Prime Conditions for Drama Down the Stretch
Ripping winds, sloped greens, and the tightest field in DGPT history – we had all the ingredients for a nail-biter at the 2024 Jonesboro Open. Going into the final round of MPO, six players were within two strokes of the lead. In the end, it all came down to hole 18.
Team Innova’s Calvin Heimburg took 2nd place, his fifth consecutive year taking either 1st or 2nd at Jonesboro. In the FPO, Eveliina Salonen secured 3rd place, her third podium already this season.
Five Straight Years in the Top 2
Vinny loves the Disc Side of Heaven course. For five years in a row, he has taken either 1st or 2nd on the iconic Jonesboro track. He went into last weekend the back-to-back returning Champion.
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This year, Calvin faced off against the DGPT Points leader so far this season, Anthony Barela. After a crazy run of -6 through five holes from AB, Calvin and Anthony stepped up to hole 18 tied for the lead. Barela stuck the island green, Calvin found the OB, and the tournament was decided.
Calvin earned his 2nd place finish with a well-rounded weekend of driving and putting. Vinny was top 10 in the field in both C1 and C2 Hits in Regulation. He was also 3rd in the field in Strokes Gained C1x.
Calvin is still recovering from an injury that is limiting his ability to throw forehands. Even without a forehand, he has managed to finish in the top five of the last three Pro Tour events he has played. Once Calvin is back to 100%, expect to see him back in the winners’ circle.
Salonen’s Stellar Start to the Season
In the FPO, Eveliina Salonen continued a blistering start to her 2024 season, taking 3rd place at the 2024 Jonesboro Open. This is Eveliina’s fifth top 10 out of just six events so far this year. That includes her win at the DGPT season opener, the Chess.com Invitational, and 2nd place at the United States Women’s Disc Golf Championship, a PDGA Major.
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By the start of the final round of the 2024 Jonesboro Open, Kristin Tattar was already so far in front of the field that the real battle was for 2nd place. Eveliina went into the round five strokes behind Holyn Handley in 2nd, but quickly closed that gap. By hole 9, Eveliina had taken the lead over Holyn. From then on, it was a race to the finish. Holyn ultimately edged out Eveliina in the final two holes, beating her by a single stroke.
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Eveliina was 2nd in the field (behind Kristin) in almost every throwing statistic. She was 2nd in Fairway Hits, Parked percentage, C1 and C2 Hits in Regulation, and Strokes Gained Tee to Green. Overall, Eveliina has also been having a much better season on the putting green than last year. Currently, she sits in 2nd place of the DGPT Point Standings, just 2 points off the lead.
Top Team Innova Performances
Even when she is off her game, Ohn Scoggins still finds herself in the top 10. After a tough opening round, Ohn fought her way 18 spots up the leaderboard to earn 10th place. She was 2nd in the field in C2 putting. Scoggins is yet to miss a top 10 this season and currently sits in the number one spot of the DGPT Point Standings.
Hailey King finished in a tie for 10th place as well. She had one of the big highlights of the weekend, a 123-foot throw in for birdie on hole 9 in the second round.
Jen Allen had her best finish on Tour so far this year, taking 13th place. She was 3rd in the field in C2 Hits in Regulation. Emily Beach also had her best event of the year so far, tying for 14th.
In the MPO, Garrett Gurthie tied for 16th.
Two Weeks Until the Champions Cup
We are just two weeks away from the first MPO Major and the second FPO Major event of the year, the 2024 PDGA Champions Cup. Taking place at disc golf’s most difficult venue, the Northwood Black course in Morton, Illinois, players will be tested on their shot-shaping through the woods and their ability to rise to the occasion of the added pressure of the Major. Both Calvin Heimburg in MPO and Ohn Scoggins in FPO are among the most talented players in their divisions yet to win an Open Major title. Tune in to the Disc Golf Network to see if the Champions Cup is where that changes. Visit Innovadiscs.com for tournament recaps, tips, Innova news, and more.
