Top 5 Moments from the 2024 Portland Open!

By Nick Quargnenti
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The 2nd DGPT+ event of the season, the 2024 Portland Open presented by Latitude 64°, delivered the full spectrum of excitement, drama, and memorable moments that fans anticipate and relish. Combine that with the stunning vistas and demanding fairways of the Glendoveer Golf Course, nestled in the vibrant Hazelwood neighborhood of Portland, and you have an unforgettable spectacle.

We’ve also reached the pivotal moment in the season where anticipation mounts for this year’s DGPT Playoffs registration. Today, June 3rd, 2024, we launch our initial registration wave. This wave extends invitations to the top 80 MPO players and the top 40 FPO players in DGPT World Standings to register for the first DGPT Playoff event of the season: the 2024 Green Mountain Championship presented by Discraft, hosted at the renowned Smugglers’ Notch Resort in Jeffersonville, VT. Click here for additional details about our DGPT Playoff format.

Let’s jump right into the top 5 moments from this year’s Portland Open!

1) Paige Pierce Back on Top!

Paige Pierce made a triumphant return to the winner’s circle at the DGPT Portland Open, securing her 1st DGPT event victory in 382 days since her 2023 OTB Open title. This win breaks her longest drought since her 1st DGPT event*/PDGA Pro Major (Tour event) win at the 2011 Memorial Championship, with her previous longest gap being 323 days between the 2011 Worlds and the 2012 Stockholm Open.

Dominating the fairways, Pierce led in birdie percentage (47%), C1 in regulation (44%), and strokes gained from tee-to-green (19.28). Her impressive 995 unofficial event rating is also her best since that same OTB Open. She was just 2 strokes shy of recording her 209th career Tour event* hot round. Additionally, this marks her return to the lead card, her first appearance since the 2023 Des Moines Challenge.

With this performance, the question arises: is Paige Pierce set to reclaim the dominance she once held before her injury? Only time will tell. As we wait to witness history, be sure to check out our Paige Pierce collection at the DGPT Pro Shop!

2) Ice in His Veins: Gannon Buhr’s Dominance!

Gannon Buhr showed the world the ice in his veins once again at the 2024 Portland Open, a DGPT+ event, by claiming a remarkable victory with an 8-stroke lead. This dominant performance marks the largest margin of victory in a Tour event* since Eagle McMahon’s 2021 Las Vegas Challenge win. Heading into the final round, Buhr held an impressive 10-stroke lead, the largest seen in a Tour event since Paul McBeth’s 2017 Masters Cup dominance, where McBeth ultimately triumphed by 10 strokes over Ricky Wysocki.

This achievement marks his 6th Tour event* win and his 2nd in a wire-to-wire fashion, reminiscent of his 2023 triumph at the Des Moines Challenge. Buhr’s dominance was evident from the start, as he posted the hot round of the tournament with a -10 on day 1. Consistency was his hallmark; he matched his stellar performance with another -10 in Round 2 and came just a circle’s edge putt away from hitting -10 once more in Round 3, ultimately finishing with a -9. By the final round, the weather was on his side as it would take a -10 hot round for any player to come close to catching him.

Buhr showed no signs of slowing down, with his commanding victory highlighted by leading stats across the board. He topped the field in birdie percentage at 50%, demonstrating his exceptional angle and power control by leading in reaching both C1 (46%) and C2 (72%) in regulation. This dominance translated to a field-leading 17.37 strokes gained from tee-to-green. Buhr’s win also earned him his 3rd-largest career payout, following his impressive performances at the 2022 USDGC and DGPT Championship.

Buhr has now triumphed in both DGPT+ events this season, adding the Portland Open to his earlier win at Waco. This latest victory brings his total to 6 DGPT event and PDGA Pro Major wins since 2022, tying him with Calvin Heimburg and trailing only Simon Lizotte and Ricky Wysocki, who each have 7 wins. Buhr’s dominant performance in this DGPT+ event, earning 125 points, propels him to the top of the DGPT World Standings with 797.08 Tour points—over 100 points ahead of the next player, Anthony Barela, who has 677.38 points.

3) Sofia Donnecke’s Historic Podium Finish!

Sofia Donnecke made waves at the Portland Open, finishing 3rd and becoming the first Canadian to podium at a DGPT event. The last Canadian to achieve a similar feat was Elaine King, who finished 3rd at the 2013 HoF Classic and 2nd at the 2008 Brent Hambrick Memorial.

