DGPT Enters the Postseason
The 2023 LWS Open at Idlewild was the final DGPT standard Elite event of the year. From here on out, its DGPT Playoffs and PDGA Majors until the end of the season. Team Innova athletes Calvin Heimburg and Ohn Scoggins earned second place finishes for the second weekend in a row. Kat Mertsch and Jeremy Koling each placed in the top ten. And Joel Freeman concluded an impressive, 57-event cash streak at DGPT Elite and PDGA Major tournaments.
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From Chase Card to Podium
Ohn Scoggins finds the podium no matter where she stands going into the final round. At the LWS Open at Idlewild, she shot the hot score at -5 on the last day to jump five spots up the leaderboard into 2nd place. She was 2nd in Strokes Gained Putting, 3rd in C1x Putting, and 3rd in Birdie percentage. She had an especially great final round on the putting green, shooting 100% in C1 and 67% from C2.
Photo by DGPT
This is Scoggins’ 14th Elite Series and Major podium, the second most ever without a win. She moved one spot up the DGPT Point Standings into 4th place. Ohn now sits less than 2 points behind 3rd. Last year, she earned a bye to the semi-finals of the DGPT Point Standings with a 4th place end-of-year ranking. She hopes to repeat or improve on that accomplishment this season.
At the upcoming DGPT Playoff events, points count for all players; there is no opportunity to drop these tournaments if you play poorly. That puts a premium on consistency at the end of the season which should allow Ohn to keep moving up the leaderboard.
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Mertsch Continues Breakout Season
Kat Mertsch secured her 12th top ten finish on tour this year, tying for 9th place at the 2023 LWS Open. She currently sits in 8th place of the DGPT Point Standings. With two wins at DGPT events and one Major podium, Kat is enjoying a breakout season.
More Rounds Means Better Odds for Vinny Victories
Calvin Heimburg has been in the conversation for the win of every DGPT event of the year. Last weekend in Idlewild was no exception. He took 2nd place to reigning USDGC Champ, Gannon Buhr, after a final round in which both players shredded. Calvin’s 60 footer for Eagle on Hole 16 in that final round gave a glimmer of hope for the comeback, but there weren’t enough holes left to overcome Gannon.
Photo by DGPT
Calvin led the field in Strokes Gained Tee to Green, was 2nd in C1 and C2 Hits in Regulation, and was 2nd in Parked percentage. This was his 11th podium at an Elite Series event this year. If Calvin can place in the top three at the final four events of the year, he will tie the most ever podiums at Elite and Major events in a single season.
As we move into the final tournaments of the year, all remaining events will be four or five rounds. Longer events make it more likely that the best player in the field will rise to the top by the time the final putt drops. Calvin Heimburg has been the number one ranked player all season. He will excel at these longer format tournaments.
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Big Jerm Doing Big Things
One of everyone’s favorite disc golf personalities, Jeremy Koling, took his first DGPT top ten of the season at Idlewild. For any new players who know Big Jerm more for his funny, insightful commentary than his play, let his performance last weekend teach you that Jerm is one of the best throwers disc golf has ever known.
Earlier this year, Jeremy Koling won both the Japan Open and the Oviedo Open in Spain. He is fast-becoming one of the most active and influential international ambassadors for our sport.
Joel Freeman with Longest Active Cash Streak
Innova Star Team member Joel Freeman’s streak of 57 straight cashes at DGPT Elite events and PDGA Majors came to an end last weekend. After Nate Sexton’s historic run ended earlier this season, Joel became the player on tour with the longest active cash streak. He had never missed cash at a DGPT event or PDGA Major before the LWS Open. Joel’s consistency over the past five years in an increasingly competitive field has been exceptional. Now teammate Calvin Heimburg maintains the longest active cash streak at Elite Events and Majors at 32 straight tournaments.
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Welcome to the Most Exciting Stretch of the Year
The Disc Golf Pro Tour season is entering the home stretch. The LWS Open at Idlewild was the final standard Elite event of the year. We are now headed into the first DGPT playoff of 2023 at the Discraft Great Lakes Open. Once DGLO points are entered into the books, the top 72 MPO competitors & 36 FPO competitors in the DGPT Points Standings will be invited to register the 2023 MVP Open. At these playoff events, points earned will count for all players with no opportunity to drop the tournament should you play poorly. That makes the final events of the year the most important.
In addition to year-end DGPT points on the line, the two biggest titles in our sport are yet to be awarded. The PDGA World Championships is just two weeks away, then all eyes will turn to USDGC. Catch the action live on Disc Golf Network each weekend. Visit Innovadiscs.com for tournament recaps, tips, and Innova news.
