Troy disc golf tourny sets state record
Disc golf pro and tournament winner Paul Ulibarri drives on the 18th hole at the Timber Beast Disc Golf Tournament Saturday. (Ben Kibbey/The Western News)
Where the course crosses defunct railroad tracks, Tyler Suiter from Spokane shoots for the 14th hole during the Timber Beast Disc Golf Tournament on Saturday, June 30. (Ben Kibbey/The Western News)
An audience gathered to watch players between the 14th, 15th and 18th holes, adding to those following the pros group during the Timber Beast Disc Golf Tournament on Saturday, June 30. (Ben Kibbey/The Western News)
Josh Williamson from Post Falls putts around a tree on the 14th hole during the Timber Beast Disc Golf Tournament on Saturday, June 30. (Ben Kibbey/The Western News)
Audrey Webb from Spokane Valley putts on the 18th hole during the Timber Beast Disc Golf Tournament on Saturday. (Ben Kibbey/The Western News)
Derrik Coulter from Spokane putts on the 14th hole at the Timber Beast disc golf course in Troy during the Timber Beast Disc Golf Tournament on Saturday, June 30. (Ben Kibbey/The Western News)
A group of junior and adult players gathered round the a practice basket on the Troy Museum lawn while awaiting their shot at the course during the Timber Beast Disc Golf Tournament on Saturday, June 30. (Ben Kibbey/The Western News)
This year’s Timber Beast Disc Golf Tournament at the Troy course it is named for set a new attendance record for the state of Montana, drawing 209 players to try their discs.
“It’s amazing. Play was slow because we had so many people, but it’s awesome to see that many people coming to Troy and having a good time,” said tournament director Brian Bjortomt.
A volunteer who organizes tournaments around western Montana, Bjortomt said the response — the smiles — when players experience courses such as Troy’s is what makes it worth it.
This year saw top-ranked pro disc golfer Paul Ulibarri from Arizona in attendance, who led the pro group with an 83, 25 under par.
“I love the course. The scenery is beautiful,” he said. “You know, it’s kind of like a little oasis in the middle of nowhere.”
Ulibarri said he travels around to different tournaments across the country to keep things fresh, but that he was impressed as a first-timer on the Timber Beast with the challenge the course presented.
“It’s definitely funner than other courses — shorter holes, technical holes, but still difficult,” he said.
This year also saw a tournament with what felt like a larger number of women participating than at other tournaments, Bjortomt said. Several women agreed, and said it adds to the appeal for them.
Amber Ramirez from Spokane and Jade O’Neill from Missoula said they first met at the Timber Beast. As friends with hours of travel between them, disc golf tournaments are their times to see each other.
They agreed that playing with enough women in the tournament that they can form a whole group adds to their enjoyment.
“It’s awesome. It’s nice to see,” O’Neill said. She enjoys seeing the styles other women use, and just taking a more relaxed pace at times.
“You don’t have to feel like you’re trying to shoot for the fences all the time,” Ramirez said.
Bjortomt, who is from Missoula, gave a plug to the local players who keep the course in shape, led by Mike Wallace and including Justin Young.
He said he’d like to see even more players participating from the community that has earned such a positive reputation among disc golfers.
With camping in Roosevelt Park before and after the tournament, several of the disc golf players said that the way Troy welcomes them is part of what makes the tournament so popular.
“I love the layout of this course, it’s put on real well, and the people of this town always treat us great,” said Chris Dixon.
Dixon said camping out in the park has a nice community feel, like being part of a large family.
“It’s one of the most amazing events around,” said Dani Petersen, from northern Idaho. “The atmosphere and the course is just perfect. It’s completely challenging, but at the same time it’s really fun.”
Among the golfers, there was general agreement about the appeal of Troy and the people there.
“The town’s really warm and welcoming to the disc golf community,” said Dave Miller from Spokane. “It just makes you want to come back every year.
