2020 Montana State Disc Golf Championships

Discs were flying at the annual Montana State Disc Golf Championship that took place on Saturday, Sept. 26 and 27. The competition included two 18 hole courses in Missoula at Blue Mountain and Pattee Canyon. Competitors flocked from around the state to compete in the biggest disc golf event of the year. Among the professionals and seasoned veterans of the sport, three ultimate frisbee players from MSU threw their hats in the ring.

Zach Baumann, Max Lineberger and his brother Finn Lineberger all traveled together for this weekend’s Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA) challenge. Though they usually spend the fall on MSU’s Rum Runners club ultimate frisbee team, the fall 2020 season was cancelled. Disc golf tournaments, on the other hand, adapted well to the COVID-19 pandemic due to the sport’s focus on individual performance, though they do continue under new protocols. Without any competitive disc golf experience, the three students played in the intermediate category.

“[The tournament] was a lot of fun, but the courses around here [Bozeman] are a lot easier than those two up in Missoula,” said Baumann. “I hit more trees over the weekend than I have in the last three months in Bozeman,” said Max Lineberger. Between the drastic topography and dense forestation of the courses, players had little to no leeway in their shots.

After a difficult first day on the unfamiliar Blue Mountain course, the three MSU students turned to locals Ty Lynch and Patrick Stewert for advice— two ultimate frisbee players from the University of Montana. Prior to the tournament, the two groups had only known each other as competitors.

Currently, the MSU Rum Runners ultimate team must train in three small groups with little to no interaction between players outside of one’s cohort. The disc golf championship provided an opportunity for players to interact in some semblance of the typical experience for a competitive ultimate season.

When asked to note his favorite part of the tournament, Max Lineberger said it was, “meeting new people in a time when you can’t really do that.” Though the event was held in reduced capacity and spectators were not allowed, 101 competitors turned out to enjoy the revelry of the sport.

With advice from Stewert and Lynch and a practice round under their belt, all three MSU students shot nearly half of their previous day’s score, a drastic improvement. By the end of the day, Finn Lineberger finished 23rd, Zach Baumann 19th and Max Lineberger 15th.

Though there are many challenges yet to be overcome before the spring season of ultimate frisbee, the members of the Rum Runners are hopeful for the opportunity to compete in their primary sport again. In the meantime, all three continue to practice their putting.