An AF Tournament Profile
Tues. Aug. 30th thru
Championship
Saturday Sept. 3rd
PDGA Major Event
Tournament Director: Doug Bjerkaas
Assistant TD: Jackie Morris
Title Sponsor and Supporting Team: Dynamic Discs
Courses in play for 2022 Major:
Jones Park – Supreme 18
Emporia Country Club
Course Designer: Eric McCabe (both venues)
S18 Established: 2022
ECC Established: 2014
*Both courses updated after 2022 Dynamic Discs Open
Worlds is located in Emporia, KS
The Mecca of Disc Golf
also headquarters of Dynamic Discs
Two 18 hole courses played over 5 day event
Equals 90 holes in play
Concrete tees with DD Veteran baskets
FPO par 68 on the 9145 foot Supreme 18
MPO par 65 on the 10,611 foot S18
FPO par 69 on the 9507 foot Emporia Country Club
MPO par 66 on the 11,189 foot ECC
Changes to courses since 2022 Dynamic Discs Open
ECC
Worlds layout plays slightly less distance for FPO, with same par
MPO layout plays a bit more distance, and 1 stroke less par
- Hole 4: new shorter pad for MPO only
- Hole 6: new shorter pin for FPO
- Hole 7: new shorter pin for FPO
- Hole 9: new OB rules – if a drive crosses over any portion of the safe playing surface, players can utilize regular OB rules to determine the next lie (in addition to either a retee or the Drop Zone, aka DZ). In the past, players were limited to a retee or DZ only.
- Hole 10: expanded safe area, on left side of hole
- Hole 12: new long pin (still a par 3 for MPO, and a par 4 for FPO)
- Hole 14: new longer tee pad for MPO – par 5 now for MPO (still a par 5 for FPO from the mid pad)
- Hole 17: new shorter pin for FPO
Some may know the course from the signature 16th island hole. In addition, the course boasts the most challenging finishing holes as players must navigate two par four holes and an island green on their last three holes. Shoot for par, and maybe make it out alive.
Doug Bjerkaas – Worlds TD
S18
Worlds layout plays less distance for FPO than Dynamic Discs Open, with 1 stroke more par.
Layout for MPO is a bit less distance, same par.
- Hole 1: added row of rocks on back of island, encouraging more players to go for the green. Plus drop zone (DZ) now closer to pin
- Hole 4: updated OB rules – regular OB rules not applicable from tee box. Player either goes to DZ or re-tees if throw doesn’t land safely inbounds.
- Hole 5: new shorter FPO pin
- Hole 6: new OB rules – regular OB rules not applicable from tee box. Player either goes to DZ or re-tees if throw doesn’t land safely inbounds.
- Hole 7: now a par 5 for FPO
- Hole 8: renumbered – is now hole 10
- Hole 9: renumbered – is now hole 8; also has a shorter FPO pin
- Hole 10: renumbered – is now hole 9; the FPO pin from DDO is now the MPO pin. Shorter FPO pin installed
- Hole 13: OB tightened on both left and right
- Hole 14: the creek that crosses the fairway (and bridge) is now safe
After the 2021 Dynamic Discs Open, it was clear Emporia needed a more challenging course to be paired with the Country Club for the 2022 World Championships. So, Eric McCabe, world champion and course designer, went to work to create a new layout for both the 2022 Dynamic Discs Open and the 2022 Professional World Championships. The Supreme 18 uses every inch of Jones Park to create a competitive, yet fun layout for professional disc golfers. The course requires several different shot shapes to navigate the holes effectively. Risk vs. reward decisions need to be made often by competitors hoping to leave the course with a decent score. Iconic island greens, tight gaps, elevation changes, and a few big bomber holes; all help create a track one won’t quickly forget!
