As the weather got better throughout the morning at DGPT Europe Elite Series Copenhagen Open, both the scores and the excitement around the course were reflected in the improving conditions.
What happens when a scene has so many excellent players? The premiere of the Disc Golf Pro Tour Elite in Europe under the DGPT Europe brand at the Copenhagen Open (Denmark) had an entry with many recent winners among which to look for favorites:
Anneli Tõugjas-Männiste (Estonia), Rachel Turton (Great Britain), Anniken Steen (Norway), Eveliina Salonen (Finland)... but the one who most strongly claimed her options was Estonia's Kaidi Allsalu, who with a -8 made clear why she won on this same course at the 2023 European Pro Tour: a flying start with 4 birdies in a row and only one bogey with a really solid game in all aspects.
In the lead up to the event, chatter among some speculators was that this year’s edition of the DGPT – Dynamic Discs Open would be primed for an “upstart” to emerge victorious. In the FPO field, multiple top European players have ventured home, including Kristin Tattar (three 2024 tour victories), Eveliina Salonen (two 2024 victories including one Major) and Anniken Steen (one 2024 tour victory). Henna Blomroos and Heidi Laine – two players seemingly in weekly contention in 2024 – are also home in Europe. Thus, opportunity presents itself for the rest of the FPO field.
The job is certainly not finished in FPO — far from it as Anniken Steen and Ohn Scoggins both turned in another stellar round of disc golf to share the lead heading into Championship Round. Right on their heels in Kristin Tattar, just three strokes back after a scorching day of her own in Houston.
Norway’s Anniken Kristiansen Steen was the first player to hit that mark early Friday to kick off the opening round of the final stop of the Texas swing. Ohn Scoggins would best that score by one stroke not too much later for the solo lead heading into the weekend in Houston.
Anthony Barela was the only player in MPO to hit double digits.
The winners of the first DGPT+ event of 2024 – Kristin Tattar and Gannon Buhr. Photo: Kevin Huver / DGPT
Technically, the Disc Golf Pro Tour – Prodigy presents WACO event was the second stop in the 2024 pro tour season. But, viewers in-person and on-the-flatscreens alike witnessed a number of firsts…
The first event for 2023 PDGA Major grand slam owner Kristin Tattar;
The first multi-course event of the season;
The first 4+ round event of the season with increased DGPT championship points available;
The first missed-cuts for big names in both divisions;
Kyle Klein led the MPO division at 19-under-par when Friday's second-round play was suspended with a single group left on the Lake Waco Golf Club course.
After a break-of-day thunderstorm cleansed the skies, the FPO field spread out across a new series of challenges as, for the first time, the Disc Golf Pro Tour – Prodigy Presents WACO tour stop incorporated a second course – the Lake Waco Golf Club.
The first four-round Elite+ event of the pro tour season began with wind howling and rain threatening at the Disc Golf Pro Tour – Prodigy presents WACO, as usual, on the Brazos East layout in Waco, Texas. And, while play will incorporate a new course for days two and four of the event, the “BEast” showcased its familiar quality of birdie-streaks interrupted by bogey-snares. Despite the conditions, multiple players started fast in the season’s first Thursday of action.
Anthony Barela held on to grab his first Elite Series win in his career, one that started in the junior ranks in 2010 and one that has featured so many close calls.
Ella Hansen and Holyn Handley, two close friends on the tour, are tied at the top in FPO and in prime position to take down what would be the first Elite Series win for either.