Timber Beast Disc Golf Tournament, June 30, 2018
Open
1. Paul Ulibarri -25 par, 83
2. Shane Anderson -18 par, 90
2. McCoy Connor -18 par, 90
4. Michael Leslie -16 par, 92
5. Jared Person -14 par, 94
6. Cody Hixson -13 par, 95
6. Chris Faulkner -13 par, 95
8. Brandon Baughman -12 par, 96
8. Ryane Black-LaForte -12 par, 96
10. Kendall Moody -11 par, 97
10. Trevor Pumnea -11 par, 97
10. Tom Stephens -11 par, 97
13. Daniel Gibbs -10 par, 98
14. Ryan Guiher -9 par, 99
14. Jeff Cowley -9 par, 99
14. Tyler Suiter -9 par, 99
17. Kevin Mann -8 par, 100
17. Tony Costanzo -8 par, 100
19. Tyler Bugni -7 par, 101
19. Curt McGeorge -7 par, 101
19. Brandon Green -7 par, 101
22. Cole Swanson -6 par, 102
23. Angelo LaForge -5 par, 103
24. David Trussell -4 par, 104
24. Zachary Schweikert -4 par, 104
24. Ryan Cigler -4 par, 104
27. Tim Vache -3 par, 105
28. Darrell Martin -2 par, 106
28. Cody Duncan -2 par, 106
30. John Boyko -1 par, 107
30. Josh Williamson -1 par, 107
32. Derrik Coulter E par, 108
33. Josh Fish 1 par, 109
34. Brendan Naegele 2 par, 110
34. Ron Thomas 2 par, 110
36. David Swenson 53 par, 161
Open Women
1. Melodie Bailey -2 par, 106
2. Nicole Johnson 2 par, 110
3. Jade O’Neill 10 par, 118
4. Imogen O’Reilly par, DNF
4. Amber Ramirez par, DNF
Pro Masters 40+
1. Brian Bjortomt -13 par, 95
2. Tyler Jeansonne -10 par, 98
3. Rahn Henderson -9 par, 99
4. Dusty Cook -6 par, 102
4. Joe Harr -6 par, 102
6. Eric Brown -3 par, 105
6. Serge Gosselin -3 par, 105
6. Brian Shanks Cox -3 par, 105
9. James McLaughlin -2 par, 106
10. Troy Farley E par, 108
10. Chad Alberda E par, 108
12. Ron Pannesi 2 par, 110
13. Darrin Case 7 par, 115
14. Matt Iceman Vielle 8 par, 116
15. Duane Chickene 10 par, 118
16. David Muir 11 par, 119
17. Chad Miles 16 par, 124
18. Josh Erickson par, DNF
Pro Masters Women 40+
1. Randi Suiter 17 par, 125
2. Lesli Younger 17 par, 125
3. Karen Brown 21 par, 129
4. Kymberley Willoughby 28 par, 136
5. Jaymie Crafts 39 par, 147
Pro Masters 50+
1. Rick Provost -12 par, 96
2. Tom Walker -10 par, 98
2. Steve Tolo -10 par, 98
4. Steve Simmons -8 par, 100
5. Kevin Tolo -5 par, 103
6. Brett Penney -3 par, 105
7. Rick Bates E par, 108
8. Charles Schweikert 1 par, 109
9. Mark Lind 3 par, 111
10. Rick Nicholson 4 par, 112
11. A Supertramp 11 par, 119
12. Turis Corning par, DNF
Pro Masters 60+
1. Jon Graff 2 par, 110
2. Archie Bond 6 par, 114
3. Gordon Crafts 9 par, 117
4. Randy Hardy 17 par, 125
Advanced
1. Mark Elmore -11 par, 97
2. Nick Vanderlinda -9 par, 99
3. Amos Newberry -8 par, 100
4. Huntington Coats -7 par, 101
4. Austin Hern -7 par, 101
6. David Engle -6 par, 102
7. Jordan Priebe -4 par, 104
7. Jason Petersen -4 par, 104
9. Jake Gadbery -3 par, 105
10. Erin Johnson -2 par, 106
10. Mat Spurlock -2 par, 106
10. Alexander Truzzolino -2 par, 106
13. Matthew Andrews -1 par, 107
14. Dakota Diller E par, 108
14. Dru Ulloa E par, 108
16. Robert Carriker 1 par, 109
17. Jayden Duckworth 2 par, 110
17. Justin Young 2 par, 110
19. John Flaherty 4 par, 112
20. Daniel Loughlin 6 par, 114
20. Chris Skidmore 6 par, 114
22. David Kvernum 7 par, 115
22. Logan McLaughlin 7 par, 115
24. Carl Bergum 8 par, 116
