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Discmania Open Takes Prince Edward Island by Storm – Tournament Recap

By September 11, 2023No Comments

Article written by: Nick Quargnenti – DGPT Marketing Coordinator

Discmania Open Takes Prince Edward Island by Storm: A Pro Tour Debut in Canada

Ella Hansen and Eagle McMahon at the 2023 Discmania Open. Photo: DGPT

The 2023 Discmania Open at the Rose Valley disc golf course in Breadalbane, Prince Edward Island, marked Canada’s inaugural Disc Golf Pro Tour event and the final Silver Event of the season. It didn’t disappoint. With anticipation in the air, players eagerly battled the relentless wind along with challenging yet picturesque fairways all weekend.

Ella Hansen (PDGA# 144112) and Eagle McMahon (PDGA# 37817), both representing Team Discmania, clinched 1st-place at the last regular season DGPT event of the year. A Team Discmania sweep!

Ella Hansen Clinches Her First Pro Tour Event Title in Style!

Ella Hansen Celebrates at the 2023 Discmania Open. Photo: DGPT

After numerous close calls and podium placements in events like 2nd-place at WACO, 3rd-place at the Dynamic Discs Open, 3rd- place at the Ledgestone Open, and 2nd-place at the Discraft Great Lakes Open, Ella Hansen has at last secured a well-earned 1st-place victory in a Pro Tour event this season.

Hansen asserted her dominance from the beginning, making it clear that the Discmania Open was her territory by consistently staying on the lead card throughout the event. While she began with a somewhat slow first round, she steadily improved in each round that followed. On the final day, she delivered the best round in the FPO field, finishing 1-under par. In the end, Hansen secured a commanding victory, leading by 9 strokes with a total score of 4 over par.

Ella Hansen Dialed In at the 2023 Discmania Open. Photo: DGPT

Hansen’s victory was evident in her UDisc stats where she led the field in several categories: 22% birdie percentage, 81% fairways hit, 11% parked percentage, and an impressive 30% circle 1 and 56% circle 2 regulation rates.

Despite a smaller field on the FPO side, the competition was not easy. With contenders like 5X World Champion Juliana Korver (PDGA# 7438) and Deann Carey (PDGA# 66842), a win would be far from guaranteed for any player.

Deann Carey and Juliana Korver at the 2023 Discmania Open. Photo: DGPT

Securing the 2nd-place position was Deann Carey, entering the final round just 4 strokes behind the leader. Carey showcased her putting skills throughout the weekend, topping the UDisc stats in circle 1x putting (80%) and circle 2 putting (20%). With a 9% parked percentage (second only to Hansen), victory was well within Carey’s grasp. Unfortunately, a slower round 2 proved to be her downfall, but she still finished the tournament with a 2nd-place podium position and a total score of 13 over par.

Juliana Korver secured the 3rd-place podium finish at the 2023 Discmania Open. Despite a 5-stroke gap between her and Carey, Korver led the tournament in scramble percentage throughout the weekend, reaching an impressive 38%. It’s a testament to her champion mindset and determination. The podium finish also bumped Korver from 20th to 17th in the DGPT point standings, just above the Tour Championship cutline. 

This win for Hansen would bump her up one spot in the UDisc World Rankings, Hansen is currently sitting at number 6 – emphasized by her 75% top-10 rate and 100% cash rate in Pro Tour events this season (across Silver, Elite, and Majors).

Eagle McMahon’s Resilience Shines in Playoff Victory!

Eagle McMahon Celebrates at the 2023 Discmania Open. Photo: DGPT

It was poetry in motion in the MPO Field this weekend. Lucky spectators and fans witnessed a series of thrilling moments, from impressive putts and incredible upshots to intense ace runs and a playoff for the coveted 2023 Discmania Open title.

