Written by Matt Lisac, Parked Pro

Kamloops, BC - There’s a special kind of pressure returning to a tournament as a back-to-back champion. Toronto’s Thomas Gilbert is familiar with that pressure, having been a dominant player in Canada for several years already in his young career. Returning to Kamloops, BC for the 2024 edition of the Tournament Capital Open, Gilbert’s signature jerseys might as well have had targets painted up and down his back. In what was an ominous sign of things to come, Gilbert started the weekend by lapping the field at Sawyer's Disc Golf Trivia Night, one of many fun side events at the tournament, scoring an absurd 39 out of 40. 

Having fended off top professionals Casey Hanemayer and Max Regitnig at last year’s thrilling down-to-the-wire affair, Gilbert was now faced with a fresh crop of younger (some junior-aged) competitors that developed their games by watching him on coverage. Victoria’s Luke Levesque, Kelowna’s Carver Whitford, and Calgary’s Conall McLeod, all current or just-graduated junior-aged professionals, did not appear to be star-struck when the time came to weave shots through the challenging and technical Copper Ridge course at Logan Lake, a short drive from Kamloops. The win bumps Gilbert to second place in the CDGT standings.

Levesque finished the tournament in 2nd place off the back of a scorching second round that continued into day 3 when he shot the hot round to secure his best finish at an A-Tier.

Meanwhile, Gryphon Vester made his Parked Pro coverage debut for round 2, but after solid rounds from Levesque, Conall McLeod, and Jonny Munke, Vester was forced to battle the challenging day three weather from the chase card. He did just that, throwing a  minus-4 final round to round out the podium. Gilbert’s first round featured a blind ace, to which the entire card was oblivious until they approached the basket. It was one of 3 aces on the day but surely the most subdued.

“Having Thomas make the TCO a ‘must play’ on his tour schedule is special. No other Pro has made that commitment to Kamloops and it definitely draws the Amateur players in! He brings a special energy to the weekend, on and off the course. Seeing the smiles of all the players, either competing against, or getting signatures from him, it's obvious that he's an amazing ambassador for Canada and the sport of disc golf.”  -TD Carrie Neal

"Kamloops deserves its moniker of the Tournament Capital of Canada. A home away from home for athletes and tourists, it has all the amenities you could ask for, both from a disc golf perspective, as well as great dining, outdoor activities, and scenery for days. It’s no wonder the TCO is always a well-attended and highly-regarded event." - Andre Lodder, CEO Parked Pro Media

On the FPO side, another returning champion had to fend off an even larger and more elite field than the previous year. Victoria’s Julie Moens, propelled by a 940-rated second round in the rain and sleet atop Copper Ridge, held on for the win despite a final-round push from Gabby Lee and Kristy Lee (no relation). The win gets Moens on the CDGT leaderboard in tenth place.

Teri Hong, who finished fourth at the TCO, now leads the CDGT on the FPO side.

The full standings of the CDGT can be found at CDGT.ca

Players can earn CDGT points at all Canadian A-tier and B-tier events.

Other Notes from the TCO: In MP40, Chance Stad, recovering from back surgery, beat out Stewart McIsack on the final hole of a four-hole aggregate playoff to secure the win.

The Copper Ridge course, long considered a hidden gem in Western Canada, has undergone serious work in recent years to elevate it to the position of A-Tier ready. The course runs up and down the wooded hills surrounding the lake town and features big elevation changes, technical lines, and monstrous Douglas firs emblematic of the region. 

The Eric McCabe-designed MacArthur Island course has served as the TCO's final round backdrop for the last three years and continues to provide exciting finishes. A series of long, tight final holes prioritize risk and reward decisions that could turn eagles into bogeys, and wins into losses.

***

PDGA Canada re-invests Canadian player fees back into the sport in Canada, supporting tournaments, training and visible minority initiatives, course construction, media like the CDGT, and more. Their support makes the Canadian Disc Golf Tour possible. The CDGT is an exciting new opportunity for players to compete at a high level and showcase their skills on a national stage, in a way that has never been available for players in Canada looking to make the jump to global professional competition. From providing structure, support and sanctioning for tournaments, to helping aspiring professionals reach their athletic dreams, PDGA Canada has been instrumental in bringing Disc Golf into the mainstream in Canada as both a sport and a competitive hobby.

Media Contact:

Andre Lodder

CEO - Parked Pro Media Inc.

(250) 308-4558

info@parkedpro.com

Additional Resources:

www.cdgt.ca

www.parkedpro.com

youtube.com/@parkedpro