Owensboro’s most famed disc golf tradition will continue Saturday with the Daviess County Open set to take place at Yellow Creek Park. This year will mark the 16th consecutive tournament, a staple in the community of frisbee-loving athletes.
The tournament will tee off at 8 a.m. with a shotgun start and will feature two rounds of 27 holes, utilizing all of the disc golf holes that Yellow Creek Park has to offer. The park’s course, designed by disc golf legend H.B. Clark, has been around since 2004. Clark has been responsible for designing over 100 courses in 11 states.
To date, 92 players have registered for the tournament, with several more awaiting approval on a waitlist. In total, there are ten different divisions for competitors to choose from, ranging from female-only, 40-plus, multiple amateurs divisions and an open division with a cash payout for competitors that place.
Registrants will receive a player’s pack full of disc golf goodies, along with a $5 voucher from a local sponsor and after-party host, The Brew Bridge. The Daviess County Disc Golf Association is still looking for more sponsors, according to current president Zacary Napier, who spoke with Owensboro Times earlier this week.
“This year, we are excited about the local companies we have received support from so far,” Napier said. “2020 will be the biggest tournament we have had in recent years and the community’s support will hopefully make it one of the most enjoyable events of the year. Disc golf is one of the fasted growing sports in the United States, and that is reflected in our turnout. For weeks now, we have had a full 92-person field, with a significant waitlist. Including caddies, spectators, and families, sponsors will have exposure to nearly 200 people. There is still room for additional sponsors to help us make the DC Open even more successful.”
Over the years, the Daviess County Disc Golf Association has developed a reputation in Owensboro as a reputable organization with plenty to offer. This reputation has extended to neighboring counties and states, drawing disc golfers from all over to come and compete. Former DCDGA president Rich Kirtley remembers a very special guest at the DC Open over a decade ago.
“Probably my favorite memory from the DC Open was when Nikko Locastro came to compete,” Kirtley said. “It was pretty cool to get to compete against him and meet him, especially with how successful he has become on the national and international scene. The funny thing is, I actually remember beating him in the tournament one year, though he was only 14 at the time and still learning to control his emotions. That being said, I’m excited for another great year of the tournament, I think it is a great tradition in the community.”
Nikko Locastro, a Missouri native, is currently the 19th-ranked disc golfer in the world. In 2015, Locastro was at the top of the sport and then-ranked as the number one player in the entire world. Now at 35, the always eccentric personality still manages results in a fast-growing sport with an always-increasing talent pool. Locastro utilized the DC Open in developing his craft before turning professional speaks volumes to the impact that Owensboro has had on even the highest level of the sport.
For those hoping to stay up-to-date on any developments with the tournament, a Facebook event titled 2020 Daviess County Open Powered by Prodigy has been created. Napier also encourages anyone interested in getting involved with the DC Open to contact him via Facebook. Space is currently still available for sponsors and volunteers.
