Women's Disc Golf Tournament Soars to Success in Rural Georgia
Date Published
The weekend of May 7th saw a group of 25 determined women converge on Flyboy Aviation in rural Georgia for an all-inclusive disc golf tournament. Hosted by Kelly Leggette, his family, and their neighbors, the event was marked by exceptional hospitality and support. The participants were treated to mouth-watering home-cooked meals, thrilling air shows performed by Kelly himself, and breathtaking course conditions that left them eager to take on the challenges of the 27-hole layout.
As it turned out, there was a love-hate relationship among the women with regards to the original course, which measured 8848 feet with a par of 68. While some found it grueling, others were thrilled by its complexity and beauty. On day one, Courtney McCoy emerged as the leader with a five-stroke advantage over Sarah Hokom, who was tied with Juliana Korver for third place just two strokes behind.
The women's competition continued to heat up throughout the weekend, with the addition of a pro-am best shot doubles format on Saturday. This innovative pairing allowed players to combine their skills and take turns playing each other's shots. The winning team, consisting of Sarah Hokom and Sherri Tyler, secured the custom double's champion wood minis from Spitfire Minis after achieving an impressive score of 48 (-6) on the short course.
The tournament organizers went above and beyond to ensure that every participant felt welcome and included. Suellyn and Lillian, Kelly's wife and mother respectively, prepared a delectable BBQ dinner featuring pulled pork, grilled chicken with chipotle raspberry glaze, roasted potatoes, broccoli, and strawberry shortcake for dessert. The evening was filled with laughter, camaraderie, and friendly competition as the women engaged in Kan-Jam, tossed boomerangs (with Kelly and Phil), or simply relaxed after a long day of walking nearly 4 miles and playing 37 holes of disc golf.
On Mother's Day Sunday morning, the final round got underway amidst a gentle breeze that added an extra layer of difficulty to the predominantly open course. Courtney McCoy stunned everyone with her remarkable 43 (-11) score, shattering the course record and earning her the title of pro champion. Sarah Hokom shot an impressive 45 (-9), highlighted by a 369' skip ace on hole 10.
Other notable winners included Jo Taylor (pro masters), Debbie Scott (advanced after a playoff with Suzanne Smith), and Kari Dianich (intermediate). Faith Arthur, daughter of Phil Arthur, took home the recreational division title. Throughout the weekend, participants were treated to exceptional CTPs from Vibram Disc Golf, Off Axis Designs, the IDGC, Innova, Discraft, Mr. Disc Golf, Disc Stalker, and others.
To cap off an unforgettable experience, a "Mother's Day Mother Lode" was on offer – a Fade tournament bag containing 11 discs, a mini, a rulebook, sunscreen, a first aid kit, and a choice of a CE disc. Each woman took turns attempting to land their throw from a special tee towards a basket surrounded by trees, with Debbie Scott landing her disc mere inches from the pin.
The weekend concluded with an air show and lunch, followed by awards and well-deserved recognition for all participants. As the women departed Flyboy Aviation, it was clear that the experience had created lasting bonds and memories among them – making it an event to cherish for years to come.
This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/flygirls-at-flyboy-2011