Ladies & Gentlemen, 2013 Vibram Open Putting Contest Semi-Finalist Jason Toothaker.

McBeth crushes Maple Hill like I crush the local pitch n' put on a good day in doubles.... Some kid Grady from Maine, with a 958 rating, pumps 1000+ rated rounds like it's his job... (finishing in the top 15 and earning a spot at the 2013 USDGC)... yeah yeah yeah!  Old news.

The real story my friends, is another gunslinging native from Maine, Jason Toothaker. Who against all odds made it to the final 4 at the Vibram Open Putting contest.  By against all odds I mean that he's not really that great of a putter**. Stacked up against Nate Krahn, David Wiggins, and Jay Reading (how many times has Yeti won this event?).... Toothaker, "Toothy" was a full on Bona fide underdog.  And let's not forget Jerel Davis... the Chuck Norris of Disc Golf... a veritable cherry on top of intimidation. 

Entrance to the putting competition was earned through two preliminary qualifiers sessions on Thursday.  Points were awarded based upon made putts from designated distances.  15' (1pt), 25' (2pts), and 35' (3pts).  Each player was given 2 throws from each.  A perfect score is 18. Only 4 golfers from each session would advance. 

Here's how it stacked up after the prelims: (not sure on the scores for the PM qualifiers)

 AM Qualifiers

1. Jay "Yeti" Reading - 18 (Innova-1007, world putting champ)

2. David Wiggins - 18 (Innova-1020 world distance champion)

3. Jason Toothaker - 15 (unsponsored-950)

4. Jerel Davis - 14 (Vibram-no rating available)

PM Qualifiers

Justin Mount

Aaron Fahey (997)

Jared Roan (Innova -1019, National Collegiate Disc Golf Champion)

Nate Krahn (Discraft-1011)

I must confess that this story was originally slated to be a quick Facebook update.  However, when I asked Toothy about the competition he wrote me back a small book.  This passion could in no way be ignored. So without further adieu, here is the rest of the story by Toothy himself:

I made the quarterfinal bracket against Nate Krahn, a likeable dude from Philly with a laser putt and solid game.  I spent most of the day asking people about his putting and asking if I had a chance. Most people just laughed and said "Good luck, buddy.  Krahn is a lights-out putter".  I went into the match with a healthy amount of fear and tempered expectations.  

The crowd assembled around the putting green for 18.  The top pros (Doss, Koling, Wysocki, Feldberg, Jenkins, Schusterick, McBeth) were sitting right behind us, and all the New England locals were off to the side, encircling the competition area.  The kegs of Berkshire Pale Ale had been tapped and people were in the mood to watch some good competition.  The format for the quarterfinals were as follows:

2 putts from each marker (15, 30, 50 feet), player in the lead goes 2nd

After the players played through the first cycle of putts, they replaced the chains with Phenix Disc Sports Pro-putt chains.  These putts were worth double points.  I was up by 6 points at the end, missing both of my 50' on the Phenix chains.  Krahn had to make just one of his 50' putts to force a playoff.  He made his first and missed the second, forcing overtime.  He, by virtue of scoring the last points, got to choose whether to go first, as well as which mark to shoot from.  He chose 30' and missed.  I had one putt to secure the win from 30 feet, spanking it right into the center of the Pro-putt chains and raising my fists triumphantly into the air.  The crowd was voracious, as I was an underdog and (as Steve Dodge put it) a "New England Favorite".  The top pros were cheering for their touring-pro compatriot, but felt compelled to respect the efforts of a nervous player who had one shining moment in his first NT.  My celebration didn't last too long, as Yeti made every single putt and ran away with an easy victory."

There you have it folks.  A feel good story for the ages.  I personally love the fact that local disc golfers get to compete with top pros at National Tour events like the Vibram Open.  A chance to share the stage with the game's elite.  An opportunity not lost on Jason Toothaker, a "New England Favorite" who putted better than a boatload of other people at the 2013 Vibram Open Putting Contest.

