WACO 2023
This disc golf pro tour has begun, and while the LVC was an exciting opener, I feel like the tour really starts in Waco, TX. Sure, Vegas can be exciting. We saw Calvin Heimburg finish strong and take down another victory, and a dominant performance from Catrina Allen on the FPO side, and by all accounts it was entertaining. But it’s not pure disc golf. There’s an ongoing debate about whether ball golf courses converted to disc golf courses are good or bad for the sport, but that is for another blog. What I’m saying is that WACO is the first event of the season that is on a dedicated disc golf course, and that’s why, at least for me, it’s the real start of the season.
The Waco Annual Charity Open, aka WACO, held in, you guessed it, Waco, TX, has a rich history of supporting disc golf. The Brazos Park East, affectionately known as The Beast, is a championship caliber course with picturesque views of limestone cliffs and the Brazos River. The course starts with an open but challenging front nine, and then digs into the thick woods for a difficult-to-score back nine. The pro layout will test players entire skill set; distance, control, shot shaping, backhand, forehand, and putting. It is this combination of features that makes WACO an exciting and unpredictable watch. Since 2018 Only Paul McBeth on the men’s side has been able to win this event twice, and on the ladies’ side there’s been a different champion every year, and this uncertainty makes this event very watchable.
Last year, Valerie Mandujano put herself on the pro tour map with a decisive victory and establishing herself as an elite player. Her shot on hole 17 proved she has what it takes to win on tour, and her second win at the Portland Open just solidified her status. Paul McBeth quieted all the haters by showing up and definitively beating an elite field to become a two-time winner at The Beast. McBeast winning at The Beast just has a very poetic ring to it, right? The questions on everybody’s mind as we head into this weekend is can either of these champions repeat in 2023. I can’t wait to see what happens this year.
Ok, time for some not so bold predictions! If you’ve been paying attention at all, you know that 2023 is gearing up to be the ‘year of the youngsters’, especially on the MPO side. There has been a wave of powerful young talent, and this year I expect many of them to shine. We should all be well aware of Gannon Buhr and his accolades. Even during controversy surrounding his contract with Prodigy, he’s still coming out every week and performing at the top of his game. But there are players like Isaac Robinson, Alden Harris, Aaron Gossage, Corey Ellis, and Adam Hammes that are all poised to make big moves this year, and I expect we’ll see most of these names in the top ten come Sunday. Brodie Smith’s first pro event was here, and he is hungry to prove his worth, and what better place to do it then at his first pro event? And I expect Paul McBeth to come out strong and defend his title; he’s always playing to win.
On the FPO side, there has been an influx of European players following the massive success Kristin Tattar had last year, and in the footsteps of pioneers like Eleviina Salonen and Henna Blomroos. Names like Anniken Steen, Keiti Tatte, and Lykke Lorentzen. I expect a handful of these ladies to show up and dominate this weekend. And there are some domestic rising stars to watch as well. Caroline Henderson has dominated in Texas, and now takes the big stage to test her mettle. Holyn Handley comes into her second year of full-time touring, and she looks like her off season training is already paying dividends. And then there are sleepers like Leah Tsinajinnie, who has been quietly climbing the ranks. She’s ready to find herself on the lead card. As the FPO talent rises, so does the possibility of many new champions. Valerie Mandujano is out due to injury, so perhaps her sister Alexis can step up and win one for the family.
Who do you have on your win list? Do you think we’ll see a back-to-back champ this year? Who’s is your sleeper pick? I’d love to hear your predictions, so please leave a comment down below. Thanks for reading, see you next time.
