Young Guns Take Center Stage at Des Moines Disc Golf Challenge
Date Published
The Disc Golf Pro Tour (DGPT) continued its thrilling season with a dramatic finish at the 2024 TruBank Des Moines Challenge presented by DGA. Anthony Barela added another elite victory to his growing resume, while 18-year-old Emily Weatherman made history as the first FPO Elite Series chase card winner.
Weatherman's calm and collected performance under pressure was on full display as she carded a bogey-free 8-under round on Sunday. Despite entering the final day five strokes behind the lead, she rose to the occasion with clutch putts on holes 17 and 18, securing her place in Elite Series history just 122 days after competing in her first DGPT event.
The young phenom's impressive display was matched by Eliezra Midtlyng, who turned in a scorching 4-under round for her best career finish in the DGPT. She shared second place with Natalie Ryan, following an intense battle to the wire.
Meanwhile, Anthony Barela made it clear he would not be left behind as he sprinted ahead of Adam Hammes by two strokes on the first day. A stunning 63-foot make on hole 4 marked a promising start for Barela, who continued to hold his own throughout the round. Gannon Buhr and Matthew Orum also kept pace with the leaders before fading in the back nine.
Barela's steady nerves paid off as he secured four consecutive birdies on the back nine, leaving Hammes and the rest of the field in his wake. Orum finished a respectable second, two strokes behind Barela, while Buhr rounded out the top three.
The thrilling conclusion marks a significant turning point for both Barela and Weatherman, cementing their places among the DGPT's elite players. The European swing of the season is next on the horizon, with fans eagerly anticipating more heart-stopping action from these young stars.
This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/news/chasing-it-down