Hot Start to 2023
Team Innova is having a stellar performance so far this year. We have had players on the podium at all three DGPT events so far this season. At last weekend’s Open at Austin, Calvin Heimburg and Jessica Weese both took 3rd place in their divisions to keep that streak alive.
The Open was a new stop for the Disc Golf Pro Tour this year, played at Harvey Penick Disc Golf Course in Austin, Texas. The golf-course-style venue challenged players with OB, greens guarded by trees, and a variety of shot shapes that are not found at any other courses on Tour. Though the players’ reviews of the course were mixed, the Open at Austin is likely to return next year, either with course changes or at an entirely new location.
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3 Events, 3 Podium Finishes for Vinny
Photo by DGPT
After two solid rounds, Calvin Heimburg was on the lead card, just one stroke behind first place. In that final round, Calvin Heimburg got off to a rough start to his round. He took a double bogey on hole one and threw three OB strokes within the first two holes. Just when Calvin managed to scrape his way back to even par, Calvin took another double bogey That put him two over through six holes. At this point in the round, Calvin sat in a tie for 32nd place.
Living up to his reputation as one of the most calm, collected, and composed players on tour, Calvin brushed off his early round troubles. He went on to shoot -9 through the next 12 holes. In that stretch, Calvin jumped 29 places up the leaderboard and onto the podium. He led the field for the event in Fairway Hits and Circle Two Hits in Regulation. In both the first and third round, Calvin took Eagle on hole 16, the 515-foot, Par 4.
Calvin Heimburg has finished on the podium of every DGPT event so far this season. With his 3rd place finish in Austin, Calvin further cemented himself as the leader in the DGPT Standings. He won the first Innova-sponsored event of the season at the Las Vegas Challenge. Let’s see if he can take down the next one too, the Innova Open at Texas States, coming up this weekend.
Top 10 at First DGPT Event of the Season
Joonah Heinänen, one of Finland’s best players, is soon to become a household name amongst disc golfers in the States. Joonah finished in 10th place at last weekend’s Open at Austin. The Open was Joonah’s first Pro Tour event of 2023 and his first event in the United States playing for Team Innova. Through two rounds, Joonah sat just 2 strokes off the lead. Innova is stoked to see Joonah already pull out an excellent finish and can’t wait to see how his season progresses as he settles into touring in the States.
Jessica Weese Shoots Hot Final Round to Make the Podium
Photo by DGPT
Jessica Weese is off to a strong start through the first three Pro Tour events of 2023. Her 3rd place finish last weekend at the Open at Austin moved her into 4th place of the DGPT Standings. This is her second Top 10 finish of the season and her first podium finish at an Elite Series event since 2021.
Jessica Weese led the field in Parked percentage for the event. She had the hot round on the final day at -5 with a 100% scramble rate. With that kind of impressive shooting, this could be Jessica’s year to win a DGPT Elite Series event.
Eveliina and Henna Fight Back into Top 10
Eveliina Salonen finished in a tie for 7th place. She shot a -4 in the final round, ending her event with a turkey on the last three holes, one of the harder stretches on the course. As always, Eveliina threw the disc as well as any player in the field. She led the event in Strokes Gained Tee to Green, Fairway Hits, and C1 Hits in Regulation. Fellow Star Team member and good friend, Henna Blomroos, also shot a -4 in the final round with a super solid putting performance. That round moved Henna 4 spots up the leaderboard and into the Top 10.
Pro Tour Finishes are Closer than Ever
The Open at Austin was the second event in a row to be named the closest event in Pro Tour history going into the final round. Winning a Pro Tour event can be life-changing in terms of contracts, growing your media presence, and self-confidence going into future events. With so many top players, so determined to take down each tournament, it is all the more impressive that Team Innova has managed to make the podium at every event so far this year. Tune in to the Disc Golf Network this weekend for the Innova Open at Texas States to find out if Calvin and Team Innova can keep the streak going. Check back in at Innovadiscs.com next week for Team Highlights and Statistics from the event.