Doug Bjerkaas – Worlds TD
Hole lengths FPO
ECC
- 7 par 3’s = 300 to 404 feet
- 7 par 4’s = 388 to 635 feet
- 4 par 5’s = 719 to 999 feet
S18
- 7 par 3’s = 280 to 395 feet
- 8 par 4’s = 466 to 701 feet
- 3 par 5’s = 704 to 888 feet
Hole lengths MPO
ECC
- 9 par 3’s = 320 to 598 feet
- 6 par 4’s = 675 to 745 feet
- 3 par 5’s = 975 to 1224 feet
S18
- 8 par 3’s = 291 to 493 feet
- 9 par 4’s = 654 to 789 feet
- 1 par 5 = 1087 feet
Course Maps
Emporia Country Club – Worlds layout
Jones Supreme 18 – Worlds layout
Worlds History
Back when E.T. was first phoning home, Grandmaster Flash had just dropped The Message, and the 49’ers won their first Super Bowl ever, something else happened that year, in early August, in L.A., California. Harold Duvall, of Rock Hill, SC (PDGA#2018) was being crowned the first ever World Champion of professional disc golf. The field was a total of 76 players, two of which have single digit PDGA numbers. That victory was Harold’s only tournament win in 1982, and his first ever PDGA event win, on record.
The magic begins.
Three years later, Harold would become the first 2x Champ, after beating 203 other players in the 4th Worlds event, in Tulsa, OK. This was Harold’s 3rd PDGA tournament win, and his most recent to date.
Correction: the first male 2x World Champion. In between the two years Harold won his championships, Marie Jackson (PDGA#2312) of Cedarburg, WI, was winning the Women’s inaugural World Championship (1983). That event was in Huntsville, AL with 21 playing in the FPO division. The following year, in Rochester, NY, Marie would become the first pro World Champion to win the prestigious event twice, by beating a field of 25 in FPO. In 1983, Marie won by a convincing 22 strokes. In 1984, she won by 6.
Cut to CCDG’s video of final round, back 9 (R5B9), 2021 World Championship for FPO. Play 18th hole, Catrina Allen’s anhyzer approach shot on 18 that starts to fade out, and lands on the OB line, keeping her safely in bounds. Which ensures her 1 stroke victory, over Paige Pierce (5x), and leads to Catrina becoming 2x Worlds Champ.
The magic continues.
Cut to JomezPro’s 2021 World Championship, R5B9, for MPO. Jump to, what else, current World Champion, James Conrad’s “Holy Shot” on the 18th hole. Replay a gazillion times.
The magic is now epic, as sports fans around the globe tune in the fastest growing sport on the planet. The 2022 World Championships marks the 41st year of the event, with history in the making.
Each year this event gets more and more important to our sport.
Doug Bjerkaas, 2022 Worlds Tournament Director
Supporting Team
For many events on the pro disc golf tour, a local club of volunteers dedicates time and great effort to the ever demanding needs to run events that are a step above the typical PDGA A-tier tournament. In doing so, they are growing the sport both internationally and perhaps more importantly regionally. While aspiring to build reputation as reliable and resourceful people in the sport.
Dynamic Discs, here in 2022, has already established themselves, many times over, as a reputable tournament team, fully capable of delivering high caliber events, including PDGA’s biggest, the World Championships.
Founding member, Jeremy Rusco started the venture in early 2000’s, as sole operator and disc dyer / reseller, looking to make a few extra bucks. Within 5 years, and with support of good friends and family, the brand Dynamic Discs was launched, circa 2006. Their first pro sponsored was Eric McCabe. When McCabe goes onto win 2010’s World Champions, it marks the arrival of Dynamic Discs as a competitive sponsor in the sport. 2 years later, the company capitalizes on their growing success by launching it’s first 4 plastic molds: Escape, Fugitive, Judge and Trespass. By this time, the company is utilizing 20,000 sq.ft. of warehouse space for operations, producing discs, bags, apparel, and more.
In 2013, Dynamic Discs hosted its first PDGA major – Am Worlds, with 400+ players in the field. By 2016, the company would employ the experience and dedication of Doug Bjerkaas as event coordinator and tournament director for Pro Worlds that same year, in Emporia.
