Tuscaloosa Pro Classic Shines with Thrilling Competition and Course Challenges

The Tuscaloosa Pro Classic, a PDGA B-Tier event held at Bowers Park on November 16-17, 2013, proved to be one of the most exciting tournaments in Alabama history. With a pro purse of over $3,000 and some of the best players in the country competing for the top spot, the competition was fierce.

The men's open division boasted an impressive lineup, featuring returning champion Cameron Colglazier, Will Schusterick, and six-time Northern California Player of the Year Gregg Barsby. Joining them from the University of Alabama Men's Disc Golf Team was local phenom Stewart Garner, representing the Tuscaloosa Disc Golf Club.

Bowers Park itself presented a unique challenge to competitors, with its many elevation changes, old-growth trees, and tight fairways requiring precision drives off the tee. A single errant drive could make par nearly impossible on these narrow fairways.

The Tuscaloosa Tourism & Sports Commission (TTSC) was the main sponsor of the event, working diligently to establish Tuscaloosa as a premier destination for professional disc golf tournaments. Utilizing Tourism Enhancement Funds, Bowers Park underwent significant improvements this year, and two new disc golf courses were developed at Palmore Park and Ol' Colony Golf Complex.

"We are committed to positioning Tuscaloosa as a destination for Professional Disc Golf," said Susan C. West, CEO/President of the TTSC. "This sport is growing rapidly, and we believe that the economic impact will be substantial. We're honored to be part of a team bringing these tournaments to our community."

Saturday's play was marked by close competition, with Will Schusterick's 1042-rated round of 47 (-8) leading the field. Cameron Colglazier's 1033-rated round of 48 (-7) came just short of the lead, while Gregg Barsby finished at (-2) 52.

The first impressions of Bowers Park were overwhelmingly positive from competitors. "I was impressed by how fast the course has developed," said Will Schusterick. "It's a tough course that will test all aspects of your game."

Second-round scores saw all top players shooting under par, but Sunday's final round proved to be a different story for Schusterick. Starting with a bogey and several errant drives put him five strokes off the lead, which he was unable to recover.

Cameron Colglazier, however, pulled away by the ninth hole with an incredible score of 25 on the front nine. His practice session the day before had clearly made an impact, as he scorched the black tees with a (-7) 53, securing his spot as the winner.

"The black (pro) tees make it seem like a new course to me," said Colglazier. "I had to adjust some of my lines from the Spring tournament for the Black tees. It's really nice to play a tightly wooded course."

PDGA Hall of Fame Member Tom Monroe, who attended the event, offered insight into the level of play by the scoring leaders: "This generation throws further and puts better than golfers in the 80s. To be among the top players, it's almost mandatory to throw 400' with accuracy and hit 50' putts."

The Tuscaloosa Pro Classic demonstrated the growing popularity of disc golf and showcased the unique challenges that Bowers Park presents to competitors.

This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/braving-bowers-park