Donnecke’s rise has been swift; she debuted at the 2024 OTB Open, placing 14th, after previously missing cash at the 2023 Throw Pink Women’s Disc Golf Championship (TPWDGC). Before her Tour debut, she had already secured wins in 4 A-tier and 4 C-tier events. Most recently, Donnecke led the 2024 Las Vegas Challenge (A-tier) after Round 1 before ultimately finishing 2nd to Lykke Lorentzen. Her impressive lead card performance this weekend also set a record for the highest PDGA number (#185534) to make a DGPT lead card, surpassing Ida Emilie Nesse’s #181772 from the 2023 PCS Open.

Sofia Donnecke at the 2024 Portland Open. Photo: Kevin Huver

In Round 2, she shot an impressive -10, just 1 stroke shy of the hot round, leading the field in fairway hits (100%), C1 (50%) and C2 (83%) in regulation, strokes gained from tee-to-green (6.96), and scramble percentage (100%). Donnecke would go on to maintain the highest scramble percentage for the entire tournament at 50%. Sofia Donnecke’s highlights this weekend gave us all a taste of her potential, leaving fans eager to see what the future holds for this rising star in disc golf.

4) Cole Redalen’s Hometown Heroics!

Cole Redalen showcased his prowess at the Portland Open, securing a solo 2nd place finish, marking his 6th podium at a Tour event* and his first Top-5 of 2024, with his previous best being 6th place at the Open at Austin.

Hailing from Hillsboro, Oregon, Redalen had the added thrill of competing in his hometown. He demonstrated his skills in Round 3, leading the field in reaching C2 in regulation (83%) and C1X Putting (100%), while also tying the weekend’s hot round at -10. Redalen’s eagle putt on Hole 18 propelled him into a tie for 2nd place heading into the final round.

The battle for 2nd place intensified during the final round, with Redalen and Ricky Wysocki exchanging blows until the end. Despite momentarily cutting Gannon Buhr’s lead to 6 strokes, Redalen’s -6 hot round (for Round 4) secured him the podium finish. The skilled Oregonian’s performance underscores his talent and leaves fans eager to see if he can claim a victory this season.

5) Holyn Handley’s Hot Streak!

Holyn Handley delivered an incredible showcase of skill this weekend, culminating in a breathtaking final round where she shot the hot round of the event with an impressive -11. This remarkable feat propelled her to a solo 2nd place finish, trailing only her friend Paige Pierce by a mere 2 strokes.

Handley’s consistency shines through as this marks her 3rd consecutive top-5 finish of the season, following a 4th place at DDO and a 3rd place at OTB. With only 3 occasions outside the top-5 and a solitary 16th place finish at the Open at Austin, Handley remains a force to be reckoned with on the Tour.

Her outstanding performance in Portland also boosts her to 3rd place in the DGPT World Standings, with an impressive total of 866.33 Tour points. Notably, she led the field in C2 Putting (38%), Average Putting Distance (15.9 feet), and Strokes Gained in C2 (4.49), showcasing her skill and finesse on the course. While a Tour event* victory remains just out of reach, it’s undeniable that she’s on the brink of triumph and poised to seize that elusive win.

BONUS) Portland Throw-ins!

  • Anniken Steen nails the ACE on the 330 FT Hole 16 at Glendoveer East during Round 3! Steen’s precision shot stands as the lone ace of the tournament, showcasing her skill and finesse. Despite the spectacular moment, Steen finishes the tournament in 11th place.

  • One of the weekend’s standout shots, albeit one that doesn’t officially count! Paige Pierce delivers a remarkable provisional shot from Hole 12’s drop zone, only to have it ruled later that she didn’t miss the mandatory. However, the impressive throw-in undoubtedly provides the momentum any player would crave to finish a round strong, potentially setting Pierce up for a powerful finish.

  • Isaac Robinson nails an incredible 315-foot throw-in for an eagle on Hole 9 at Glendoveer East during Round 3! This remarkable feat propels him to a tie for 5th place in the event, marking his 4th top-10 finish of the year.

  • Fresh from her recent victory at the 2024 Las Vegas Challenge, Lykke Lorentzen impressively throws in an eagle from deep on Hole 17 at Glendoveer East during Round 3! Despite this standout moment, she ultimately finishes the tournament in 12th place.

  • Get ready for some heart-pounding action! Eagle McMahon had spectators holding their breath as he came oh-so-close to sinking an eagle on Hole 15 at Glendoveer West during Round 1. While the near miss had everyone buzzing with excitement, McMahon ultimately finishes the tournament in a tie for 10th place.

* DGPT wins include standard DGPT, DGPT+, and DGPT Playoff events.

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