An article by International Surfing Association president Fernando Aguerre provides all kinds of useful, and apparently, well-researched information. For instance, “The biggest obstacles facing new sports hoping to be included in the Olympic Games Program are the strict requirements for inclusion and the length of time the process requires. A new sport should start its campaign at least nine years before a particular Olympic Games, because the final line-up of sports is decided by the IOC seven years before any given Olympic Games.” (Emphases are mine.) What this means is that it’s too late for disc golf in 2016, where, “the five sports on the ’short list’ for inclusion in the 2016 Games are rugby, karate, roller sports, racquetball, and golf. Currently there is only room for two additional sports for those Games. The IOC could also decide not to include any new sport at all for 2016.”

Assuming that Mr Aguerre has his facts correct, the earliest disc golf could be included would be in 2020. Mr. Aguerre points out that getting any brand-new sport into the games is quite difficult: “At the end of the day, the process comes down to a vote by all IOC members, some of which are presidents of federations of sports currently in the Games. Hence the vote for inclusion could end up resulting in the exclusion of the sports of the person casting the ‘inclusion’ vote for a new sport. In other words there is a full potential for a big conflict of interest: What might be great for the health of the IOC and the Games (bringing new, contemporary youth or extreme sports that will result in better ratings and sponsors interest), might be the worst for some currently included sports (such as aging, obsolete, or no longer relevant sports) that will be ‘kicked out’ of the Games as a consequence.”

Like many disc golfers, Mr Aguerre has had his hopes buoyed for surfing’s inclusion due to success of X-Games driven sports the last several Olympics. However, he notes, “The inclusion of Snowboard and BMX in the Games was not as complicated as the inclusion of surfing would be, since both sports were considered ‘disciplines’ of existing sports (snow skiing and cycling respectively), and not ‘new sports’. The inclusion of a totally new sport (like surfing), as opposed to a ‘new discipline’ of a currently included sport, is a much more complicated and involved process. Even if golf were chosen for 2016, it would be hard for disc golf to piggyback on that because there are no organizational nor financial connections to our much wealthier cousin.

Disc golf (and ultimate) were in the World Games in Japan in 2001, which was the result of a decade-old organizational scramble under the aegis of the World Flying Disc Federation that brought WFDF into the General Association of International Sports Federations and other international sporting groups. Unfortunately, disc golf did not make the 2005 games, and only ultimate will represent flying disc sports in 2009. Because disc golf no longer is represented within WFDF, it’s unlikely that disc golf will make it back to the World Games, which at one time, was thought of as a way into the Olympics.

I believe there is no precedent for a sport getting into the Olympics via a petition. While i wouldn’t rule out the possibility that someday disc golf will make the cut, it’s still many years out. However, the good news in keeping the Olympics dream alive is that PDGA Europe is likely to have these new members countries in 2009: Austria, Italy, Poland, and the Czech Republic. They will be joining existing members: Belgium, Germany, Russia, Denmark, Great Britain, Sweden, Finland, Netherlands, Switzerland, France, and Norway. Countries that are just getting into the game and hopefully will affiliate before too long include Hungary, Israel, Slovakia, Iceland, Portugal, Spain, and Ireland.

I’m fairly certain that a sport has a much greater chance for entry into the big-ticket cavalcade of international sports competition if it’s played in many countries. Even if the Olympic thing never works out, being able to play disc golf while traveling the world would be its own reward.

It’s kind of funny how many of my picks actually won. Even though I’ve not traveled at all since last year’s Worlds and of course, there’s been no DGW in 2008 to make me pay attention, I do talk to folks still and read what’s online. Congrats to all the winners. I hope that FDM will give each division and or champion his or her due.

While I was not sitting at my computer every minute following the live scoring at pdga.com, I did scour the Net for coverage. Of course, the PDGA led the way with lots of photos, some videos, several PDGA radio broadcasts, and irregularly posted “daily” summaries. The scoring crew and Chuck Kennedy combined on a few rounds to bring some electronic play-by-play, consisting of photos of the holes and Chuck describing the action or, at least, the result of throws on the message board.

New players in the field of electronic news coverage with Worlds reports are the up-and-coming 1000rated.com and flyingdiscmagazine.com. Other sources for news were the pdga.com message board, where the scorekeepers announced live scoring and aces, Hosfeld’s blog, and a couple of bloggers at discgolfersr.us.

