An AF Tournament Profile
Thursday Oct. 9th through
Championship Sunday Oct. 12th
A PDGA A Tier Event
aka
Throw Pink
Tournament Director: Sara Nicholson
Assistant Tournament Director: Chad Sullivan
Supporting Club:
Innova Disc Golf
and The US Disc Golf Team
Title Sponsor: Innova Disc Golf
Course in play for 2025
Winthrop University Arena Course
A & B Pin Positions
Course Designers:
Current: Andrew Duvall
Original: Harold Duvall
Course established in 1992
Located in Rock Hill, SC
This is the 5th annual Throw Pink Championship
During the 27th anniversary of USDGC
72 holes in play
during the 4 day event
Concrete tees, as well as some grass tees, and wooden dock tee on hole 18
DISCastcher baskets
We want the players to step up to each tee pad and be met with equal levels of anxiety and excitement. Maybe except Hole 17, we just want anxiety there.
Course Designer, Andrew Duvall
Winthrop University plays as a par 69 for the FPO’s Throw Pink Championship. There are 2 layouts that change during the tournament based on pin positions, A & B. The front 9 (4334 feet) plays same pins all 4 rounds. The back 9, plays 100 feet longer for A positions (4453 ft), compared to the B positions (4353 ft). Rounds 1 and 4, play A layout, and Rounds 2 and 3, play the B layout.
Hole Lengths – Includes both layouts
• 8 par 3’s = 249 to 342 feet
• 5 par 4’s = 362 to 657 feet
• 5 par 5’s = 647 to 901 feet
Hole 17 is the shortest hole on the course, at 249 feet. It is same distance tee to basket for MPO during the United States Disc Golf Championship, which plays the same weekend. It is an island green (pictured below), that has multiple drop zones. Here are some interesting stats from how the hole played 3 years ago, in 2022 MPO and FPO events:
- Dozens of birdies happened in each division over 4 rounds. It is a par 3.
- At least 8 MPO rounds scored an 8 on the hole, over 4 days
- which was 3 strokes better than the worst score an MPO player took in Round 2 (an 11)
- Paige Shue aced hole 17 in the 4th round in 2022
- the only player in either division to do so during the whole tournament
- Of the top 5 finishers in FPO last year (2024), Kristin Latt, Eveliina Salonen and Holyn Handley each played all 4 rounds without taking a bogey or worse on hole 17. In 2023, Gannon Buhr was only pro of MPO or FPO who accomplished this feat.
Hole 17 has also evolved. It was an island all along but went from a flat, lakeside open hole, and transformed into a downhill, wooded 249′ throw directly at the lake. Despite the complete redesign of the hole, it somehow has been able to keep its role as the climax of the course – No lead has ever been safe until you are past hole 17.
The diabolical Andrew Duvall
I think some cool things to look at are the evolutions over time.
The honorable Andrew Duvall
Stay Gold
The Throw Pink Women’s Championship is in just its 5th year, which means history in the making. Kristin Latt is the current defending champion and Missy Gannon the inaugural champ (in 2021). With Kristin not playing in 2025, it means a new winner is bound to happen. There are so far no repeat champions on FPO side for Throw Pink since 2021. See last page of our profile for more on past winners.
A championship level disc golf course on a college campus. With enough water and elevation changes to rival top courses on tour. Being a campus ‘rec area,’ the course design makes use of many elements. Which, it pretty much has to with tennis courts, baseball field, and a multipurpose park area. The 2025 layout, like many years before it, makes use of extensive OB, well sprinkled hazard areas, 8 holes with a single mandatory (mando), 1 hole (first hole) with a double mando, and then 2 more holes with triple mandos.
Withrop is a course that since its inception in the 1990’s, the fairways were designed to be tight. Compact, while making excellent use of space. Course designers Harold and Andrew Duvall, along with USDGC TD Jonathan Poole and Dave Dunipace set out to create a course for the future of disc golf. In 1999, USDGC launched at Winthrop, with room for the spectators, as an objective of design. A way to grow the the sport, and immerse fans of the game in a PDGA Major. All relatively new at the time. And all part of a growing tradition.
