Nine of Tallahassee's most avid disc golfers recently traveled to Ocala to compete in the Silver Springs Shootout on June 27-28. As part of the Fabulous Florida Tour, the tournament consisted of two 24-hole rounds at Ocala's Greenway Course and a final 24-hole round at the Pine Oaks Course. Playing in 90+ degree weather each day, the competition became even hotter as two Tallahasseans pulled out dramatic sudden death playoff wins.
Tyler Nedley played into a three-way tie in his first state tournament, then threw an incredible approach shot and putt on the first playoff hole to win the Intermediate Men's Division. In the Advanced Men's division, David Muntean III, one of the highest ranked amateurs in the US and a senior at Florida State University, then capped an unbelievable come-from-behind victory by working himself into a tie in regulation then nailing a 20-foot putt on the first playoff hole to take first place.
Tallahassee's winning ways continued with Laymon Gray winning the Pro Masters Division. Gray took a significant lead into Sunday's final round which he never relinquished. Tallahassee's fourth winner was David Muntean Jr., taking 1st place in the Recreational Division, who overcame penalties during his final round when three of his throws landed in water.
One of the highlights of the tournament involved Tallahassee's Mike Paulette. Paulette never expected that his second place finish in the Pro Master's Division would land him in the post-tournament's eight-person Pro Shootout competing one-on-one against a world ranked disc golfer, John E. McCray of Brandon, Fla. Paulette, facing McCray in the semi-final bracket, nailed a difficult 40-foot uphill putt to place himself into the finals. Paulette finished in 2nd in the Shootout but acknowledged that winning over McCray was a major highlight of his disc golf career.
Other Tallahassee disc golfers competing in the weekend tournament were Jon Yeatman (placed in Intermediate Men's), Grant Beck (Advanced Master), Marc Levi (Pro Master) and Mike Odom (Pro Master).
Later this month, two of Tallahassee's finest, David Muntean III and Mike Paulette, will make final preparations to compete in one of the largest spectacles in all of disc golf - the PDGA Professional and Amateur Disc Golf World Championships - to be held July 27-August 1 in Kansas City. The nation's best will compete on several breathtaking scenic courses, from valleys with steep elevation changes to the more technical and heavily wooded areas.
Without a doubt disc golf is becoming an enjoyable new sport for many people of all ages - men, women and children. Numerous tournaments are held each year throughout the state of Florida and are sanctioned Professional Disc Golf Association events. Even during present economically challenging times, PDGA membership growth in this sport continues to climb impressively at nearly 10 percent each year. To witness the sport's increasing popularity, venture down to Tallahassee's Tom Brown Park's 24-hole disc golf course on any weekend afternoon.