The famous Finnish gallery was out in force Saturday at the European Open. Photo: Jari Mäki-Kuutti
After a hot round Saturday at the European Open, Eagle McMahon is ready to sink his talons into The Beast during Sunday's final. And is it a done deal in the Open Women's division? Steve Hill brings the latest from Finland with another episode of Chain Reaction, including soundbites from McMahon, Ricky Wysocki, Paul McBeth, Albert Tamm, and Paige Pierce.
Eagle McMahon worked for his score but ended up with a 10-under par hot round Saturday at the European Open. Photo: Jari Mäki-Kuutti
NOKIA, Finland—After carding two birdies to start his round, Eagle McMahon sat on a bench just behind hole 3’s tee box here at Nokia DiscGolfPark Saturday afternoon and gazed out at the ribbons of people lining either side of the fairway. Then, breaking away from the steely concentration required to perform in front of that gallery, he took out his phone to capture the scene, in awe of the moment.
The enthusiastic crowds are on everyone's mind at the European Open. Photo: Jari Mäki-Kuutti
Comfort zones, consistency, and crushed shots are on the agenda for this episode of Chain Reaction, as Steve Hill delivers player news and interviews from round 2 of the 2019 European Open. Featuring soundbites from Ricky Wysocki, Paul McBeth, Paige Pierce, and more.
Ricky Wysocki notched seven straight birdies en route to the top of the European Open leaderboard Friday afternoon in Nokia, Finland. Photo: Jari Mäki-Kuutti
NOKIA, Finland—Ricky Wysocki had just finished tallying his score after another day of 11-under par golf here at The Beast, ready to be shepherded away for media obligations as a throng of eager spectators gathered around players in search of signatures and selfies. A shirtless fan was first in line and offered up a translucent teal disc for the two-time PDGA World Champion to adorn with his signature.
“I love you, Ricky,” the man said with a hurried Finnish accent. “Go win this [thing].”
Day one of the European Open saw plenty of crowd-pleasing moments. Photo: Eino Ansio | Spin 18
Among a sea of strong stateside competitors, it was a young, relatively unknown Finnish player who made the biggest impact during round one of the European Open. Plus, it was no sleep til Finland for Paige Pierce.
Steve Hill breaks down all the action from the first day of this PDGA Major with a new episode of Chain Reaction!
Twenty-year-old Finnish pro Jesse Nieminen nearly bagged a course record and walked away with a one-shot advantage Thursday at the European Open in Nokia, Finland. Photo: Tomi Mäkipää
NOKIA, Finland—Through 16 holes of Thursday’s opening round of the European Open, 20-year-old Finnish pro Jesse Nieminen wasn’t just taming the course known as The Beast; he was slaying it, taking a bogey-free 14-under par into Nokia DiscGolfPark’s daunting final two holes. Run that gauntlet successfully, and he could etch his name into the history books with a course record at these hallowed grounds.
An eager gallery looks on during the 2017 European Open. The event is renowned for not only the quantity, but also the quality of its spectators. Photo: Eino Ansio | Spin 18
NOKIA, Finland – This Scandinavian outpost replete with coffee, efficiency, and three months of seemingly endless daylight has evolved into one of disc golf’s most vital hotbeds, a nation where connecting plastic to metal is becoming as ubiquitous as the ice hockey rinks that serve as the backdrop to tournament central at this week’s European Open.
Paul McBeth (left), Gregg Barsby, Catrina Allen, and Henna Blomroos celebrate after the 2017 European Open. Photo: Eino Ansio | Spin 18
NOKIA, Finland -- The European Open will take center stage this week as 2019's first professional PDGA Major, with 144 competitors ready to tackle "The Beast" for the first time since 2017. If you can't be in the crowd of thousands here at Nokia DiscGolfPark for European disc golf's most prestigious affair over the next four days, there are still plenty of options to keep track of the action.
Here's everything you need to know to follow the European Open:
Junior Girls 12 & Under division finals competitors embrace after Haley Castruita won the title. Photo: Matt Gregoire, PDGA
After three and a half days of battling in the blazing summer heat of Emporia, Kansas, nine champions were crowned at the 2019 PDGA Junior Disc Golf World Championships presented by Dynamic Discs. By the time the preliminary rounds had come to an end, a clear leader had emerged in each and every division, leaving very little question as to who was likely to emerge as the world champion when the 9-hole finals at Emporia Country Club were all said and done.
Gannon Buhr heads into the finals with a lead of 24 in the MJ15 division. Photo: PDGA
With the last of the preliminary rounds coming to an end on Saturday morning and no semifinal rounds to worry about, the record-setting field of 210 at the 2019 PDGA Junior Disc Golf World Championships has now been reduced to just 30. Six of the nine divisions here in Emporia will have one last loop in a final nine foursome while the smallest three divisions will compete in twosomes. The opening rounds left some divisions with tightly contested battles, but as the days passed, many of the division leaders pulled significantly away from the rest of the field.
Junior Girls 18 & Under Round 3 Lead Card (left to right): Lily Marr, Kat Mertsch, Melody Castruita
Two days down and two to go here in Emporia, Kansas for the 2019 PDGA Junior Disc Golf World Championships. With most of the divisions now having three rounds in the books, we’re finally beginning to see some separation between the names near the top of the leaderboards and the rest of the field. The larger divisions still have three full rounds remaining until the final 9 showdowns on Saturday morning, so there’s still plenty of time for those in the middle of the pack to make a move.
