PDGA: Scotty Burtard Wins Disc Golf’s Chaining in the New Year

The Chaining of the New Year took place in Milwaukee, Wisconsin at the Dretzka Park Winter Disc Golf Course on December 31, 2011, a perfect day to end a great year. This PDGA sanctioned C-Tier event had 65 disc golf players come out to compete on this rather mild winter day.

Scotty Burtard of Sheboygan, Wisconsin was crowned champion in the open division, with a final score of 24-under par. Burtard was a part of numerous events in 2011, taking home several victories including the Ale Asylum Open, the Brown Deer Open and the Wisconsin Tour Finale in October.

Corey James and Brian Earhart finished in a tie for second place, both scoring 21-under par. James, of Milwaukee, had a second place finish at the Monroy X Gowens Memorial Open in August and a third place finish at the Flip Open in May. Earhart, of Normal, Illinois, had several wins in the advanced division in 2011, including the Lincoln Penny Toss and the Mother Lode on the Mother Road.

In fourth place at just a stroke behind was Allen Hermosillo of Blue Island, Illinois, scoring 20-under par. Hermosillo was the winner of the Snow Blown II in December and the winner of the Illinois State Disc Golf Championships this summer in addition to several other victories.

In another tie at fifth place, was Steven Held of Glendale, Wisconsin and Terry Miller, also known as The Disc Golf Guy, of Pewaukee, Wisconsin, both scoring 19-under par. Held had a third place finish at the Cold Turkey VI and a second place finish at the Brown Deer Open. Miller had a second place finish at the Snow Blown Open 3 in January of 2011 and a third place finish at the Clash of the Quarry in November.

Barrett White was the winner for the women in the open division, scoring 13-under par. White is from White Park, Illinois and had numerous victories in 2011, including the Cold Turkey VI, the Illinois State Disc Golf Championships and the Indiana State Championships.

Brandon Ray Watson of Sheboygan captured the advanced division with a score of 20-under par, while local Greg Klein and John Alfonso of Indianapolis, Indiana, both finished the advanced masters' division in first place, scoring 1-over par. Tom McManus of Gurnee, Illinois was the winner of the advanced grandmasters' division, scoring 10-under par.

Aaron Meyer of Kaukauna, Wisconsin and Jeromy Morgan of Slinger, Wisconsin, finished in a tie for first place in the intermediate division, both scoring 10-under par, while recreational division wins went to David Scalf and Brianna Welch.

Congratulations to all the winners and competitors on a great game of disc golf, and a happy 2012 as well.

The first time K.C. Dermody played disc golf was in the spectacular Black Hills of South Dakota. She has since become addicted to promoting the sport, and enjoys playing in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. She welcomes comments and suggestions, with the goal of promoting the sport of disc golf throughout the world. Find her on www.facebook.com/KCDermodyWriter and www.kcdermodywriter.com.

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