A Weekend to Remember
The first Elite+ event of the season, the Open at Austin, brought drama, tears, and elite-level disc golf. With four rounds split between Harvey Penick and the newly introduced Sprinkle Valley, the tournament made headlines for more than just great play. Let’s break down everything you need to know from the weekend.
The Controversy Surrounding Hole 18
Sprinkle Valley made its debut at the 2023 USWDGC, but this year, a modified Hole 18 became the talk of the community. The finishing hole sparked outrage, with players racking up massive scores, leading Drew Gibson to publicly call out the design, stating, “No hole should be having that many bad scores by the best players in the world.”
The Fallout
Disc golf commentator Terry Miller poked fun at the situation, while Eric Oakley voiced concerns that the hole detracted from the rest of the course. The backlash was so strong that Mint Discs, the event organizers, released a statement explaining their intent. They emphasized that the course was designed to challenge players, not humiliate them, but acknowledged the need to find a balance between difficulty and fairness.
The data backed up the frustration: the hole averaged nearly three strokes over par and bogey-or-worse outcomes occurred 86% of the time in the FPO field. Kristin Latte, one of the sport’s top players, was visibly shaken after poor performance across two days.
FPO: Holyn Handley Claims Her First Elite Win
After surviving Sprinkle Valley, the FPO field moved to Harvey Penick, where Holyn Handley made a statement.
- She closed out her third round with nine straight birdies, shooting a 1029-rated, 9-under-par round.
- Kristin Tattar remained in the hunt with a solid 4-under round, setting the stage for a final-day showdown.
- Despite Handley giving up multiple two-stroke swings, she maintained her composure, holding off Tattar for her first Elite Series win.
MPO: Niklas Anttila Goes Back-to-Back
Over on the MPO side, Adam Hammes and Kyle Klein set the pace early, both shooting 12-under at Sprinkle Valley. But as the tournament progressed, the leaderboard tightened, leading to a thrilling final round.
The Final Round Showdown
- Kyle Klein’s Lead Evaporates: After parring the first eight holes and missing four Circle 1 putts, Klein lost his lead by Hole 9.
- Niklas Anttila’s Hot Start: The defending champion came out firing, birdieing his first five holes and immediately closing the gap.
- Gannon Buhr Joins the Party: An eagle on Hole 11 put him in contention, but an OB approach on Hole 14 ended his chances.
- Ezra Robinson’s Late Charge: Dressed in his signature ‘Peach Pirate’ drip, Robinson caught fire, briefly holding the lead before falling back.
As the round neared its end, the battle came down to Klein and Anttila. Both players birdied Hole 17 in dramatic fashion, setting up a tense finish on Hole 18.
The Playoff
After Anttila hit a tree on his final approach, he would match Klein who already kicked into the rough. Both players settling for par, a playoff was set.
Returning to Hole 18, Klein’s drive was saved by a fortunate tree kick, while Anttila executed a pure shot, setting himself up for the win. After Klein’s obstructed Circle 2 putt missed, Niklas secured his second straight Open at Austin title.
What’s Next?
With no DGPT event next weekend, fans can catch coverage from Persimmon Ridge on the Go Throw channel. Or, if you’d rather, subscribe to our channel, and we’ll recap everything for you!
