Brock's Disc Golf Tournements

 Brock has chosen disc golf as his top sport. He and Matt go out every other morning to play or do field work. He now beats me. Sigh. I have been neglecting my skills after all, and I wouldn't want it any other way. He has now won first place in all three tournaments he has competed in! And true, there were only two people (ha, or less in the first one) in his division, but I say bravo. He really did fantastic in them all and says that he does well under pressure. I had the pleasure of going to the last one, Rumble at Randall, on a truly beautiful day.

The week before we went out to try the course. Set amongst a petting zoo and playground, we gave ourselves extra time to play. 

Now it is the day of the tournament! Alice and I prove we were there

We watch the tee off from a HIGHly organic seat! Up in the tree!

Our family friends also have two boys who are getting into the sport. They have good athletic genes, so they did quite well. This is our friend Bill with his oldest Finn.

Brock goes for a great approach with Jeanine and their six year old, (the youngest division) Brooks. Brooks was insanely good.

Look at that form!

Alice and I make thumb friends while we scrounge for nature's vittles.

A boy and his caddie plan the next move.

Here is Brock making his final putt for birdie!

Crushed it.

And an elegant awards ceremony.

So proud of this guy! And happy to spend a beautiful day with my lovies who I feel like I haven't see in for ever. 

...Ok, post isn't over. Matt jumping in here with a wall of text (sorry, caddies can't have their hands full of phone the whole round) to tell the story of his previous victories (which for story telling purposes works out a little better anyhow). The first tournament Brock competed in was last summer, but it was an all-ages tournament that only adults showed up to. He won first place in his division but it wasn't that satisfying beating no one. This year I discovered the Northern Illinois Juniors circuit that runs once a month tourneys for kids only. In late April, we went to our first, and they are fantastic!

(Brock hits a birdie to pull within 3)

Brock was on a card with three other kids and halfway through the round it became clear that the four of them were on two separate tiers. Brock had by far the longest straightest drives, but Sean was an incredible putter, so they went back and forth in a tight battle, leaving the other two kids in the dust. Brock was down 3 strokes with 4 holes to play. Then pulled within 2 strokes, but with only two holes left. 

On the 17th, Brock teed off to about 35' away from the basket, but he was high up on a hill with nothing but more downhill abyss beyond the basket. A miss long would be tragic. Sean had a bad drive, and then a very solid upshot, leaving him 10' away for an easy par. Brock and I talked about how he needed to get this stroke now, so now matter how scary the putt looked, he had to run it high enough and hard enough to hit chains. He sent it perfect speed... perfect height... and it sailed clear right of the basket and went to about 40' away. Devastation. But only in my head. Brock shrugged it right off. Kinda smiled that the pressure was off now. And then he drained the 40' putt to save his par. 

And then Sean missed his 10' putt. Now it's Brock down one on the 18th. Long uphill hole. Brock crushes one of his best drives, but it's just a really long hole. Gives himself a long 40' uphill putt not unsimilar to the one he just hit. Sean drive short right, lays up to just under the basket. Brock now has a putt to send in into playoff holes. 

He dries his putting hand and takes in the moment...

...lines up the putt

...sends it!....

...and it missed. He came up one stroke short. I gave him a hug and told him it was a great battle, which it clearly was. Sean's dad then pipes in, "Sean was playing in the 12 and under division. Brock crushed everyone." 

Brock won his division (10 and under) by 11 strokes that day, and was brimming with joy from the experience of competing with other kids. He certainly has fun playing with my and my friends, but it doesn't compare to being the big arm on the course, and dropping other kids' and parents' jaws. It was a weirdly cool surprise outcome, because Brock got to experience a tight battle with lots of up and downs and real mental pressure. I got to see how he handled himself though slowly giving up a lead, then mounting a huge comeback that just comes up short, disappointment and defeat (he was just incredibly mature btw, he was already still very proud of himself), and then they gave him a trophy for crushing everyone his age by 11 strokes! In Brock's next tournament he won by 17 strokes with really solid play from front to back, but no pressure ever, just a cakewalk. He had the best score of anyone in any age division at that tournament. 

Next month is the Illinois State Junior Championship, and we have plenty of motivation to work hard and prepare. It turns out that the aforementioned Sean, the only kid we seen beat Brock by a stroke, is actually Brock's age. He was playing up a level in that tournament to give his little brother a chance. Next month, Brock will matched up against Sean, as well as a new-to-us kid who has won 7 of 9 tournaments in his past, and a few others. 

I can't say enough about how proud I am of the work Brock puts into his game. He wakes up with me 3 times a week at 6am to go play. And when I give him the option of playing 18 holes for fun, or just going to an empty field to do drills and work on form, he chooses field work over and over again. The week before a tourney, you'll always here the chains rattling in our basement as he dials in his putt. He's already miles ahead of me in the mental game and decision making, and I'm sure it won't be too many years until he can outdrive me as well. 

Lastly, if you want to directly follow his disc golf ratings and tournament exploits, just google his name. It's the first hit.