In an exciting conclusion, Eagle McMahon emerged as the victor in the Silver Event, marking his second Silver Event victory of the season (Beaver State Fling being his other). During the opening round, McMahon set a high standard right from the start by posting the tournament’s hot round, a scorching 8 under par. Much like Hansen, he secured his place on the lead card early and asserted his dominance in Prince Edward Island. McMahon ultimately clinched the tournament with a total score of 16 under par.

Eagle McMahon Dialed In at the 2023 Discmania Open. Photo: DGPT

It was anything but a walk in the park for McMahon. In the final round, a chain-out bogey on Hole 14, combined with his out-of-bounds drive on Rose Valley’s challenging Hole 18 (surrounded by tall grass hazards) created an opportunity for Isaac Robinson (PDGA# 50670). Robinson, the 2023 PDGA Professional Disc Golf World Championships presented by L.L.Bean champion who had been trailing McMahon closely throughout the round. 

Fresh from a World Championship victory and delivering the sole bogey-free round on the final day, Isaac Robinson seized the unexpected opportunity and forced an intense playoff showdown with McMahon. The playoff format for the event necessitated both players to replay Holes 1 and 18 repeatedly until a definitive champion emerged.

Isaac Robinson Battling for Victory at the 2023 Discmania Open. Photo: DGPT

The playoff holes at Rose Valley share similarities. Each demands powerful tee shots with precision due to the surrounding out-of-bounds tall grass. Afterward, an elevated upshot is essential to get as close to the basket as possible for the stroke. For seasoned pros like Eagle McMahon and Isaac Robinson, these shots are almost routine, honed to perfection.

The stage was set. Despite McMahon’s momentum setback with the OB drive on Hole 18 before the playoff, he still seemed to hold a slight edge. Both players had secured birdies on Hole 1 throughout the weekend. However, the key difference emerged on Hole 18, where McMahon averaged 1 under par for the weekend compared to Robinson’s 1 over par.

After a grueling 5-hole playoff marked by intense exchanges, both players were giving their all to seize the closely contested title as they approached the tee of their 6th playoff hole.On the third replay of Hole 18, Robinson’s out-of-bounds throw handed McMahon the advantage, and he promptly capitalized on the opportunity.

McMahon emerged as the leader in several UDisc stats during the tournament, boasting a 47% birdie percentage and an impressive 79% scramble rate. His dominance was further evident as he led the field in reaching circle 1 in regulation at 42%. While Robinson’s journey ended on a disappointing note, he can take pride in his strong weekend performance, securing a podium finish and coming close to victory. The recently crowned 1X World Champ shouldn’t lose too much sleep over the Silver Event loss. Robinson excelled in fairways hit percentage at 85% and reaching circle 2 in regulation at 60%, leading these categories among his peers.

Gavin Babcock at the 2023 Discmania Open. Photo: Gage Hamilton / DGPT

The 3rd-place position on the podium went to another Team Discmania standout, Gavin Babcock (PDGA# 80331). Babcock’s impressive final score of 10 under par deserves recognition. Although his circle 1x putting proved to be a weak point over the weekend, it’s worth noting that he surprisingly led the field in circle 2 putting with a remarkable 46% success rate. Had his circle 1x putting been more consistent, he might have contended for the top spot.

As the 2023 season approaches an exciting conclusion, McMahon’s victory at the Discmania Open has propelled him to the top spot in the UDisc World Rankings, even surpassing Calvin Heimburg (PDGA# 45971). Eagle has secured eleven top-10 finishes this season, boasting a 69% top-10 rate, with 6 of those resulting in podium finishes across Silver, Elite, and Major events.

Furthermore, Isaac Robinson maintains his position at number 6 on the UDisc World Rankings following this weekend’s competition. Robinson has accumulated twelve top-10 finishes this season, reflecting a 57% top-10 rate, and he has stood on the podium 7 times.

This event represented the last opportunity for players to secure a spot in the prestigious 2023 MVP Open presented by OTB, the playoff event kicking off on September 14th. Don’t miss the chance to witness history in the making – catch all the action on the Disc Golf Network.