Weatherman Makes History, Barela Wins Again at Des Moines Challenge

At the 2024 Disc Golf Pro Tour — TruBank Des Moines Challenge presented by DGA, a thrilling conclusion unfolded on Sunday. The tournament witnessed two remarkable milestones achieved by Anthony Barela and Emily Weatherman. For Barela, it marked his fourth Elite Series victory of the season, while for Weatherman, it was her first win as a chase card player in FPO Elite Series history.

Weatherman's path to success seemed unlikely just five strokes out of the lead entering Sunday's round. However, she proved her mettle with an ice-cold performance, featuring clutch putts on holes 17 and 18. This outstanding display earned her an Elite Series trophy, a testament to her growth as a player, having competed in only her first DGPT event just 122 days prior.

Young talents also took center stage at the Des Moines Challenge. Eliezra Midtlyng, a 16-year-old prodigy, carded a 4-under finale, ranking third-highest for the day and securing her best career finish on the PDGT tour in a tie for second alongside Natalie Ryan.

Meanwhile, Anthony Barela's bid for victory began with a strong start. He tied Adam Hammes after making a crucial 63-foot putt on hole 4, which kick-started his seven-birdie streak through the front nine. As the competition intensified, Gannon Buhr and Matthew Orum joined the fray, but Barela proved unbeatable, responding to pressure with four consecutive birdies on the back nine.

In the end, Barela emerged victorious for the fourth time this season, with Orum finishing a respectable second, two strokes behind the champion. Buhr secured third place as the field gears up for the upcoming European swing of the season.

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Emily Weatherman and Anthony Barela. Photos: DGPT

This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/news/chasing-it-down