Not surprisingly, I discovered that there is no substitute for actually being where the action is to get a real sense of what the event is like. Of course, it’s hard to convey the totality of such a huge event, but there is room for improvement in all areas. By taking the extra time to caption photos, to identify people and places in videos, to interview more people with incisive questions, etc., a fuller picture of the event can be presented. While we will strive to do better for the KC Pro-Am Worlds, our top obligation will be to the players themselves. Not only are we expecting over 900 competitors (sure we’d like to top Des Moines’ 911 in ‘04), but we will be encouraging people to travel to KC to form one of the largest galleries in World’s final-nine history. More on this later.

PDGA

This will be the first Pro Worlds I’ve missed—either as player, staff, or reporter—since 1984. As the Worlds is the oldest “major” disc golf event, it has truly earned the description “major” unlike several of the “Johnny-come-lately” events that have been declared majors—seemingly for more political than historical reasons…but I digress. Though I’m free from reporting about this event as Disc Golf World, the magazine is on hiatus, I still find myself drawn to write about it because I’m a member of the 2009 Pro-Am Worlds team here in Kansas City and as a newly elected Board member of the PDGA, I’m keenly interested in helping the two events that the PDGA owns and operates—the Pro Worlds and the Am Worlds—to be as good as they can be.

First some numbers. The most impressive streak continues, as Tim Selinske will once again tee it up in the open division as he done the previous 26 years of Worlds. For most of these years, Tim’s focus has been on the business side of disc golf having been with Innova Champion since it’s founding in 1983, and thus, playing the game at a competitive level has not been a very high priority. Also, as the courses have gotten longer and his body only older (he’s nearing 50), Tim is thinking about moving down to masters in the future. Without poring through the records, I’m pretty sure that David Greenwell is the only other person who has played in every Worlds in either open, masters, or grandmasters.

A big number is 897, which represents the 580 ams and the 317 pros for this event. This compares quite favorably with the Iowa Pro-Am Worlds that drew 911—579 ams and 332 pros. The late date of this Worlds, which has run into some school openings in many communities may account for the fact that there are nearly 30 fewer than the 80 juniors who were in Iowa.

Even though over 20% of the entire field (182 players) are from Michigan, this might be the best-represented Worlds for US participation ever with only three states—Mississippi, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island—sending no one. (However this might be changing before too long as I just read this unusually accurate piece about disc golf this morning: http://tinyurl.com/RIdiscgolf

Internationally, it’s a mixed bag. For the first time ever, there are players from Ireland and Russia, but missing are reps from Australia, Belgium, England, Germany, Scotland, and Finland—countries that have been here before. We hope to induce more of the top international pros to travel to MO-KAN country for the KC Worlds.

Picking winners for these Worlds, especially for someone who’s getting most of his information from the Web, is kind of silly, but I’m going to have some fun and lay it out anyway, guessing the winners—both pro and am.

As most everyone knows, Ken Climo has won this event 12 out of the 26 times it has been held, but more awesome is that he’s won 12 out of the 18 he’s played. Those six other Worlds belong to Barry Schultz and defending champ Nathan Doss (2 each) and the no-longer-playing-very-much Ron Russell and Cam Todd. Though now 40, it’s hard to count Climo out of an event that he has helped to define and he understands better than most how to handle the marathon (7.5 rounds if you go all the way in open) that is the Worlds. The Champ has played a pared down schedule this year, and reportedly injured his arm during the Scandinavian open three weeks ago.

The defending champ Nate Doss seems to pace himself each year to be sharp for the Worlds and from all reports, his attitude remains upbeat. Schultz, who tailored his schedule to go to those events he wanted to be at this year, seems to have found some of the fun in playing that escaped him when he quit his job and made DG his sole source of income. He’s has a solid year with only one finish out the top six.

I think there are six other credible candidates for winning these Worlds: Dave Feldberg, Avery Jenkins, Steve Rico, Mike Randolph, Markus Källström and Eric McCabe. Feldberg has always believed in himself, has worked hard on his game, added the Japan Open to his resume of wins this year, is now ranked #1 in most polls, and is almost impossible to intimidate, which relates to his”Borg” nickname. (An intangible for him this year was being lucky enough to represent disc golf on the Conan O’Brien show last May—a disc golf superstar!) And on top of everything else, he is returning to the area where he went to high school and first discovered disc golf.

Avery Jenkins is a dominating force of nature just about ready to break through at this event. He crushes drives both back backhand and forehand, putts well, and when he stays focused, he’s very hard to beat. However, even when things don’t go his way, he’s always supportive of his little sister, Valerie.

