From the desk of Owl P. Jackson, Esq.
August 20, 2025 by Owl P. Jackson, Esq. in Opinion, Recap
A green and white water tower looms on the horizon. From second base of the local Little League diamond, you can make out the words…Eureka Lake. We made it—Ledgestone. These are the top storylines of the 2025 Ledgestone Open…by the numbers.
735—The number of days since Valerie Mandujano’s last win.
It took a three-hole playoff, but Val has finally returned to the winner’s circle. It has been a long road back to the top for Mandujano. In January of 2023, a freak accident left her with two torn tendons. Since then, she has only had one podium finish.
“Obviously I shed some tears. And I think the last time I cried over a win was when I won WACO—my first ever Pro Tour win,” Mandujano said after the win. “You have to continue to grind every week, even if you’re not showing up on lead or anything—it’s just a grind. I just kept putting in work and telling myself that one day I will hold the trophy again…Finally, I get to hold that trophy today.”
1062—Paul McBeth’s rating record.
That’s what was on the mind of Gannon Buhr as he competed his way to his second straight Ledgestone title. Now that he has checked “World Champion” off his G.O.A.T. bucket list, Buhr mentioned that he is able to play freely, without any pressure. That’s a scary thought for the rest of the field. He was doing pretty great with the pressure of expectations. What will a carefree Gannon look like?
“Once I got that world title, I can just relax…It’s a wonderful feeling—not having to be stressed out. I wasn’t nervous on a single shot,” Buhr told Terry Miller. “I have a pretty good chance this next month to break [the ratings record]. After that, it’s gonna be a little bit tougher, because I did play so well at the end of last year.”
As of last week’s ratings update, Gannon sits at 1061.
5—The number of wins Gannon had at this point last year.
Speaking of career-defining achievements, last season Buhr was able to rattle off 9 Elite or Major wins. Even though he was expected to dominate again this season, few expected him to reach that height of dominance for a second year in a row. This year has felt slower, but it isn’t. Through Ledgestone 2024, Buhr had tallied 5 wins. In 2025…5 wins. Can he run it back? Could he even surpass it? 6 events remain.
100—The number of putts it felt like Ohn made from inside of a bush in circle 2.
The reigning World Champion was able to catch Valerie during the final round from the chase card, tallying 7 birdies on the back nine. If Ohn continues to putt like this, she is going to be in contention, no matter what the style of course is. On Sunday, Ohn putted 86% from C1X and 71% from C2. Her 397 total feet of putting earned her nearly five strokes over the field.
29—Holyn Handley’s finishing position.
What’s going on with Holyn Handley? Following a no-show at Worlds, Holyn missed the cut (and the cash) at Ledgestone. This was a shocking finish from the Pro Tour Standings leader, especially when you consider the shallow field. Kristin is taking a break. The Finns—Eveliina, Henna, Silva—were back home. This was Holyn’s tournament to win—or at least to compete in.
To be fair, Holyn wasn’t the only upper echelon player to have a rough weekend. Ella Hansen also finished above par and Cadence Burge finished in last cash. One positive from a strange tournament—we were able to shine some light on newer faces like Rebecca Don, Emily Weatherman, and Addison Woodard.
3—Kat Mertsch’s best finish of the year.
Kat Mertsch is an interesting player. She is capable of winning on any given weekend. And, yet, she rarely finds herself in true contention nor in the conversation of the division’s top-tier. This weekend she was right there, just short of causing a three-way playoff. Her third-place finish at Ledgestone was her first podium finish of the season and her first top 5 finish since the season opener at Supreme Flight Open. She hasn’t won an Elite Series since the 2023 Jonesboro Open, but right now—with the Europeans gone and other top players slumping—might be her best chance.
0—How much Ohn grabbing Valerie’s disc matters.
Nothing is generating more online Ledgestone scuttlebutt than the odd momen when Ohn Scoggins picked up Val’s disc in the playoff, offering her the gimme to move on to the next playoff hole. But here’s the thing…it was handled correctly. It doesn’t matter. It didn’t affect the outcome.
Thanks for reading, everyone!
