A total of 80 participating athletes flocked to Sedona Golf Resort on Saturday, July 25, to partake in a tournament. This particular tournament, though, is not the kind normally hosted by golf courses.
Nobody was hitting a little white ball around the course. Instead, these golfers were throwing discs as part of a disc golf tournament.
For regular golf, SGR is an 18-hole, par 71 course. For disc golf, the course played as a 27-hole, par 83, with many of the normal golf holes turned into two for disc golf.
The opportunity to play on a real golf course while being surrounded by the red rocks was quite appealing to those who organized the event.
“It’s the beauty of it and the rarity,” tournament director Jerid Ludwig, of Prescott, said. “Riding around on a golf course playing all of these long holes. There’s nowhere like it in Arizona.”
Art Sanchez, who helped Ludwig get things going on Saturday, agreed.
“It’s the green, the beauty of it,” Sanchez said. “You’re getting distance out here, compared to your everyday off-trail course. The appeal of actual golf for us as disc golfers is being on a course. That’s the dream for us. We always want to golf on the ball golf course with the rest of them. It’s gorgeous. Just like any good golfer, we want to see that long green and those over the water shots.”
That sentiment was held by not only those who helped organize the tournament but also those who partook.
Playing partners Steven Speer and James Chapman, who are both from Phoenix, had never played disc golf at SGR before. Prior to the round, Speer said that he was looking forward to the course’s scenery.
Chapman agreed, saying that playing in Sedona was a nice change-of-pace.
“It beats being in Phoenix right now,” Chapman said. “Getting out of crazy Phoenix — getting away from [stuff] for a little bit. Fooling your mind into thinking you’re far, far away from the mayhem. Even if you’re only two hours away.”
Of course, the day wasn’t just an opportunity to take in Sedona’s scenery while escaping the heat and hustle and bustle of Phoenix. It was also a competition.
The open — or professional — division was won by Jeremy Novak. His 12-under 71 was the best score of the day by any competitor in any division, three better than runner-up Pete Ulibarri.
The Pro 40-and-older Division was also won by three shots. Zach Walker emerged from the top of that division with a 76, three better than second place finisher Jefe Wilson.
The day’s closest competitions came in the women’s divisions.
Sami Keddington emerged victorious in the open women division, defeating runner-up Jennifer Allen by a single shot. Stephanie De La Cruz also won the Advanced Women Division by one shot, shooting a 122 to edge out Robyn Colvin.
Like Keddington, Jason DeCorte also shot a 95 to win his group, the Amateur 40-and-older Divison. He was three shots better than Aric Stack. Jesus Teran and James Russell, meanwhile, each shot an 84 to win the advanced and intermediate divisions, respectively. Teran was three points better than Lee Semke, while Russell’s win was the most decisive of any division winner, as he was seven shots better than runner-up Charles Scott.
A list of every entry’s score can be found at discgolfscene.com.
