The Highest Achievement in Disc Golf
It is every professional disc golfer’s dream to win a Major. At last weekend’s Tim Selinske US Masters, Team Innova had seven athletes earn that honor. There were many storylines to watch across the different divisions, from dominant, wire-to-wire victories to nail-biting playoffs. Philo Brathwaite, won in MP40+, taking home his first Major win and the biggest payout of his career. Team Innova swept the podium in FP40+ with Ohn Scoggins taking 1st, Jen Allen in 2nd, and Holly Finley in 3rd. Five-time World Champion, Juliana Korver, dominated the FP50+ division, winning by 23 strokes. And Sandy Gast (FP55+), Peter Sontag (MP60+), Pam Reineke (FP60+), and Pete May (MP80+) each won their divisions by comfortable margins. Congratulations to Team Innova’s 2023 Tim Selinske US Masters Champions on your new Major titles!
Philo Brathwaite (MP40+)
Long-time Innova Star Team member, Philo Brathwaite, won the first Major title of his career at last weekend’s Tim Selinske US Masters, beating Cale Leiviska in a one hole playoff. The final round was a back and forth battle between the players on the lead card. Philo focused on his own game plan and did not worry about what his competitors were doing. That strategy left him with a 25-footer on 18, which he cashed to force the playoff. On the first hole of the playoff, Cale landed 40 short. Philo capitalized on the moment, stuck it close, and secured the victory. This win was the biggest payout Philo has ever received. He has called it one of the best moments in his disc golf career.
Philo Brathwaite is a disc golf icon. He is one of the sport’s greatest teachers, able to explain the ins and outs of technique, strategy, and mental game in a way accessible to everyone from beginners to top pros. He has become one of the most respected, beloved commentators disc golf has ever known. He has been one of disc golf’s top players, winning over $150,000 in a career of many big wins. He threw one of the greatest shots in the sport’s history, the Philobatross, at Milo McIver. Now, Philo Brathwaite has the Major title to cement his name in history as an all-time great.
Ohn Scoggins (FP40+)
Ohn Scoggins was in control of the FP40+ division at the 2023 Tim Selinske Masters from the first hole of the first round, to the 18th green of the final round. She won by 14-strokes in a wire-to-wire victory against a highly competitive field. This is Ohn’s 4th Major win, including a win last year at the 2022 Tim Selinske Masters.
Ohn averaged 998 rated disc golf for the tournament, shooting the highest rated round of the event for the women, a 1020-rated, -8, in the second round. She only had one bogie through the four-round event. As usual, Scoggins put on a fantastic putting performance for the weekend. In each round, she casually sank multiple C2 putts, making 45-footers look like business as usual.
Though she qualifies to play in the Masters division, Ohn Scoggins is one of the top FPO competitors in the field. She is the 3rd ranked player in the world by UDisc and currently sits in 3rd place in the DGPT points standings. So far this season, Ohn has already finished on the podium of 5 DGPT events and PDGA Majors in FPO.
She is one of the strongest putters in the world, leading the FPO division in C1 and C2 putting for the 2022 season. Ohn, in fact, led all of Team Innova, FPO and MPO, in combined putting percentages for 2022.
After accepting her Tim Selinske trophy, Ohn used her speech to grow the sport, encouraging the crowd to invite their friends out for a round. She is one of the biggest role models in disc golf. Her positive attitude and love of the game is contagious; her talent and motivation on the course are beyond impressive.
Jen Allen took 2nd and Holly Finley took 3rd in the FP40+ division of the Tim Selinske US Masters, making for an Innova podium sweep. Coming off her first DGPT victory at the 2023 Beaver State Fling and multiple other recent, FPO A-tier wins, Jen Allen is playing at the top of her game this season. This was Holly Finley’s second ever FP40+ tournament and her first podium finish in the division.
Juliana Korver (FP50+)
Star Team member and five-time PDGA World Champion, Juliana Korver, handily won the FP50+ division by a 23 stroke margin over 2nd place. This was Juliana’s 10th Major victory across all divisions and the 241st PDGA win of her career. That makes JK one of the winningest players in disc golf history.
