ROCK HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA - Winthrop University will welcome top disc golfers from around the world to compete this week for the U.S. Disc Golf Championship (USDGC) that is now in its 21st year.
Competitors from all over the country will meet at the “Gold Course” Oct. 2-5 at the Winthrop Coliseum.
Organizers said the players to watch this year at the Winthrop Recreational Complex are:
Paul McBeth, Huntington Beach, California — five-time World Champion, two-time U.S. Champion
Nate Sexton, Corvallis, Oregon — 2017 U.S. Champion
Ricky Wysocki, Fort Mill, South Carolina — two-time World Champion
Paige Pierce, Plano, Texas — five-time World Champion
Pay attention to McBeth’s play. Organizers said they might need to call Paul McBeth, Paul McSweep, because talk of major event sweeps center around him more than anyone else nowadays. McBeth, the defending U.S. Champion, has another chance of capturing all of disc golf’s majors if he wins the USDGC. It’s the third time in seven seasons he’s had this incredible opportunity.
Another player to watch is Ken Climo, who will take on the Gold Course one more time. This will be his first full PDGA
round since playing in the Throw Down the Mountain event in Florida in 2017. A nagging
hip injury has prevented the 12-time World Champion and 5-time U.S. Champion from
competing the last few years.
Viewers can enjoy enhanced disc golf experiences at Winthrop and online. Check out
the opportunities here. Also follow the tournament on social media with this hashtag
#USDGC2019.
The event's success wouldn't be possible without the numerous volunteers who travel from around the country to help put on the championship, said Jonathan Poole, event director.
Winthrop's course continues to be recognized as one of the best in the country, he said. Although the course has seen minor changes each year, the course presents a combination of narrow fairways, lots of out-of-bounds area, elevated baskets and plenty of water features. Known to be physically, emotionally and mentally challenging, the Winthrop course allows for creativity in shot making and a unique focus on shot placement, rather than on pure distance alone.
Single day tickets are priced at $10 and a VIP ticket for the four days is $25.
For more information about the upcoming championship, check out USDGC.com or e-mail Poole, event director, at jonathan.poole@innovadiscgolf.com.