The long running Glass Blown Open, hosted in the mecca of disc golf, aka Emporia, would change its name in 2020 to Dynamic Discs Open, and remain a highly popular stop on the pro tour each year. The traditions of the event, the high quality production to coordinate an elite series function, all retain its excellence through the well established Dynamic Discs brand.
Today’s Dynamic Discs employs over 50 people, sponsors 100’s of pro disc golfers, and manufacturers three dozen well known disc molds. Their mission to keep educating and growing the sport, shows no signs of slowing. And their reputation keeps them solidly among the top manufacturers in the game.
Hit the Links
- Pro Worlds Website
- PDGA Main Event Page
- Pro Worlds Caddy link
- UDisc Live – Worlds link
- 2022 Pro Worlds Event Schedule
- Highlight Reels
What To Do While Visiting Emporia
“Emporia knows disc golf” according to the Emporia Convention and Visitors Bureau webpage. Emporia is the mecca of disc golf with eight 18 hole courses, including the flagship Emporia Country Club. It’s no surprise they hold title to #1 disc golf small town in the U.S.
Besides attending the sport’s biggest event of the year, along with a visit to Dynamic Discs Headquarters, Emporia offers great places to eat, drink (be merry), and a wide ranges of activities for the visiting fan.
Spectators should take in as much as they can! The Fly Mart / Block Party on Friday night will be awesome.
TD – Doug Bjerkaas
Previously, AF asked Jackie Morris (assistant TD for Worlds, and TD for Dynamic Discs Open) for her suggestions on suggestions for good food and drinks while in town. Her list nearly matches TD Doug’s choices, to name a few:
- Radius Brewing Company (Restaurant and brewery)
- Bourbon Cowboy (Music and drinks)
- Casa Ramos (Mexican cuisine)
- Mulready’s Pub (Craft beers and other drinks)
How Worlds Fits within the 2022 Pro Tour
- 25th prominent event on tour
- after Des Moines Challenge (ES)
- before Butler County Disc Golf Classic (SS)
- 4th PDGA Pro Major event of the year
- 4th event in Midwest stint of mid-season tour
- Does play in standard fantasy leagues for 2022
- Worlds always has largest combined total due to having largest MPO field on the year
- and in 2022, it had the 2nd largest FPO field, behind USWDGC
How Many Pros Play
- The 2021 Pro Worlds event had 209 MPO players
- 122 of those were 1000+ rated (58%)
- For 2022, 211 played in MPO
- 127 of those are 1000+ rated (60%)
- The FPO field for 2021 Pro Worlds was 70 players
- 48 of those were 900+ rated (69%)
- For 2022 Worlds, FPO fielded 75 players
- 61 of those are 900+ rated (81%)
Top 14 FPO Average Finish
at Worlds Past 5 Years
Note: There have been 4 Pro Worlds events in past 5 years, no event in 2020
*Updated with results from 2022 event
| ORDER | FPO PLAYER | AVG FIN | X PLAYED |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Paige Pierce | 2.5 | 4 |
| 2 | Henna Blomroos | 3.0 | 2 |
| 3 | Eveliina Salonen | 3.5 | 2 |
| 3 | Kristin Tattar – WC | 5.0 | 4 |
| 5 | Catrina Allen | 5.3 | 4 |
| 6 | Sarah Hokom | 5.0 | 3 |
| 7 | Ohn Scoggins | 6.5 | 2 |
| 8 | Hailey King | 10.5 | 4 |
| 9 | Jessica Weese | 11.0 | 4 |
| 10 | Lisa Fajkus | 11.3 | 4 |
| 11 | Paige Shue | 10.5 | 2 |
| 12 | Missy Gannon | 12.0 | 4 |
| 13 | Ella Hansen | 11.5 | 2 |
| 13 | Valerie Mandujano | 12.3 | 3 |
Minimum of 2 times played to
qualify for this list.
2018 thru 2022 data.
