蘑菇短视频disc golf club claws back to nationals
The 蘑菇短视频disc gold club team standing behind a Winthrop University sign (Photos courtesy of Tim Manske Photography).
Matt Splain had no clue how his team was doing. No internet meant he didn鈥檛 know how the other teams were doing at regionals. All he knew was if he hit this eagle from a few hundred feet out on the 16th hole, his team had a chance at nationals.
Splain lined it up and tossed it. His pink Samson disc arced to the right before curving to the left 鈥� and resting right in the basket.
Weeks later, Splain and the 蘑菇短视频 disc golf club team competed in the Professional Disc Golf Association College Disc Golf National Championship in Rock Hill, South Carolina from April 8-11.
WCU鈥檚 mixed collegiate Division I team finished 35th of 48 with an even score and the women鈥檚 collegiate Division I squad came in 16th of 32 teams. The mixed collegiate Division III team also finished, despite being a player down.
鈥淲e had a good time, and it really was awesome to be out there for four days, just playing disc golf with the coolest people, the best disc golfers in the nation that are our age,鈥� said Noah Gensic, a sophomore on the team from Pinehurst. 鈥淚t was just awesome.鈥�
The team鈥檚 four days away from Cullowhee at nationals were something to remember. Outside of hanging out at the AirBnb, playing putt putt and watching the Masters, these Catamounts clawed their way up the leaderboards after a rough first day.
The women鈥檚 team shot an 80 on Day 1 before shooting a 63, 64 and 71 on its last three days. WCU鈥檚 mixed team shot a 54, 56 and 53 after shooting a 77 on its first day.
鈥淎ny excuse to not have to be in class doing schoolwork and all that stuff and just going out, and playing disc golf, honestly, was a great privilege to be able to go out and do that for the four days that we were out there,鈥� said Splain, a senior from Weaverville.
蘑菇短视频junior Sarah Manska tosses a disc into the basket at nationals.
The Catamount Disc Golf Club has been to nationals each of the last several years now, reaching that goal by spending hours at the on-campus Catamount Links.
Months before their nationals competition, the team spent a lot of time in those fields, working on form, talking strategy and playing a few rounds at Fire Mountain in Cherokee. That time paid off when Splain hit his eagle at regionals.
Heading into the final day at regionals, the Catamounts were outside of a nationals bid by four strokes 鈥� and they clinched it by two.
鈥淚t was kind of surreal to have that experience playing in a college event and to do that and get to help us secure that bid unknowingly,鈥� Splain said. 鈥淭hat kind of summarizes the whole season.
鈥淲e keep finding ourselves behind everyone else and having to scratch and claw our way back, but I guess that's just the Catamount way.鈥�
As the spring semester winds down, the Catamount Disc Golf Club has a busy summer and fall ahead of them, which includes recruitment, scheduling and getting back to practicing on the course 鈥� and nationals.
鈥淚t was a lot of fun. I met a lot of amazing people,鈥� said Marti Duddey from Vass. 鈥淲e have a really good dynamic. It was definitely a challenge and a lot of fun. I feel like we did a lot better than what I anticipated, so I'm really proud of us. I'm really ready to go next year 鈥� and do better.鈥