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Daily Herald: Batavia's first pro disc golf tournament a success 4/20/2015

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Doug T. Graham

Late afternoon rain couldn't wash out a full card of disc golf players of all skill levels competing Sunday in the first officially certified tournament at West Main Park disc golf course in Batavia.

Despite the weather, 90 players competed in the Main St. Mandatory for one-of-a-kind discs, trophies and even, for the professionally ranked players, a cash prize.

The competition was a first for the wooded, 18-hole course located at 40W101 W Main St., but it was not the first Professional Disc Golf Association tournament for a majority of the players.

Mike Krupicka, the Illinois state coordinator for the PDGA, said the sport has been growing, and that there is a tournament in the Chicago area most weekends from April through October.

"I think the only exception is Mother's Day, that's one of the high holy holidays of disc golf," Krupicka said. "Father's Day, you know guys want to go out and play, but Mother's Day you gotta go home and take care of mom."

Sarah Mytnik, one of three women registered for the tournament, said the Main St. Mandatory was her fifth tournament already this year, which includes one "ice bowl" played in the winter.

"I think next weekend I'm off, but then there are five weekends in a row that I plan on playing in a tournament," Mytnik said.

David Reed, the tournament organizer, said in addition to having the best score of the women amateurs, Mytnik had the fifth best score out of the 40 male amateurs.

The 43 amateur players received "player's packs" filled with items from the tournament's many sponsors, which included both national disc golf supply manufacturers and local businesses.

The winner among the professionals had to be decided after a two-hole playoff to settle a 3-way tie. In the end, Alan Wagner of Rockford went home with the top cash prize of $111.

The winners were named at a gathering after the tournament in the Barrel Room at Penrose Brewing Company in Geneva, who served as the main sponsor for the tournament.

Reed said this was the first tournament and he hopes to host two more in the Geneva area this summer.

"I am just doing this to connect the local community with disc golf," Reed said. "I'm having fun."

Krupicka said PDGA-sanctioned tournaments are a result of good relationship with local courses, many of which are maintained by park districts.

"We're grateful to the parks for allowing us to do it," Krupicka said. "We look at it as we are providing a service to the local community."
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20150420/news/150429969/