Top 18 MPO Average Finish
at Worlds Past 5 Years
*Updated with 2022 results
| ORDER | MPO PLAYER | AVG FIN | X PLAYED |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Paul McBeth – WC | 1.5 | 4 |
| 2 | Ricky Wysocki | 7.3 | 4 |
| 3 | Chris Dickerson | 8.3 | 4 |
| 4 | Josh Anthon | 8.5 | 2 |
| 4 | Nate Sexton | 9.8 | 4 |
| 6 | Matt Orum | 10.8 | 4 |
| 7 | James Conrad | 12.0 | 4 |
| 7 | Kevin Jones | 12.0 | 4 |
| 9 | Gregg Barsby | 12.3 | 4 |
| 10 | Calvin Heimburg | 13.3 | 4 |
| 11 | Chris Clemons | 14.0 | 4 |
| 12 | Aaron Gossage | 13.5 | 2 |
| 12 | Cameron Colglazier | 14.0 | 3 |
| 14 | Kyle Klein | 15.5 | 2 |
| 15 | Vaino Makela | 17.0 | 2 |
| 15 | Simon Lizotte | 18.8 | 4 |
| 17 | Joel Freeman | 21.3 | 4 |
| 18 | Cale Leiviska | 20.7 | 3 |
Minimum of 2 times played to
qualify for this list.
2018 thru 2022 data.
Top 11 FPO at DDO in Past 5 Years
Per Average Finishes
Note: Updated with results from 2022 event
| ORDER | FPO PLAYER | AVG FIN | X PLAYED |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Paige Pierce | >2nd | 4 |
| 2 | Catrina Allen | <5th | 5 |
| 3 | Macie Velediaz | <6th | 2 |
| 4 | Lisa Fajkus | <7th | 4 |
| 5 | Hailey King | <7th | 3 |
| 6 | Jessica Weese | 7th | 3 |
| 7 | Valerie Mandujano | 7th | 2 |
| 8 | Emily Beach | <8th | 4 |
| 9 | Sarah Hokom | 8th | 3 |
| 10 | Jen Allen | 10th | 4 |
| 11 | Madison Walker | >9th | 3 |
doesn’t qualify for this list
Top 12 MPO at DDO in Past 5 Years
Per Average Finishes
*Include 2022 results
| ORDER | MPO PLAYER | AVG FIN | X PLAYED |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ricky Wysocki – CC | >2nd | 5 |
| 2 | Eagle McMahon | <3rd | 4 |
| 3 | Calvin Heimburg | >5th | 4 |
| 4 | Cale Leiviska | 5th | 2 |
| 5 | Kevin Jones | <11th | 5 |
| 6 | Adam Hammes | <10th | 2 |
| 7 | Chris Dickerson | 11th | 5 |
| 8 | Paul McBeth | 13th | 5 |
| 9 | Drew Gibson | >15th | 5 |
| 10 | Andrew Presnell | <18th | 5 |
| 10 | Anthony Barela | <17th | 3 |
| 10 | Gannon Buhr | 16th | 2 |
2022 Results – Top 4 Finishers
| PLACE | FPO PLAYER | SCORE |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kristin Tattar | -38 |
| 2 | Henna Blomroos | -30 |
| 3 | Holyn Handley | -25 |
| 4 | Missy Gannon | -24 |
Kristin Tattar!
70+ in the field played great.
Henna, Holyn and Missy
played even better. And
Kristin, was on whole other level.
| PLACE | MPO PLAYER | SCORE |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Paul McBeth | -46 |
| 2 | Aaron Gossage | -46 |
| 3 | Matt Orum | -42 |
| 3 | Chris Clemons | -42 |
| 3 | Tristan Tanner | -42 |
Paul McBeth!
Talk about tight battles at the top
Took a 1 hole playoff to settle the
previous 90 holes. Amazing final round.
Matty O, Clemons and Tristan
played fantastic, finishing in 3 way
tie for 3rd place.
Best possible fantasy picks
for World Championships
Created by Rob Cade Dahmen
Photo credits
All photos, logo, and course maps on this profile
Courtesy of Dynamic Discs Media