Touring all over the country for the first time, Eric McCabe has had a breakout year, finishing no worse than ninth in any event, and no worse than seventh in any of his seven NTs. However, he didn’t win a NT, although he had two seconds and two thirds.

Then we have Steve Rico, who went pro at the age of 15 in 1993, and seems to be finding the maturity on the course that he has needed to reach his full awesome potential. Mike Randolph and Markus Källström are long shots, but Mike especially seem to rise to the occasion for a guy who I believe still plays more ultimate than golf, and holds down a full time job. He’s also returning to his native state. Markus, who just about become the first European (though living in the USA) to win the open division last year has reportedly been injured, but anyone who can crush like he can and putt like he can, cannot be discounted. However, he has not played nearly as much as he did in 2007. Pick: my gut says Nate, but I’m picking Avery Jenkins.

The women’s division will likely be won by one of these Worlds Champions—defending champ Valerie Jenkins, three-time (2002, 2005, 2006) champ Des Reading, 2004 champ Birgitta Lagerholm, and the remarkable and durable four-time champ Elaine King (1991-1994…yes, she’s in her 40s!) With five-time Juliana Korver on the sidelines (actually marshaling this year) as she recovers from a serious hand injury whilst snowboarding early this year, I think only Angela Tschiggfrie is the only non-champ who has an outside shot of nabbing the title. Val’s main enemy in such a long event is that she might have too much fun off the course. When on the course, she plays fearlessly and has the power and the putting to crush anyone. But, at 21, she’s now just having fun, and the joy she gets from playing and being part of the elite disc golf scene is wonderful to behold. (While not updated recently, you can get to know Val here: http://tinyurl.com/valjks

However, Des is intense, and probably works harder off the course than any other player, and it seems that once a player has tasted a World Championship title, he/she wants it again. I think Birgitta is a long shot at best, although she beat Val in the Stockholm Open, although Val won the Scandinavian Open over Birgitta. Elaine King could win if the courses are not too power-based. She just missed getting into the final four last year at the fairly balanced set of courses in Wisconsin. My pick is Valerie to defend, joining Avery as the first sibling world disc golf champions. My sentimental pick is, of course, Elaine, who I first met in 1986 in a memorable road trip to Toronto.

Some day (and it may be sooner than later), professional disc golf’s senior division will begin at 50 years old. But the Worlds is one of a handful of events where people in the 40-49 year old division can not only get a title, but a damn good payday as well. Just lining up these players by their ratings show who will win the masters title: Jim Oates (two-time and defending masters champ)-1015; Al “Sugar” Schack-1009; Brad Hammock (four-time champ) and Stan McDaniel (three-time champ)-1008; Dean Tannock (one-time champ)-1007; Mike Raley, Brian McRee, Joe Mela (one-time champ)-1006. Eric Roadhouse-1004; Mitch McClellan-1001; Dan Ginnelly and Joel Kelly-999. The file that shows the ages of each these guys is missing, but I believe that Brian McKee is the youngest and has the chops to win this thing. Raley and Schack are playing in their home state, and likely know the courses better than most. I’d love to see Joel Kelly win for his years of being so close and being such a good sport—win or lose, but I’m going to pick Schack as the winner. After that, anyone but Hammock. I cannot get past his behavior at the 2006 Worlds (and his lousy attitude in general). If professional disc golf means having no fun and exhibiting no joy and blaming others for one’s shortcomings, then no one will ever buy in.

Might this be the year when, for the first time, a former open world’s men open champion wins an aged-protected division? With Johnny Sias (1986) and rookie GM Gregg Hosfeld in the 50 and above grandmasters field, it could happen. However the guys who have been dominating this division for the last five years—Kentuckians David Greenwell (2003, 2004, 2007) and Rick Voakes (2005 and 2006) are not going to roll over. Greenwell, with yet another win in the open division two weeks ago (this one at age of 55), has not lost to Voakes this year and played only in the open and masters divisions. Voakes has won all four events he played as a grandmaster. Now pushing 60, Voakes has suffered a number of injuries since his amazing top four finish in the open at the 2000 Worlds. Most of these picks are sentimental anyway, but despite the fact that Gregg was a loyal staffer at DGWN for 20 years, I’m picking him because he’s been on the road, where he has always played his best golf and his state of mind (and I think body) is excellent as his blog entries at http://www.onegranddiscgolftour.com will attest.

