FPO: Down to the Wire (and Beyond)

Five players started the final round at the  DGPT – Dynamic Discs Open within two strokes of each other:

Missy Gannon – already a Major winner in 2024

Hailey King – a two-time winner of this event

Holyn Handley – often in contention and seeking her first breakthrough Elite Series win

Lisa Fajkus – an experienced touring veteran whose game was built in the windy plains

Emily Weatherman – a first-year-on-tour talent already turning heads

About three hours later, when these leaders approached the trio of finishing holes, for a brief moment they were separated by one.

All but Fajkus carded a bogey on the island 16th. King and Weatherman would birdie the 17th… but then Weatherman’s bogey on the 18th thanks to an out-of-bounds tee shot dropped her out of a tie at the top. Handley’s bogey at the 17th would do the same for Handley’s chance at the win. Fajkus’ bogey-bogey finish took her out.

Gannon finished with two pars, and with a King bogey at the last due to a dunked approach, the duo would be tied at 5-under-par and would move to a three-hole aggregate playoff featuring holes 16-18.

Each would birdie the difficult 16th this time around – Gannon doing so with a 40-foot putt directly at the water. Then on 17,  King’s struggles tee-to-green led to a bogey. Gannon was able to play the 18th for par to secure her second Major/Elite Series win of 2024.

Missy Gannon outlasted Hailey King in a three-hole aggregate playoff to win the 2024 Dynamic Discs Open. Photo Credit: DGPT

DGPT - Dynamic Discs Open — Full Scores & Stats via PDGA Live »

MPO: Sizzling Start Settles It

Like the FPO division, the top of the MPO leaderboard at the start of round three was a crowded place. Network commentary and players alike spoke candidly about the need to get off to a fast start, especially since the first seven holes include some of the most scoreable on the track.

Calvin Heimburg knew this and, more importantly, executed the strategy to perfection. A 7-under-par start on the first seven holes erased Ricky Wysocki’s overnight lead and Heimburg would never look back. Heimburg would go on to an 12-under-par round – just one off the course record of 13-under set just minutes before by Joseph Anderson – and gapped the field by three throws at 28-under for the tournament. Gannon Buhr (-25) charged from the chase card to a second-place finish and Gavin Rathbun (-23) completed the podium.

Calvin Heimburg is back in the winner's circle on the Disc Golf Pro Tour for the first time in 2024. Photo Credit: DGPT