It’s hard to believe that 15 years ago we started the 4 States Open! It’s definitely the biggest event on the Disc Golf Monkey tour in many ways. The Joplin Club & Crew are absolutely amazing, as they continue to raise the bar for local tournaments. I have to admit the 4 States is my favorite event on tour because I get to just be a player. The TD responsibilities are given up and when asked the many questions that a TD should know, I was able to pass off the questions I didn’t know to Kevin Carder, Michael Cory or Andrew Jinks. Thank you all for doing such an excellent job and letting me enjoy such an excellent event as a player!

The work done at McClelland with redesigning, clearing, making bridges, painting, and so much more was incredible. Along with the 3 guys mentioned above, I know that James Childers, Gregg, and many others have worked incredibly hard making the course what it is. As with all new courses that are carved out of dense woods,
it will take time to make all the tweaks, getting things cleared, and the list goes on, but the courses are true championship caliber. Thank you all who have worked so hard making Joplin an amazing disc golf stop.

I am very proud to say that I won the Pro Masters Division. This was my first Pro A Tier win, and I pulled it off facing some great competition. John Belty, the “ambidextrous one”, Kyle Wilkes, the “s curve master and roller king”, and Rick Waggoner, the “man with few years under his belt” (that who continues to keep climbing up in the ranks) were all on the lead card and pushed me to play some of the best golf I have ever played. Shooting a -9 and -10 on the opening two rounds made the difference as the 5 stroke lead after the first day is what I ended up winning by. The Eagle Course brought me back down to earth, but I was still on top of the world (at least that’s how I was feeling).

A bonus part of my weekend was getting to hang out and vend next to my good buddy Jason Schwake with his Innova Van. He was a good luck charm. You gotta make more of my events brother! I appreciate all the many players taking the time to give me the good vines, encouragement, and congratulating me on my play. Great players, great competitors, challenging courses, an incredible staff, and simply a wonderful experience that I am so thankful to be a part of.

A big thanks to my sponsors: Innova Champion Discs, Millennium Golf Discs, Fossa, and Creator Designs. You guys are all Aces!