** Other sources have confirmed he actually is a very good putter.  For the purposes of a better story, I have presumed otherwise in the article.

INNOVA Disc Golf inks Maine’s Elite

It’s safe to say that as children, a fair amount of us had dreams of becoming a professional athlete. Two Maine Disc Golfers had their dreams become reality this winter. Jason Dore, a Skowhegan native and Nick Gagne hailing from Sidney, both signed sponsorship agreements with the most popular and largest Disc Golf Company in the world, Innova Disc Golf.

Jason Dore putts at Skyland Classic NT in 2010

Nick Gagne poses during 2011 DG trip out west. 

 


The duo will join an elite group of sponsored players that are headlined by 2012 PDGA World Champion Paul McBeth, Barry Schultz, a two-time World Champion and captained by the legendary twelve-time World Champion, Ken Climo.

Jason Dore at Vibram Open registration behind INNOVA team member Val Jenkins

10Down Disc Golf caught up with Dore and Gagne recently and asked them what their future may hold; now they are part of the INNOVA family. 

10Down: What’d it feel like when you found out INNOVA wanted to sponsor you?

Nick: It was great. It has been one of my major goals since I began playing competitively.

Jason: Absolutely amazing. To work on your game and your rating for six years and to finally get noticed is awesome. I’ve pretty much thrown INNOVA ever since I started playing so psyched about that too.

10Down: What are your obligations? Will this change what you do with Disc Golf?

Nick: Being sponsored means there is a certain criteria you have to follow. By doing that though, you get merchandise and $$$. There are different levels of sponsorships, so the better you play, the more they give you.

Jason: I get to wear INNOVA gear and throw INNOVA discs. I got an agreement that covers it all. I need to maintain my composure on and off the course and promote the sport with a clinic or two. No real changes in what I do as I have been working to get to this point where I can get on Tour and play Disc Golf all over the country and world for a long time.

10Down: What have you done to get your life in order for the upcoming season?

Jason: I took a major look at my financial situation. I set up a plan to cover my home expenses while I’m on Tour, as well as for work when I get back.

Nick: We all know there can be great money in Disc Golf, but it comes with lots of practice and a side job. The side job is needed to keep the money coming in. So that’s how I’m preparing for the season, by getting in the best shape I can and saving up enough to maintain life on Tour.

10Down: How are you training, where are you training, and whom are you training with?

Nick: I usually train alone at my home course DnD, on my home basket, and out in the field. Field practice is key in this game. Any time I can play a round with GaryL is great. Always need to be around competition to make you strive to make the next great shot.

Jason: This time of year is an extremely hard time to train due to the weather. I’d love to do field work, but with 1ft.+ of snow it makes it hard. I practice putting as much as I can and play a couple rounds a week at Woodland Valley Winter League. I also am on Team Maine that plays other New England teams throughout the winter in a monthly series. I’m lucky that I have a bunch of guys to train with down here. All of us play events together and some travel out-of-state with me on occasion.   

Well over 100 in. of snow this winter in Maine - Quaker Hill DG Course

10Down: What are your 2013 goals?

Jason: I think the biggest goal for me this year is to hit as many PDGA major events I can. I’d like to take a couple months this summer and just travel and concentrate on playing Disc Golf. Ultimately I’d like to sustain myself on Tour and not have to go back to a 9-5 job. Other goals: to contend for the title at The Vibram Open, Top 5 in a NT event, and winning my first A-tier event.

Nick: Play as many PDGA events as I can. I want to be in the Top 10 in NT Tour events and in the Top 3 at Regional A and B tiers. Definitely want to put myself in position to get a Major victory.

Future looks bright for these two; we wish them the best of luck and continue to support them in achieving their goals. They will be playing their first PDGA event of the year this weekend at Tourney 54. Check back periodically for continuing coverage of Jason and Nick as well as other Disc Golf news from the Northeast in 2013.