Team Nooga Clinches Victory at National Team Challenge

The 2nd annual National Team Challenge brought together 15 teams of four players each, with a combined PDGA rating of 3760 or below, to compete at the International Disc Golf Center (IDGC) on August 31st-September 1st. The event, still in its infancy stage, has quickly gained popularity among disc golf enthusiasts due to its unique team format and exciting gameplay.

In the inaugural year, only six teams participated, but this year's event saw a significant increase in attendance. Each team had one non-member/non-rated player who was assigned a 940 rating, allowing for diverse combinations of players with varying skill levels. The participating teams represented various affiliations, including state, club, college, city, course, and clique.

The tournament featured four rounds: singles, match play, best-shot doubles, and alternate-shot team doubles. The singles round took place on the "Steady" Ed Headrick Memorial Course, where points were awarded based on the number of players beaten or tied by each team. Josh Childs from "ProPutt" emerged as the top scorer with a 1067-rated score of 47 (14 under par). This round also helped determine matchups for the match play round, which took place on the same course.

The match play round was pivotal in determining the teams' positions on the leaderboard. Some teams excelled, winning three out of four matches, while others struggled, losing all or most of their matches. "ProPutt," a team of master and grandmaster-aged players from Columbia, SC, led by team captain Jeff Moore, took an early lead after this round.

Sunday's schedule was dominated by doubles play, with teams competing in best-shot doubles. For this round, partners were chosen by the team captains, and points were awarded based on the number of doubles teams beaten or tied. "Team Nooga" from Chattanooga, TN, emerged victorious in this round, employing a strategy that paired their high-rated players with lower-rated ones.

As the competition narrowed to six teams vying for first place, the final round became increasingly intense. The "team doubles best/alternate shot" format, adopted from the National Collegiate Disc Golf Championships, created an exciting atmosphere as eight players from both teams competed together on a single card. This thrilling finale saw several teams with a chance to win the championship outright, but in the end, "Team Nooga's" strategic play and teamwork secured their victory.

The team members – Craig Stafford, Dylan Braseel, John Bailey, and Josh Childs – were crowned champions of the 2013 National Team Challenge. As the event organizers begin planning for next year's tournament on Labor Day weekend, they invite all teams to join them at the IDGC. With Innova Champion as a sponsor and a beautiful perpetual trophy basket donated by Innova, the stage is set for an even more exciting competition in 2014. The field will expand to 36 teams, offering more opportunities for disc golf enthusiasts to participate and showcase their skills.

This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/teams-ascend-at-the-idgc