November 21, 2011

Texas Teams Hosts Massive Event

Circle R Ranch in Wimberley, TX bulged with disc golfers this past weekend.  There are not enough megabytes on this website to tell all the stories that 468 golfers and their families have to offer.  But we can tell you that DFW metroplex disc golfers had a huge impact on the biggest disc golf party ever held!

John and Dee Leekha-Houck said their primary mission for this event is to bring the disc golf community together.  Well it is very safe to say "mission accomplished"!  By all accounts, Texas Teams was a true bonding experience for the disc golf community.  

One of the highest rated Pro Masters players in DFW, Tony Shirley (with Team Crowley) said, "I will be back next year, without a doubt"!  Jennifer Brooks (from Team DiscQualified Too) called her experience "unforgettable".  And Adam Hernandez (with Team 512 MetCenter) said that "everybody raved about how this was the best weekend ever".

A total of 36 nine man "established" teams and 24 "merged" teams battled it out for two separate Texas Team championship titles.  Team Discqualified One defeated the Lubbock Deuces to win the Established division.  This is Team DQ's second championship.  They won it all in 2009 and finished third in 2010.  Cedar Hill beat last year's winner, Team 1Time, for the Merged title.
Team DQ1's Captain, Ray Brandon, said "North Texas rules disc golf again!".  And it would be hard to argue with him.  Team DQ sent three teams comprised mostly of players from the metroplex.  They took home first and third in the Established division, and fifth in the Merged division.

Team One's members were captain Barry Wayne Pierce (World Champion Paige Pierce's father), Vinnie Miller, Ken Herrod, Ron Silleman, Scott Petry, Paige Pierce, Chris McDougald, Ben Cole, and Lourdes Linares.  Cole won a crucial sudden death match playoff to send Team One into the finals.

On Team Too were Captain Ray Brandon, Rusty Pappas, Kenny Gilbert, Tom Etchison, Mike Christian, Bates Hopkins, Tom Stevens, Will Laymon, and Jennifer Brooks.  Brooks described returning from her match versus the female player from Team Krunk Rock (last year's Established champion).  She called seeing the joy in her teammate's faces "unforgettable", as the group had just realized that Team Too had won, and would move onto the semi-finals.

Team DQ was also proud of their Merged team's solid fifth place finish.  Members of that squad included Captain Donovon Whiddon, Bret Knowles, Mike Strange, Sid Howard, Thai Cao, and Kevin Flenniken.

Adam Hernandez from Team 512 MetCenter gushed enthusiastically about his team's performance.  In only their second year to compete, they were able to crack the sweet sixteen.  Adam's teammates were Team Captain James Gonzalez, Sol Mercado, Mando Flores, Mike Perez, Jeremy Croke, Conrad Flores, Tosha Barnes, Blue Romero, and Joe Torrence.

Hernandez fondly recalled the sound of baskets ringing throughout the camp grounds.  He also enjoyed the perfect weather and terrific sportsmanship among the competitors.

His favorite moments of the weekend included beating Chris Rodgers, a top player from team Pease, and seeing the "priceless" look on teammate Conrad Flores' face as he celebrated his 3-0 victory.  Flores had not seen big tournament pressure previously.  Adam called Conrad's performance "phenomenal".   With the pressure finally off, the team celebrated with a few brews from their team's sponsor, Independence Brewery.

One of the most enthusiastic supporters of disc golf in the DFW area is Stephanie Pullins.  After having a great time at the team competition at Selah Ranch, she decided she could not miss the Texas Teams event.  So she put together the "Pocket Aces" team at the last minute.  Playing with her were Brandon Burgland, David Bartlett (her boyfriend), Mike Keith, Stephen Hansen, and Justin Motz.

Her best memory is the good natured grief she was given for making an itinerary for all her players.  In a clear binder (with a cover page including team logo), she listed important personal information, a thank you note, a course map, and a copy of the Texas Teams preview from MetroplexDiscGolf.com!  She said she received some friendly harassment in regard to her organizational efforts, adding the other teams were probably just jealous.

It came as no surprise to hear that Pullins' team received the honor for being the most spirited of the 54 teams.  Her love and devotion to disc golf is contagious.  She is a terrific advocate for the sport.

Stephanie is known as "Thumbergirl".  Fittingly, her best shot of the tournament was an overhand (on hole three) at the field course.  She described throwing the thumber of her life up and over the trees, finally landing parked next to the basket (and out throwing the three male players on her card).  Pullins also wanted to thank teammate Keith for continuing to play through the pain after he rolled his ankle in the first round.  

The aforementioned Team1Time (last years Merged champions and 2nd this year) had members from the metroplex.  On the team were Rob Dawson, Shaine Powers, Anthony Cordova, A.J. Jensen, John Griffith, and Dewayne Furr.  Furr's StraightLineDiscs is hosting a C-Tier tournament at the mighty Rockwall course (by John Houck course design) this Saturday, November 26.  Cordova said despite losing by "one measly match", he enjoyed getting to play night golf competitively at the Ranch (daylight ran out and the final matches were played in darkness using lights).

