Intermediate women's title came down to a sudden-death playoff between Genevieve Belanger and Marley Riley, with Belanger emerging victorious. In the Recreational division, Angie Jeter took home top honors, beating Cindy Layhew by two strokes. Kyra Weissleder also made her mark in the Junior division, shooting a hot round to take the lead from Victoria Scott.
The KanJam tournament saw Sarah Cunningham and Gina Street team up for victory, while Elaine King claimed the Hott Shott title with an impressive score of 310. The event also raised $650 for the PDGA's breast cancer fundraising efforts, thanks in part to generous contributions from sponsors.
Special mention must go to Mom and Old Man Wallis, who traveled all the way from Illinois to help make the Magnolia Open a success. Their efforts will be remembered next year when Old Man Wallis takes on the role of Tournament Director for the 2014 United States Women's Disc Golf Championship at the International Disc Golf Center.
This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/the-magnolia-is-blooming