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Gilbert Mounts Epic Comeback in CDGT Win

Gilbert Mounts Epic Comeback in CDGT Win

Canadian Disc Golf Tour Kicks off in Kamloops

Monday, May 15, 2023 - 13:31

Excitement was in the air as the Tournament Capital Open (TCO), a PDGA A-tier event presented by Dynamic Discs, kicked off the inaugural Canadian Disc Golf Tour this weekend in Kamloops.

The Canadian Disc Golf Tour (CDGT), which features nine events across the country, with video coverage of all lead/feature MPO cards, as well as some FPO coverage presented by Parked Pro Media. The action took place on the John Houck-designed Rose Hill course and the Eric McCabe-designed MacArthur Island course across three days of sun, rain, and heavy winds.

Close to 400 competitors from all over Canada, the United States and as far away as Germany and Estonia, descended on Kamloops to compete in this highly anticipated event, which featured $10,000 of added cash prizes for its competitors.

The competition was intense as expected, with pro tour veterans Thomas Gilbert, Max Regitnig and Casey Hanemayer separating themselves from the pack in the thrilling final round. Regitnig carried a lead into the final round, which featured a highlight reel ace on the lead card in the final holes. In the end, Thomas Gilbert, thanks to a run of eight  straight birdies, pulled out the thrilling victory in MPO. 

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Thomas Gilbert celebrates his victory at the Tournament Capital Open, the first CDGT event of 2023.

On the FPO side of things, it came down to the wire as well, with new mother, Julie Moens, holding off a charging Gabby Lee and hard-throwing newcomer Sofia Dönnecke, who will be a name to watch in the coming years, at the MacArthur Island course.

Parked Pro Media, Canada’s leading YouTube channel for disc golf coverage, will be providing post-produced coverage of the MPO division, allowing fans around the world to tune in and follow the action after play has completed.

Regitnig, Hanemayer, and the ubiquitous Thomas Gilbert are three of the highest-rated Canadian players to have ever played the game, and newcomer Jade Smith topped out the list of 1000+ rated players in the MPO division. The FPO division featured 15 of the best female players from across Western Canada, including the Moens sisters, Jordan and Julie, tour veteran Briana Ainsley, Jo Henderson from the Approachable podcast, and many more, making it one of the deepest FPO fields that’s played at a tournament in Canada. 

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Julie Moens takes down the FPO crown at the 2023 Tournament Capital Open in Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada.

PDGA Canada re-invests Canadian player fees back into the sport in Canada, assisting tournaments, training events, course construction, media like the CDGT, and more. Their support makes the TCO and 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.

"We are thrilled to have the support of PDGA Canada, and to have the TCO be the first stop on the Canadian Disc Golf Tour. Carrie Neal, Chad Smoliak and the rest of the TD team have worked tirelessly to make this event a success, and we can't wait to see the players hit the course and showcase the best in Canadian disc golf," said Andre Lodder, CEO Parked Pro Media.

The TCO was a weekend of fun and a celebration of Canadian disc golf, before, during and after the tournament rounds.

“The experience was pretty great. We had an ace run challenge, we had karaoke, we had a round of nighttime glow golf, overall everyone seems to be smiling no matter what their score was,” said Tournament Director Carrie Neal.

For more information about the Tournament Capital Open, visit the event's website or follow the PDGA and Parked Pro on social media for live updates and coverage.