November 14, 2011   

Ramirez Battles Grider to Final Hole!

The 11th annual Alex Clark Memorial Disc Golf Tournament was held Saturday, November 12, at Alex Clark Memorial Disc Golf Course in McKinney, TX.  The tournament benefited the Alex Clark foundation.  It was the biggest event of the year for the McKinney Disc Golf Association (McKinneyDiscGolf.org).  The PDGA sanctioned C-Tier event boasted a field of 71 players.  Competitors faced warm and windy conditions as they battled for over $1,500 in cash and prizes.

In a hard fought battle, Local top Pro J.D. Ramirez outpaced the legendary Nolan Grider for 1st place in the Professional division.  Being the only players in the field with ratings over 1000, they outpaced the rest of the Open division by at least 19 shots!  Shaine Power (3rd) and Brandon Burgland (4th) rounded out the cash spots for the Pros.  Ramirez showed his character and support of disc golf by donating some signed discs to be given to the winners in the female divisions.

Tournament Director DeWayne Furr played on the Advanced Women's card in the first round.  Competitor Jennifer Brooks said that Furr discussed how to best promote women's participation in disc golf tournaments with the female players.  She appreciated the effort Furr and others are putting into getting more women involved in the sport.

DFW female disc golfers were well represented at the tournament.  Stephanie Pullins took home 1st in Intermediate Women.  She said she had a blast reporting, "We had 6 women sign up!  Made out like a bandit!".  She said she won 3 of the raffle prizes and a CTP on hole 18 (parking her shot only 5 feet from the basket).  She thanked all the women who played and said she would be at the Straight Line Discs event at Rockwall on November 26th.

Lourdes Linares took home first in Advanced Women.  Her 2 rounds averaged about 50 points higher than her player rating, and she won $85 in merchandise.  Linares celebrated her victory by getting her 2nd ever ace on Sunday, November 13th (the day after the ACM Tournament)in a casual practice round!

Linares enjoyed watching the playoff for the Advanced title between Scott McBride and Dane McClary.  Both players shot 6 under par for the 42 hole tournament.  McBride emerged victorious, taking the 1st place trophy in the playoff.

Lourdes also reported that Alex's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Clark, were in attendance for the entire tournament as they  showed their support for the disc golfers.  Linares also appreciated the city of McKinney donating lunch, snacks, and Gatorade for the participants.

Steve Evans and Mike Taylor battled to the finish for top honors in the Pro Masters division.  Evans took home the $120 1st prize in winning by a single shot.  Taylor received $70 for his 2nd place finish.

Other winners included Mike Schofield (Intermediate), Carl Jones (Recreational), and Lisa Armstrong in the Women's Recreational division.

This tournament was truly a celebration of Alex Clark's life.  Furr said that Alex was a 17 year old high school senior who grew up near the (then 9 hole) McKinney disc golf course which now bears his name.  Tragically, he was killed in a car accident in May of 2000, just weeks before he would have graduated from McKinney High School.  The memorial service was held on the course because of Alex's (and his friend's) love of the game.  Alex's parents requested that all memorial gifts be sent to the city to fund expansion of the course to 18 holes.  Over $28,500 was raised and the course was indeed expanded.

A memorial sculpture was unveiled on April 14, 2001, bearing the inscription "Alex Clark Memorial Disc Golf Course" and a diagram titled "Pay It Forward".  The McKinney Disc Golf Association (MDGA) is still inspired by the mantra to pay it forward.  Furr said they are committed to growing the event to an "A Tour" event in the near future, and will always consider this Memorial Tournament as their main event for the year.  Money raised from the tournament is still donated to the Alex Clark Foundation, who in turn donate the funds to the charity of their choice.  Previous recipients have included Habitat For Humanity and similar organizations.

Furr said that Alex touched nearly everyone he met with his magnetic personality and love for disc golf.  One of Alex's good friends, Giles Sowerby (PDGA# 28127), finished 5th in the Open division this year.  Last year Sowerby took first place in the Advanced division by 5 shots.  Furr said that Sowerby is a great ambassador for the sport of disc golf, and is a founding member of the MDGA.  Sowerby's wife, Hallie, is also an avid disc golfer. Only 4 months ago Hallie had their first child, a son who is named Mason.

The MDGA was just started in March of this year, and already boasts over 160 members!  Furr said that the average turnout for their weekly Wednesday night mini tournament is 45-50 players.  There is usually a nice ace pot available.  During the summer they play a mix of short tees and longs, and in the wintertime they move to playing all short tees.

Furr, who works as an account manager for United Health, said that the McKinney Disc Golf Association website received an award for being one the top 5 coolest club websites by the PDGA.  He credited John Griffith and Wes Briscoe for building the website, with Griffith being responsible for the logo.

Furr is also excited about his North Texas Tournament Series.  Details of the series and information on the next event at Harry Myers Disc Golf Course in Rockwall can be found at www.StraightLineDiscs.com.