The Spring Fling is a “B” tier PDGA qualifier tourney for the Am Worlds to be held in Michigan this year. Players here competed in one of seven different divisions delineated by either age or player rating. The highest division contested was the Advanced Division.
This year's all amateur bash was won by three time Advanced champion Jonathon Maki. His dad John Maki made it a family affair by winning the Grandmaster (men over 50) division. Traveling veteran Pam Vaughn won the women’s division. Drake Avila shooting a tournament best -8 (player rating 990) in the first round held on to win the Intermediates. The ever steady Patrick Franklin won the Recreational division by a stroke. The Am Masters (men over 40) was won by local Mike Lamb. And the amazing nine year old Xalen Nash crushed the junior division by 22 strokes.
This event is one of only three tournaments each year here at Morley played on a closed course. This event which included lunch provided by Amplified Ale and Beer Gardens was a great improvement based on player comments over the anticipated Costco pizza usually served at this event.
The player package also included a tourney T-shirt (artwork by Chris Dilloway) and two mini’s as well as entry to the free drawing where over 60 items (hats, shirts, bags etc.) were given away to entrants who remained after the end of play and before awards.
The tourney was played on two entirely different layouts with all holes being changed between rounds while the players ate lunch. At least 40% of all divisions won prizes including two portable Discraft Chain Star baskets, two Latitude Luxury E3 Disc Golf bags and a Dynamic Disc Ranger Disc Golf Bag all as first place prizes in various divisions.
Prizes were donated by the Morley Field Disc Golf Pro Shop, Innova Disc Golf, Discraft, Dynamic Distribution, MVP discs, Gateway Discs, and Legacy Discs.
There were two aces in the tourney Clint Calvin aced hole 13 and Michael Sheridan hole 16 in the first round.
This year we had a different entry arrangement. Capitulating to modern efficiencies we had online entries available for 60 potential entrants on DGU. These went fast. We held back 35 entries that had to be filled in by hand and turned into the shop. These lasted two weeks before filling. Allowing all those individuals who are local but not necessarily aware that SoCal tourneys with online registration usually fill within a few days a chance to still get into the tournament. I think the system worked fine we’ll do it again next year in a similar fashion.
I’d like to thank all the sponsors and staff: Mac, Eric, EJ, Joanne, Alex and Oscar. Also all the shop staff: Tyler, Mitch, Tom, Chris, Chris again, Garrett, Jesse, Chet, Wic and Mike.
Till next year… Z ya