Making History in North Carolina
Team Innova had three new Major Champions crowned at last weekend’s 2023 US Women’s Disc Golf Championship in Burlington, North Carolina. Jen Allen (FP40) and Pam Reineke (FP60) both built healthy leads in the first round which they widened as the event went on. Junior Team member MJ Gager (FJ12) came back from a four-stroke deficit through the first two rounds to ultimately win by four.
In FPO, Team Innova took all places 2nd-6th. Those five athletes, Scoggins, Blomroos, Salonen, King, and Weese, were in the mix for the win until part way through the final round. Huge congratulations to Kristin Tattar on making disc golf history. She is the first FPO player to win all four Majors in a single season.
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Record-Setting Field and Payout
Photo by DGPT
The 2023 USWDGC had the largest field in the tournament’s history at 337 participants across all divisions. To match the largest field, you need the largest payout. This event blew payout expectations away, providing a pro purse over $100,000.
DGN viewership tells us fan interest in the FPO division is just as high as in MPO. As we see more parity in payouts, contracts, and viewership, we hope to see our women’s divisions continue to grow in participation.
Jennifer Allen Defends FP40 Title
Jennifer Allen defended her USWDGC title in FP40, winning the event by an 11-stroke margin. Her 970-rated opening round was the only under-par score at the Regulator in the division. This is Jen’s third Major title.
Allen still regularly competes in FPO and even took down her first Pro Tour event in FPO this season, the 2023 Beaver State Fling. She has been at the top of the sport for over two decades.
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Pam Reineke Earns Largest Payout of Career
Pam Reineke defended her FP60 title, becoming back-to-back USWDGC Champion. She shot a 930-rated, -7 in the opening round to give herself a commanding lead. She widened that lead to 12 by the time she tapped out on the final hole. This is Pam’s fifth Major victory. She earned the largest payout in a career spanning over 30 years of nearly $2,000.
Photo by Justin Anderson
MJ Gager Becomes 2x Major Champ; Shoots Her Hottest Round Yet
MJ Gager is one of Team Innova’s most promising young athletes. She won the FJ12 division of the 2023 USWDGC in a back-and-forth competition between multiple athletes. MJ was down four strokes after the second round. She came out to Cedarock in the third round determined to change that. She shot a smoking -6, with an eagle on Hole 8, to move back into a tie for the lead. That third round came in at 909 rated, the best of MJ’s career! After a great final round, she won the event with a 4 stroke lead. This was the second major win of MJ’s career and her first Major win in the FJ12 division.
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Even Injury Won’t Stop Ohn Scoggins
In FPO, Ohn Scoggins took 2nd place at the 2023 USWDGC despite recovering from an elbow injury. She shot the hot round of the tournament on the final day at -8, putting pressure on Kristin Tattar. Ohn was 2nd in the field in Birdie percentage, C2 Putting, and Strokes Gained Putting. Other than her DNF at Worlds due to injury, Ohn hasn’t finished off the podium at an Elite or Major since Music City Open in early April.
Blomroos Battles to the Finish
The ending margin between Henna Blomroos and Kristin Tattar does not even close to tell the story of last weekend. Henna was pushing for the win of this event well into the final round. She was tied with Krisitn through 8 holes of the last round. Henna led the tournament for the majority of the first three days. She was 1st in Parked percentage, 2nd in C1 and C2 Hits in Regulation, 2nd in Strokes Gained Tee to Green, and 3rd in Scramble Rate.
She finished in 3rd place, earning the 6th Major podium of her career. That is the most Major podiums without a win in the FPO. Out of 13 Major starts, she has only finished outside the top 10 once (she took 11th). With her experience and skill, she will clinch the Major win soon.
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The Best Thrower in the Field
Eveliina Salonen handily led the field off the tee last weekend. She was 1st in Strokes Gained Tee to Green and C1 Hits in Regulation, and was 2nd in Parked percentage. Those stats earned a share of 4th place overall. Other than in one round, Eveliina looked solid on the putting green. In the final round, she hit an impressive 75% of her C1x putts. If she can putt like that at TPWDGC, Eveliina has a real chance to win.
Photo by DGPT
Photo by DGPT
King Leads in Birdie Percentage
2022 USWDGC Champ, Hailey King, also tied for 4th, just one week after her win at the MVP Open. She led the field in Birdie percentage, was 2nd in Parked percentage, and 3rd in C1 Hits in Regulation. If just two or three tough holes had played out differently for Hailey in the second and third round, she could have become two-time champion of this event.
Jessica Weese Makes Moves on Final Day
Jessica Weese took 6th place at the 2023 USWDGC, her best finish at a PDGA Major since 2018. She shot a -6 final round to jump four spots up the leaderboard. That push on the last day secured Jessica her biggest cash of the season at nearly $3,000.
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Throw Pink Women’s Disc Golf Championship
The FPO has just one week off before the Throw Pink Women’s Disc Golf Championship, an event fast-emerging as the most sought after title in the women’s division. Held at the storied Winthrop University, TPWDGC runs alongside the United States Disc Golf Championship, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. Though TPWDGC is not yet a Major, it already has that feel. Players consider this event as important as any other in the year.
Tickets for TPWDGC and the 25th Anniversary USDGC are still available. Tickets include access to both competitions, live music each night, and much more. This event promises to be the best spectator experience at a disc golf tournament ever. For those who can’t make it in person, tune in live on the Disc Golf Network. Visit Innovadiscs.com for tournament recaps, tips, and team news.
