Tribute to Disc Golf Legends at The Memorial Championship
Date Published
This year's Memorial Championship was a poignant reminder of the impact one person can have on a sport and community. The tournament, which marked its 25th anniversary, paid tribute to Sue Ginnelly, a disc golf pioneer who co-founded the event with her husband Dan. For over two decades, the Ginnellys worked tirelessly to build the world of disc golf in Arizona from the ground up. Sue's battle with stomach cancer was well-documented, and it's heartbreaking to think that she won't be there to see another year of competition.
The course at Vista Del Camino was a fitting tribute to Sue's memory. A large photograph of her smiling face sat just left of the first tee pad, surrounded by flowers. It was a powerful reminder of the impact she had on the sport and the lives of those who knew her.
On the course, the weather was near perfect, with only a gentle breeze to contend with. However, the challenging layout proved to be no easy task for even the top players. The grass in Arizona may look brown and dead at this time of year, but it's actually rock hard and unforgiving. Players had to carefully judge their drives to account for the skip that can occur when discs land on the dry terrain.
In the women's Open division, Paige Pierce put on a masterclass display, shooting a scorching 54 on the challenging Vista XL layout. Her unofficial rating of 1036 was a testament to her skill and consistency. Valarie Jenkins, a three-time world champion, finished just one stroke behind in second place.
In the men's Open division, Nikko Locastro took top honors with an impressive round that included birdies on 16 out of 18 holes. Ricky Wysocki finished just two strokes behind in second place, while Gregg Barsby rounded out the top three.
The competition was fierce across all divisions, with many players posting high scores. The Memorial Championship is always a highlight of the disc golf calendar, and this year's event was no exception. With its challenging course, perfect weather, and top-notch competition, it's little wonder that this tournament continues to draw in players from around the world.
For those who missed out on the action, you can catch up on photos from the day on Flickr, or watch live streaming video courtesy of DiscGolfPlanet.tv. Follow the action on Twitter via @pdgalive and get the latest scores right here on PDGA.com.
This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/kick-off