Though she competed last weekend in the FP50+ division, Juliana still regularly competes (and excels) on the Disc Golf Pro Tour in the FPO division. JK is currently in the Top 25 of the 2023 PDGA US Tour Rankings. She remains one of the most accurate throwers in the FPO, tied for 2nd for 2023 in Fairway Hit percentage.
Juliana’s return to the sport in the past few seasons has been a thrill to watch. Whether it’s competing on the Pro Tour, doing commentary, or learning other disc disciplines, wherever JK focuses her energy, she succeeds.
Sandy Gast (FP55+)
Innova Masters Team member, Sandy Gast, secured her 8th age-protected Major title, winning the FP55+ division by 19 strokes. Sandy has been competing for over 30 years. She has played over 250 events, 93% of which she finished in the top 10. She has 44 career wins with her first A-tier win in FPO and her most recent A-tier win in FPO over 23 years apart. That is a long time to stay at the top of your game!
Peter Sontag (MP60+)
Peter Sontag won the MP60+ division of the Tim Selinske US Masters, averaging a hot 989 through the four-round tournament. This was Sontag’s first Major victory and the biggest payout of his career. His first PDGA event was in 1986 and his first PDGA win was in 1988. Over 35 years later, Sontag is playing as well as ever. In 25 years of existing ratings details, Peter Sontag has less than 40 points of variance from his lowest rating to his highest. His current rating of 966 is in the same range as always. That kind of consistency through multiple decades is rare and commendable.
Pam Reineke (FP60+)
Pam Reineke defended her title in the FP60+ division, winning by 27 strokes. This was Pam’s 8th Major victory and 95th PDGA win, making for a 37% win rate over the course of her career. Last season, she won the 2022 Masters World Championship in FP60+, the United States Women’s Disc Golf Championship in FP60+, and the 2022 Tim Selinske US Masters in FP60+. That was a clean sweep for the 2023 season for Pam at PDGA Age-protected majors. What an accomplishment.
Pete May (MP80+)
Pete May won his 13th Major title last weekend in the MP80+ division of the Tim Selinske Masters. After the first round, Pete was down two strokes to competitor Barry Fischer. But Pete came out in the second round on fire, shooting the hot round of the tournament for his division and taking the lead. Through the final two rounds, Pete outplayed his competitors, widened his lead, and took home the win.
Last year, Pete May clinched his seventh Professional PDGA World Championship title, making him one of the top 10 winningest players in PDGA World Championships history. May was deservedly inducted into the Disc Golf Hall of Fame in 2022 as well. Since 2011, Pete May has won a world title every year that the World Championships have been held. Four of these were amateur titles and the rest were professional titles in MP70, MP75, and MP80. Pete is an inspiration to masters players everywhere; take care of your body and put in the work, and you can keep winning well into your 80s.
Tim Selinske’s Legacy
The US Masters Disc Golf Championships were renamed in honor of Innova Co-founder and PDGA Hall of Famer, Tim Selinske, who passed away in 2009. Tim was the mastermind behind the original US Masters Disc Golf Championships and was the first Tournament Director of the event. More than that, Tim Selinske was one of the most devoted, best-spirited promoters of early disc sports. Tim served as the Innova General Manager and spokesman. His bright smile and unshakably-positive attitude made him the perfect face to represent our sport. In his time, he ran countless tournaments, always striking a balance between competition and fun. He was an integral part of the growth of the sport of disc golf and the company Innova. We renamed this PDGA Major to the Tim Selinske Masters to honor just how influential a figure Tim was for Disc Golf.
Disc Golf Masters Tour Presented by Innova
The 2023 Tim Selinske US Masters is a tour stop on the new Disc Golf Masters Tour Presented by Innova. This is a series of 23 of the most prestigious and competitive Masters events across the country, with points awarded to players based on their finishes at each event. Players will be invited to the DGMT Finale at North Cove DGC at the end of the year, based on point totals and results throughout the season at DGMT events. Check out the current point standings for DGMT on Statmando.
