The top disc golfers around the world convened in Benesov, Czech Republic for the 2018 Konopiste Open. The first PDGA Major of the year for the Open division took the competition to the Franz Ferdinand course.
Filled with long, open holes, the Franz Ferdinand course demands distance, but forces you to be smart with your shot selection in order to reach the lowest scores possible.
Two members of Team Discmania, Eagle McMahon and Simon Lizotte, didn’t waste any time and attacked the course from the very first throws of the event en route finishing in first and second place respectively. The win marks McMahon’s first PDGA Major victory.
Pair of Course Records Drive McMahon to the Top Spot
Throughout 2018, if a disc golf tournament has had Eagle McMahon in the field, it’s a safe bet he’d be in contention for the win. Having been in Europe for a few weeks, McMahon showed no signs of slowing down as the Konopiste Open began.
The first round saw McMahon blaze through the course setting a new course record with a 51 (-16). He needed a birdie on the final hole to set the record and after his drive landed well left of the basket, he was faced with a putt from far outside the circle. McMahon lined it up and nailed chains to claim the record and to end the first round on a high note.
That momentum continued into the second round when McMahon shot yet another 51 (-16) to give him a six shot advantage midway through the tournament.
For the third round, McMahon came back down to Earth and only shot a 53 (-14). With the rest of the field failing to make up ground, McMahon saw his lead extend to nine with just 18 holes remaining. Even with the lead, McMahon knew he couldn’t let up until it was all said and done.
McMahon’s final round began with three pars which allowed his lead to be cut down ever so slightly. Thanks to birdies on 12 of the final 15 holes, McMahon was finally able to claim his first PDGA Major win of his career.
Lizotte Battles Sore Wrist, Finishes Second
When looking at the hole-by-hole scores or Simon Lizotte, one could make a strong case that he did everything he could in order to win the event. With countless birdies and even a few eagles mixed in, Lizotte was playing at a very high level.
Round one found him two shots behind McMahon after a 53 (-14) put him in second place to start out the tournament. Lizotte would follow up with a 56 (-11) in round two to slip to third place at the midway point.
After the second round, Lizotte told PDGA.com he was battling an inflamed wrist, but it wasn’t affecting his throwing form.
Lizotte showed no signs of the wrist pain as the weekend continued with a 55 (-12) in round three and a 51 (-16) of his own in round four. The end result put him five shots behind McMahon for the second place finish.
Team Discmania Results
Men’s Open
1. Eagle McMahon (-58)
2. Simon Lizotte (-53)
14. Leo Piironen (-33)
22. Niklas Anttila (-26)
33. Dominik Stampfer (-21)
50. Oskari Vikström (-17)
52. Tuomas Hyytiäinen (-16)
99. Mikael Birkelund Jensen-Johansen (+2)
126. Andreas Gertsch (DNF)
Women’s Open
6. Anna-Sofia Haipus (+25)
Photos: Eino Ansio