From Setback To Success:
US DG Team Delivers
Like most events on the pro tour, prepping the course for the big event is half the battle. There’s months of ongoing maintenance, tweaking layouts based on slight changes to hole designs, and dealing with unexpected challenges.
Less than 2 weeks before the start of the 2024 Pro Major, Hurricane Helene moved through southeastern part of the U.S. leaving damage like the above pics (or much worse). According to spokesperson for the US Disc Golf Team, they worked tirelessly to whip it back into shape. On a course that makes use, of water, grass, wood chips and sand, their typical upkeep consistently displays an immaculate course. In 2024, that challenge was magnified, and the Team adapted.
Hole 7 and the iterations of the bamboo wall. It went from something that had to be thrown over, to something that could be thrown over or through, to the triple mando version it is today. It even was toppled in a storm and held up for play by the staff one year.
Andrew Duvall
Photo credits
All logos and graphics courtesy of US Disc Golf Team Media
All images credited to Chad LeFevre Photography
Hit The Links
Nearby Attractions
The shortest, most direct version of what to do in the area is perhaps best found on the York County visitor guide webpage.
There are hotels within 5 miles, and camping within 10 miles of Winthrop University. Or just 8 miles away is another course, Camp Canaan, that also has camping.
In terms of good places to eat nearby, here’s a short list offering variety:
- Slow Play Brewing – adult beverages with Cibi Cibi food truck
- official beer sponsor of USDGC
- The Dixie Pig – great BBQ with southern hospitality
- Groucho’s Deli – gourmet subs and sandwiches
How Throw Pink fits within the 2025 Pro Tour
- 28th Fantasy relevant event of the 2024 season
- 5th FPO Major event of the season
- This is only place on the profile where it’s referenced as a Major
- but that is how AF treats this event
- 5th and final Major for FPO division
- after Carolina Clash (A Tier)
- before DGPT Championship (Elite finale)
- This is only place on the profile where it’s referenced as a Major
- Third of 4 tournaments during the east coast swing at end of the season
- Throw Pink does not play in standard fantasy leagues
How Many Pros Play
- In 2024, Throw Pink had 51 registered pros
- 50 were rated 900+ (98%)
- 21 were rated 950+ (43%)
- For 2025, there are 54 registered to play
- 54 are rated 900+ (100%)
- 25 are rated 950+ (46%)
Best Average Finish
in Past 5 Years
| Order | FPO Player | Prev Order | Avg Finish | Times Played |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kristin Tattar | 1 | 1.7 | 3 |
| 2 | Missy Gannon | 2 | 6.2 | 5 |
| 3 | Holyn Handley | 6 | 4.7 | 3 |
| 4 | Ohn Scoggins | 7 | 6.8 | 5 |
| T5 | Eveliina Salonen | 8 | 5.0 | 3 |
| T5 | Henna Blomroos | 3 | 5.0 | 3 |
| 7 | Sarah Hokom | 4 | 7.6 | 5 |
| 8 | Paige Pierce | 9 | 6.8 | 4 |
| 9 | Hailey King | 5 | 8.6 | 5 |
| 10 | Catrina Allen | 10 | 9.0 | 4 |
| Kristin Latt was the 2024 Champion. Holyn Handley won in 2023. Catrina Allen won in 2022. Missy Gannon won in 2021. In 2020, the event at same venue was known as Women's National Championship. Paige Pierce won in 2020. | ||||
| Min. of 2 times played in past 5 years to qualify for this list. | ||||
2024 Results – Top 10 Finishes
| FPO PLAYER | 2024 PLACE |
|---|---|
| Kristin Latt | 1st |
| Ohn Scoggins | 2nd |
| Eveliina Salonen | 3rd |
| Holyn Handley | 4th |
| Paige Pierce | T-5th |
| Heidi Laine | T-5th |
| Alexis Mandujano | 7th |
| Valerie Mandujano | 8th |
| Henna Blomroos | T-9th |
| Chantel Budinsky | T-9th |