Well, Spring has sprung in North Augusta which means the flowers are blooming, the Masters is just around the corner and, more importantly in the disc golf world, the National Collegiate Disc Golf Championships are about to get underway.  The NCDGC is the National Championship crowning event for collegiate disc golf. It is a team event with schools from across the country competing for the title of National Disc Golf Champions. Since the birth of the event in 2007, which saw six teams competing for the title, it has grown considerably.  This year, 61 teams will converge on the Hippodrome complex in North Augusta, SC to be challenged by four difficult and charasmatic courses.The courses are designed to challenge and bring out the best in advanced level disc golfers, and each of the courses has a very unique personality.

One of the great things about this event is the camaraderie and pride of the players. Disc golf is innately an individual sport, but when played as a team, the feeling of accountability grows. The players are competing for their institutions and their teammates.  Teams come dressed in uniform, showing off their school pride, and aim to give their best for their team. Saturday features a Final 13 for the individual competition, which will not only crown the Men's and Women's Medalist, but also determine the All-American teams. The top 10 men earn 1st team honors, 11-20 get the 2nd team. The top 3 women earn 1st team honors.

In addition to the team tournament and the individual competitions, the NCDGC experience will also include the First Flight competition, the GUTS collegiate championship, a pro clinic sponsored by the PDGA, Hott Shott putting championships, and a distance competition. The tournament is billed as one of the 10 Major events the PDGA recognizes in 2013.

In pre-lim action today, five teams battled to qualify for the final four berths in the Championship Flight of the 2013 NCDGC.  In the first round of team-action, North Carolina–Charlotte and Western Carolina battled to the early lead both shooting a 52 on the Hogback course.   California State–Chico was in third with a 54, West Virginia was in fourth shooting a 56, and Campbell University took fifth place with a 60.  After a short break the teams went back out on the course for round 2 and North Carolina–Charlotte won the NCDGC Qualifier with a stunning 14 under par 46 on the 20 hole course.  California State–Chico had the next best score of a 52 to tie Western Carolina for second place, and West Virginia held on to fourth place to round out the four teams that earned spots in the Championship Flight of the 2013 NCDGC.  Campbell University will participate in the First Flight competition.

Play begins tomorrow with a team doubles round and much more disc golf to be played throughout the weekend.  Catch all the action on Disc Golf Planet TV and watch those flags fly, hear those team chants and witness the crowning of the newest Collegiate Disc Golf Champions.