A look back at last year's A-Tier gives us some insight into this season's first National Tour event
February 16, 2017 by Alex Colucci in Analysis with 0 comments
There’s one week until the first PDGA National Tour event of the season begins, and we’re just as excited for the season to start in North America as Jeremy Koling and Simon Lizotte were to be playing catch before last year’s event:
The Gentlemen’s Club Challenge begins Thursday, February 23rd at the Wildhorse Golf Club in Henderson, Nevada, just outside of Las Vegas. While some might balk at disc golf on a golf course, this venue’s elevation changes; dry, fast fairways and greens; and water hazards will have competitors pushing their luck on their way to the lead card.
The GCC was an A-Tier last year, and the 18 filmed holes of the final round had plenty of highlights, courtesy of The SpinTV. Philo Brathwaite went into the final round with a two stroke lead over both Simon Lizotte and Matt Orum, while Zackeriath Johnson and Matt Bell were both four strokes back. Brathwaite managed to stay in front—extending his lead to three strokes over Matt Bell by the end—while the rest of the card spent the round pushing to catch up.
Two of the most impressive moments of that round came, unsurprisingly, from Simon Lizotte. First he mashed a roller over 600-feet on Hole 16:
And then followed that up with a 360 drive on Hole 18:
Lizotte 2016 GCC 360 Drive GIF
Lizotte wasn’t the only one with a huge highlight: J.C. Kester thumbered his way to an albatross on Hole 18 during the final round, too. I wouldn’t be surprised to see some more highlight-worthy action next week.
2016 GCC Final Round Front 9 Video
2016 GCC Finnal Round Back 9 Video
Brathwaite kept it in play, and accuracy around all that OB will be important again this year. So, will that strategy work for someone again in 2017, or will the winner be whoever ups the ante and tests the lines?
