Zoo Town Open Qualifier Brings Top Pros to Montana

The Zoo Town Open (ZTO) has long been a highlight of the disc golf calendar in Montana. This year's tournament was no exception, as it not only marked the first time the event had been designated an A-Tier but also served as a crucial qualifier for the 2011 United States Disc Golf Championship. The June 11-12 event in Missoula drew a talented field of players, with 13 ultimately earning spots at the prestigious championship.

Among those who qualified were top pros Ben Squires (-13), Dana Vicich (-9), Shane Anderson (-7), and Tom Stephens (-6). Pro players Jesse Garcia (-5), Jered Ogren (-5), Jon Graff (-5), Tim Vache (-4), Ron Pannesi (-4), Brian Bjortomt (-3), Harley Robinson (-3), Clyde Murr (-3), and Craig Nielsen (-3) also made the cut. The inclusion of amateurs Nate Sexton, who was exempt from qualifying due to his back-to-back open division wins, and tournament director Christian Dietrich further added to the excitement.

The ZTO served as the Region 5 qualifier, which encompasses a vast area including Montana, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, Alaska, and Wyoming. The qualification process for the USDGC is based on a Performance Leaderboard, which ranks players according to their projected scores on each course. Players with PDGA ratings of 850 or higher who compete in the same course layout as the open division are eligible.

The Zoo Town Open was a resounding success, filling its quota of 100 players within an impressive 16 hours. According to tournament director Christian Dietrich, this is a testament to the event's growing popularity and reputation as a must-attend for disc golf enthusiasts. "This is the tournament to come to," he said.

One notable story emerged from the ZTO: Craig Nielsen's journey to qualify for the USDGC was nothing short of remarkable. The Hillsboro, Oregon native traveled over 500 miles to participate in the event and ultimately secured his spot through a tiebreaker with three other players.

The success of the Zoo Town Open has helped raise the profile of disc golf in Montana, with local media outlets providing extensive coverage. The event's organizers are thrilled by this development, which they attribute to the city's college town atmosphere and proximity to quality courses. As Dietrich noted, "Those good vibrations can be felt all the way back in Rock Hill, S.C." – a sentiment that will undoubtedly carry over into October at Winthrop Gold, where the 2011 USDGC will take place.

This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/usdgc-zoo-town-open