Tony Shirley (from Team Crowley) was excited to see the PDGA ratings updated recently.  He made it a personal quest to get his rating over 990 this year.  His goal was accomplished as his rating now stands at 992.  He credited his wife (Cherrylyn) and son (Cameron) with helping him achieve the milestone.  Their presence at the tournaments this year had given him peace of mind, enabling him to focus on his game.  Tony finished with two wins, one loss, and two ties during the Teams competition.

Crowley brought a very strong team of Brice Longerbone, Shawn Robertson, Roger Villarreal, Dalton Seabolt, David Kinter, Toby Torres, Jerry Seabolt, Samara Schrimsher, and Shirley.  They were able to make it all the way to the final eight, finally bowing out in the second round of the playoffs.

Shirley's favorite hole was number 18 at the Meadow course.  He said it is around 900 feet with a double dog leg.  He added "That's what you get at a John Houck designed course".

Tony's favorite memory of the tournament was watching a mentor of his, Ron Silleman, play through the pain to help Team Discqualified One raise the championship trophy.  Ron was called to fill in at the last minute for a Masters player who couldn't make it.  Even though he was hobbled with a knee injury, he limped up and down the tough, hilly terrain at the Ranch.  Shirley said Silleman's knee swelled up "like a grapefruit".

Another example of sportsmanship was evident in a crucial match between Silleman and another top Masters player, Marcus Roberts.  Daylight had run out and lights were being taped to the discs so they could be found.  Unfortunately, Silleman's tape was not as strong as his will (or pain tolerance), and the light flew off his disc.  The light was easy to find, unfortunately the disc was not.

Ron felt panic set in as he imagined he would lose the match (and possibly see his team lose the championship) due to this fluke occurrence.  But Roberts showed true class and chivalry.  After a five or six minute search, he found the disc in the middle of the fairway, and seemed to be as happy as Silleman that the disc was found!

Shirley described his best shot of the tournament.  It was a putt which took place (in an epic match) against a formidable opponent from Pease Park.  After going up 2-0 early in the nine hole match, his challenger tied the match by capitalizing on two birdie holes, while Tony made par.  Later Tony managed a one hole lead with two holes to go.  But his foe was worthy, hitting a fifty foot birdie putt to tie the match with one final hole to go.

Tony still felt the match was within reach, as he had a twenty five footer for birdie on the last hole.  His rival faced a forty five footer with a stiff tailwind.  But again his adversary showed moxie, canning the putt and placing the pressure directly on Shirley.  Either hit this putt into a stiff headwind, or lose this back and forth battle.  Only upon seeing his putt blast dead center chains and fall to rest in the cage could Tony finally relax.  The match ended in a well deserved tie.

The gracious hosts of the tournament were John and Dee Leekha-Houck of Circle R Ranch.  Many people mentioned John and Dee in their favorite memories or reasons for coming to the event.  What follows is a message from them.

"We hope everyone who came enjoyed the event and we want to thank the volunteers and staff who helped us. Kathy Brandon was a huge help as well as Emily Conner. Tiffany Brogdon, the members of the Pocket Aces, and the Waco team were all a big help at check in. We want to thank Eric and Penny Vlam for all their help as well."

"We know that there is no payout, but we hope that everyone who attended got more than their money's worth. Every year we elevate the event beyond last year, and every year, it's our goal to go further. Don't know how big the 2012 event will be. But we will start registration sooner and we will do whatever we need to so that we accommodate as many players as possible."

"A BIG Thank you to all the players for coming out and doing their part in making this event so successful. We really appreciate it that everyone is so respectful and we had no negative incidences the whole weekend. Now, that says something wonderful about disc golfers in Texas! Thanks y'all! See you next year!"

This teams event really shows a lot about our sport and the type of people who are involved in it.  Many people outside of disc golf would be unable to see the allure of the event.  Just what was it that brought so many people from all around the state to this location?

Why would 500 people congregate in the Texas Hill country to fight for a tournament title with no cash or merchandise prizes?  Why would so many vow to return with glowing reports on the fun that was had? And why is the enthusiasm of this event unmatched anywhere on the disc golf event schedule?

Is it 63 of the best disc golf holes to be found anywhere in the world?  Or to play for the good of the team instead of the individual?  Or is it the festival atmosphere of camping out with 400+ people who share a common bond?

The answer (to all of the above) is yes.  And more.  The Texas Team Championships at Circle R Ranch in Wimberley, Texas is simply an event no disc golfer in Texas should miss.  Start getting your team together.  Make your plans now (for 2012) to go to the biggest festival disc golf has to offer.  I'll be there.  Will you?