In the senior grandmasters division (60 and up), don’t be fooled by rookie Captain Snap Conger’s rating that is higher than Peter Shive’s. Snap just hasn’t played the amount of golf in the past couple of years to overcome Peter’s single-minded pursuit of disc golf excellence. However, if the courses are tight, Peter’s confidence might get shaken, but he’s been working on his sidearm for a year, so he’s even shored up this weakness in his game. My pick: Peter Shive.

Annie Kreml, who has dominated the women’s masters division the last three years, has given the other women a huge break by playing in the open division. Sue Stephens, playing near her home, has got to be considered the favorite, although Pam Reineke is higher-rated. Long shots in this uber-fun-loving division are Sheila Kirkham and 2004 champ Lisa Warner. My pick: Sue Stephens.

Kathy Hardyman has won the last two years in the grandmasters women’s divisions and is my pick to for the hat trick. However, Sandy Gast is higher rated and this will be her second Worlds in as many years. I still pick Kathy Hardyman in a three peat.

1985 grand masters champion (then 45 and over) Ray Carr is now a legend, and should be competitive in that division. Tom Skidmore makes his legends debut as well. Don Dillon keeps improving, but I think the overall athleticism of defending champion Al Faupel will prevail. My pick: Al Faupel.

Am Side

Other than picking (not-so-little—I hear he has had a growth spurt) 13-year-old David Wiggins to triumph in the 19 and under junior boys division, it’s even more hazardous making guesses who will win in the amateur side of the Worlds. Andrew Coggin, another incredible kid from North Carolina and winner of the 10 and under division in Tulsa in 1996 will probably prevail in the 13 and under division this year. Oh yeah, it’s likely that Nick Duran will defend his 10 and under title, but could be tested again by Brock Dowell.

Beyond that, we can look at the ratings for clues about for the advanced men. Another North Carolinian, Jeremy Koling has the best rating, 986, a full 15 points ahead of Tate Handy, who is playing at home. Rated from 1 to 11 points below Tate are 23 players. If Handy has done due karmic diligence by helping with the preparation for the Worlds, he might overcome Koling’s year of playing primarily in the open division, which in North Carolina is always tough. Also, this would account for his slighter higher rating. May the best man win, but I’ll go with Koling just to have a pick.

The highest rated advanced women’s player is the 2004 13 and under junior girls champion Kelsey Brakel, a member of one of several two-generation families competing in these pro-am Worlds. She was second last year. Last year’s third-place finisher Page Pierce is back and is the second highest-rated player in the division. These women will have to contend with another disc golf family member, Sandra Frazier, who won the advanced women masters title at the Tulsa Worlds. Also in the women’s field are Sandra’s daughters, Michelle and Rebecca Frazier, who won titles in Tulsa in the 16 and under and 13 and under divisions respectively. I’m picking Kelsey, who is playing in her home state, and has played only in open women and intermediate men’s divisions this year, which should have toughened her up.

I’ve always quipped within the ranks of the age-protected divisions: that if you can’t take a joke, play open. It’s usually within these amateur age-protected divisions that you’ll find a lot good-hearted, fun-loving players, who also are often dedicated disc golf volunteers—doing what needs to be done at the grassroots level. Just slightly over one of every three players (199 in total) of the ams are 40 (or will be this year) and over. (The pro division is ever older with 47.4% or 150 out 317 players in the age-protected brackets.) One pick is that my good friend Paul Eklund (aka Pablo Klunel from Shebogyan) will shoot much better than his rating. Other than that, I’m curious about Fiona Ming Menzies from New Zealand, who by 50 points is the highest rated advanced grandmasters woman. In the other men’s aged protected divisions, Mark Steddom is defending his men’s gm title and Terry Calhoun is the most experienced SGM—this might be his year. In the masters, defending champ Mark Roberts, playing at home is back, but Tim Weimer is the highest rated am master at 991 and he’s from Michigan, so let’s go with him. That leaves the 16 and under junior boys. I’ve obviously no clue, but I remember writing about the 983 rated Oscar Stenfelt from Sweden, so he sounds like a pretty safe choice. I’m picking Marie Fry as the women’s masters winner because she’s among the higher rated women and I like her name. The junior girls choices are locks as regrettably they are the only girls in their divisions.

