For the last few months, Team Discmania’s Eagle McMahon has been within reach of multiple wins, but for one reason or another, could never close the deal. An errant shot here or a surge from a competitor kept the top spot just out of reach. McMahon shook off the mental demons and returned to Milo McIver Disc Golf Course to push things in the right direction.
McMahon started strong before pushing harder than ever to take down his second straight Beaver State Fling. After a series of top-three finishes on the PDGA National Tour, this also marks McMahons’ first PDGA NT win of the year.
McMahon Rides Momentum to Win
The Beaver State Fling is a grueling four rounds in three days. It leaves little room for error since you are halfway through the tournament after day one. McMahon started out strong in Round One at Milo West with four straight birdies. A double bogey on the sixth hole was his only blemish of the round. His 52 (-9) put him on the chase card for Round Two.
Milo East played host to the second round where McMahon continued the strong play with a 50 (-11) to put himself in a tie for the lead spot with two rounds to play.
Following the course pattern, the third round returned to Milo West. While the birdie string didn’t show up right away, McMahon did birdie five of the final nine holes to jump into the lead. This was enough to extend his lead to just four shots with one round to play. The Beaver State Fling courses can be brutal at times and the four shot advantage was nothing to get comfortable about.
Back at Milo East, McMahon started strong and extended his lead to six within the first two holes. The comfort was short lived as McMahon found himself in a battle with Seppo Paju. With nine holes to play the lead was just four for McMahon. A bogey on Hole 12’s island green combined with Paju’s birdie cut the lead to just two.
McMahon was able to get those two shots back on the next two holes, only to give one shot back with three holes to play.
Hole 17 saw McMahon miss his par putt and carded a bogey on the par three. This cut the lead to just one with one to play. McMahon stayed out of trouble, grabbed his par, and took home the win by one.
Lizotte Leads Rest of Team Discmania
Just as he did last year, Simon Lizotte finished in a tie for fifth place. He jumped five spots on the final day thanks to a 53 (-8) to close things out. For Lizotte, he stayed out of trouble for virtually the entire tournament, but couldn’t land the birdies when he needed them.
The only two holes over par came in the first round. Beyond that, it was birdie or par the rest of the way.
Elsewhere for Team Discmania, Nate Perkins finished in a tie for 14th, Colten Montgomery tied for 25th, while AJ Carey ended in a tie for 44th.