25. Tyson Lewis 10 par, 118
26. Maxwell Everingham 12 par, 120
27. Ryan Camp 14 par, 122
27. Tom Fitzgerald 14 par, 122
29. J. Hunter Way par, DNF
Advanced Women
1. Dani Petersen 9 par, 117
2. Audrey Webb 17 par, 125
3. Nancy Morgan 20 par, 128
4. Marie Anderson par, DNF
Amateur Masters 40+
1. Russell Klein E par, 108
2. Preston Yancy 1 par, 109
3. Jeff Webb 2 par, 110
4. Damon Severson 3 par, 111
4. C. Dixon 3 par, 111
6. Stephen Ring 5 par, 113
6. Dave Miller 5 par, 113
8. John Buckman 7 par, 115
8. Ron Anderson 7 par, 115
10. Scott Hankins 8 par, 116
Amateur Masters 50+
1. Mike Wallace -5 par, 103
2. Neal Leathers -3 par, 105
3. Fred Northey -1 par, 107
3. Ken Rickus -1 par, 107
5. David Willman 1 par, 109
6. Val Hemsley 7 par, 115
7. Luis Lorca 9 par, 117
8. Kevin Sakus 10 par, 118
9. David Wayne E par,
Amateur Masters 60+
1. Andy Oquendo 5 par, 113
2. Jeff Crum 7 par, 115
3. Dan Loughlin 10 par, 118
4. Jack Baldwin 11 par, 119
Intermediate
1. Will Reichel -10 par, 98
2. Aaron Rusch -9 par, 99
3. Jeremy Graves -8 par, 100
4. Peter Rhoads -6 par, 102
5. Garen Blanchard -5 par, 103
5. Jason Keltner -5 par, 103
7. Joseph Krajewski -4 par, 104
7. Riley McVey -4 par, 104
9. Connor williams -3 par, 105
9. Mike Bronny -3 par, 105
11. Stephen Williams -2 par, 106
12. Wes Etzel -1 par, 107
12. Ryan Naegele -1 par, 107
14. Justin O’Brien 1 par, 109
14. Jacob Wood 1 par, 109
14. Conrad Dean 1 par, 109
17. Ryan Weber 2 par, 110
17. Daren Norton 2 par, 110
17. Randall Staat Jr 2 par, 110
17. Adam Wardle 2 par, 110
17. Tim Gisel 2 par, 110
17. Tony Mosier 2 par, 110
23. Lui Lorca-Merono III 3 par, 111
24. Nathaniel Gilbert 5 par, 113
25. Edgar Cano 6 par, 114
25. Andrew Parden 6 par, 114
27. Ryan Meyer 7 par, 115
27. Giovanni Cano 7 par, 115
27. Brandon Barnett 7 par, 115
30. Nicholas Bodeen 8 par, 116
31. Brett Poulsen 9 par, 117
32. Jacob Day 10 par, 118
33. Erik Person 12 par, 120
34. Chad Petrowski 13 par, 121
35. Austin Naegele 15 par, 123
36. Rob Stahl 16 par, 124
37. Dustin Pharness par, DNF
Intermediate Women
1. Maureen Gerhardt 18 par, 126
2. Kara Royan 18 par, 126
3. Angela Diamond 22 par, 130
4. Claire Moody 32 par, 140
Recreational
1. Michael Scott -6 par, 102
2. John Robert Baldwin -1 par, 107
3. Logan Brickey 1 par, 109
3. Logan Rickus 1 par, 109
5. Derek Cartwright 2 par, 110
5. Jeremy Huisentruit 2 par, 110
7. Jake Higgins 5 par, 113
8. Kevin Young 7 par, 115
9. Gavin Green 8 par, 116
10. Michael Peterson 12 par, 120
11. Jamie Harris 14 par, 122
12. Mike Hays 16 par, 124
13. Ethan McLaughlin 19 par, 127
14. Austin Cartwhright 23 par, 131
15. KC Ramsey 25 par, 133
16. Christopher Nesbit 26 par, 134
17. Parker Bates E par,
17. Patrick Faulkner E par,
Recreational Women
1. Brandi Thomas 25 par, 133
2. Elisabeth Alexandria 27 par, 135
3. Kess Rickus 34 par, 142
4. Cherilyn Rhoads 38 par, 146
5. Chelsea Sverdrup 39 par, 147
6. Kinzie Dittman 67 par, 175
7. Cyndi Mama Cox 75 par, 183
8. Erica Bates par, DNF
9. E par,
Junior =15
1. Ethan Fish 18 par, 126
2. Jayden Thomas 23 par, 131
3. David Moody 33 par, 141
4. Maddux Green 34 par, 142
Junior Girls =12
1. Olivia Scott 44 par, 152