My choices:
Open: Avery Jenkins
Women: Valarie Jenkins
Masters: Al Schack
Women Masters: Sue Stephens
Grandmasters: Gregg Hosfeld
Women Grandmasters: Kathy Hardyman
Sr Grandmasters: Peter Shive
Legends: Al Faupel

Advanced Men: Jeremy Koling
Advanced Women: Kelsey Brakel
Advanced Masters: Tim Weimer
Advanced Women Masters: Marie Fry
Advanced Grandmasters: Mark Steddom
Advanced Women Grandmasters: Fiona Ming Menzies
Advanced Sr Grandmasters: Terry Calhoun
19 and Under Jr Boys: David Wiggins
16 and Under Jr Boys: Oscar Stenfelt
16 and Under Jr Girls: Dawn Geist
13 and Under Jr Boys: Andrew Coggin
13 and Under Jr Girls: Korina Carlos
10 and under Jr Boys: Nick Duran

Feldberg’s win leaves him one major of capturing them all (well, I guess all but two, since no one’s yet won the new Scandinavian Open). He’s won at Japan (2008), USDGC (2005), European Open (2006), and the Players Cup (2007). Of course that one biggie fly in the ointment is the World Championships, but the Worlds this year are in Kalamazoo, Michigan, where David originally hails from and where he cut his disc golf teeth. It would certainly be a storybook finish for him if he were able to pull it off. Of course, it won’t be easy, and David had to withdraw at this past weekend’s Golden State Classic due to swelling in his knee, so besides the usual obstacles of Climo, Doss, and Schultz, he may have to contend with his own health issues. The knee could just be a temporary setback, though, and he may be fine by Worlds. We’ll keep you posted.

Des Reading continues to lead the women’s rankings, but Val Jenkins continues to gain ground. Burl and Angela Tschiggfrie continue to be 3rd and 4th, and Liz Lopez, who is the prohibitive favorite for 2008 Rookie of the Year, continues to impress, and has risen all the way to 5th in the rankings.

There’s lots of good golf coming up before Worlds. Fort Steilacoom and Pittsburgh are this coming weekend, The Hambrick is on July 12-13, Beaver State Fling and the newest major, the Scandinavian Open, comes July 19-20.

Now, I’m on my soapbox (it is a blog, after all) I’m not picking on the SO, because I’ve heard it’s a very good and well-run event, but are we going ever limit the number of majors? Currently we have Worlds, USDGC, Japan Open, European Open, Players Cup, and Scandinavian Open as majors. (Yes, I’m not forgetting nor discounting the U.S. Women’s, U.S. Masters, or U.S. Amateur Championships, but am concentrating on the Open division for the moment) That’s 6 majors, or 2 more than golf or tennis. Horse racing and baseball have only Triple Crowns. We’ve got the Super 6, or more properly, the Fantastic 5 (Japan Open and European Open are going to be contested every other year). I heard rumors of a possible PDGA Championship (ala the PGA Championship) to be held at IDGC, which would give us 7, but that may have been tabled for the time being . Hokey smokes, Bullwinkle! That seems like a major pain in the calendar to me.

Anyway, I’m still basking in the glow of my first PDGA victory in 18 years at the Star City Shootout in the Advanced Masters division. I got close in Advanced in 1991, but Mike Kurtz (curse you, Mike Kurtz!) birdied the first playoff hole and beat me at the Ottumwa Fall Classic. Hopefully I’ll get my next one sometime before 2026.

Chap

It’s very heartening that there are a total of 11 candidates vying for the three spots. I’m looking forward to hearing what the others fellows (it’s really a shame that no women are running) have to say.

RR

Rick Rothstein
Kansas City, MO
PDGA #2458
DOB: 8-18-1948

Synopsis of Disc Golf Experience
Communications Director PDGA Board 1987-1988
Oversight Director PDGA Board 1989-1990
Competition Director PDGA Board 1990
Regional Director PDGA Board 1994-2001
Publicity Director PDGA Board 2002

Co-Founder of Columbia (MO) Disc Golf Club 1983
Current President of the Kansas City Flying Disc Club

Founder and Tournament Director—Mid America (nee Missouri) Open 1985-1991
Tournament Director 1999 Amateur World Championships
Tournament Director Kansas City Wide Open 1993-1998, 2002-2005

Publisher Disc Golf World News 1987-2007
President Disc Golf World, Inc 1987-present

Founder and Instigator of Ice BowlTM 1987-present

Entered the Disc Golf Hall of Fame 1996

Mid-Missouri Open Masters Champion 1985
World Disc Golf Championships Masters Division - 9th - 1985
Kansas City Wide Open Masters Champion 1987

Platform
Because of my longevity in the sport that includes 13 years of service on the PDGA Board, I can provide some of the institutional memory that I believe has been lacking in some of the Board’s decision making during the last three or four years. In addition, I’ve participated in hundreds of events through the years as a player, director, helper, or reporter; have traveled to many parts of the country and Japan; know many people in disc golf; and have always been very active at the grassroots level.

For the most part, I think that ratings have been a very good thing for competitive disc golf and the PDGA by providing increased opportunities for fair competition for members of all skill levels. However, not enough attention has been paid in educating tournament directors and promoters about event management and venue presentation. I believe that the main avenue for providing value to sponsors and getting more sponsors—at this point in our development—is to get spectators out to watch our events and to pay greater attention to presentation values. There are a few exceptional events out there, most notably the USDGC that is leading the way in this area. The PDGA has flown in scorekeepers and officials to its World Championships, so spending money to make a venue sparkle and to ensure that the sponsors we have are taken care of is not that much of a stretch.

While it’s fitting that competition is the main business of the PDGA, I think we should also be in the forefront in solving environmental issues and promoting the healthful aspects of disc golf. The main environmental problem on our courses is soil compaction, and in many places, a major threat is the ongoing loss of trees. In ball golf, the USGA, besides running many major events, also promotes turf research. Similarly, the PDGA can sponsor research to remedy the soil compaction problem that will continue to worsen due to increased course usage as the sport continues its growth. Similar research could be done about re-forestation.

Here in Kansas City, a very motivated disc golfer received a corporate grant to build a disc golf course on a grade school campus as a way of combating childhood obesity. I think that utilizing PDGA resources to find out what other money is out there for similar projects and even hiring grant writers would be a good investment.

The PDGA was fortunate to strike the deal that created the International Disc Golf Center to house its administrative offices. That the organization has been able to afford to hire more staff and consultants has meant that the need for volunteerism at the national level is not as great as it once was. This contrasts vividly with our local clubs, which, for the most part, provide a large percentage of income for the PDGA by running the sanctioned events that encourage people to join the PDGA. Whereas the PDGA has been able to afford lawyers and accountants to tighten up its dealings, many, if not most of our local clubs lack the resources to pay employees or to get the financial and legal advice that is needed to become more legitimate. I’d reckon that volunteers run 80-90 percent of our courses, clubs, and events. I’ve no pat solutions to this problem but I believe the Affiliate Club Program could be strengthened to provide some legal and financial guidelines in this area for starters. I’ve no doubt that our sport will continue to grow and I suspect that the financial situation of our public parks is going to worsen. As a result, more clubs will be expected to formalize their existence and be better prepared as parks departments start looking for new sources of possible income.

I have opinions and ideas concerning many other relevant topics, such as but not limited to how the PDGA communicates with its members (magazine and internet), revising and expanding the scope of the PDGA Mission Statement, the international initiatives (PDGA Europe and Japan), efficiency of the administrative staff and member services, the extent of corporate transparency, and revitalizing the National Tour to name just a few. However, I’ve burned enough space already. I not only welcome but also encourage you to express your concerns and to ask me questions. Contact me at 888.237.6884, 816.471.3472, or rick@discgolfworld.com. Thanks for your consideration and please vote.

Des Reading maintains her lead atop the women’s rankings, but Val Jenkins keeps chipping away at it. Val has 5 wins this year already, including wins at the Memorial, Las Vegas, and Bowling Green. The only blemish on her otherwise perfect record in the women’s division this year was a second place finish to Nicole Frazer at the Bluegrass Open in northern Kentucky (suburban Cincinnati) this past weekend. Frazer moved up seven places to ninth based on her win in Kentucky and 4th place finish at Bowling Green. Carrie “Burl” Berlogar has moved past Angela Tschiggfrie into 3rd place. Tschiggfrie hasn’t played in a sanctioned event since September, while Burl has top 4 finishes at the Memorial and Bowling Green, and a win at the St. Patrick’s Classic in Orangevale.

The 221 events we’re tracking so far represent a 10 percent increase over 2007. We’re still 6 states shorts from having an Ice Bowl event in all 50 states. If anyone from Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Delaware, North Dakota, and Alaska is interested, you can register your event at the Ice Bowl site or contact me for more information.