PDGA Tourney Brings Some Winter Excitement To Mount Kisco Park

MOUNT KISCO, NY — A Saturday in early January doesn't always offer great weather to enjoy Leonard Park in Mount Kisco, but Mother Nature cooperated and this year's "Kisco Klassic" took it from there.

The parking lot at the Leonard Park swimming pool can sometimes be sparsely used this time of year, when the pool is drained, the nearby ballfields are idle and there's no snow to draw snowshoers and sledders, but this past weekend especially, the area was a din of activity.

And, if you were wondering why your favorite lunch spot was extra busy on Saturday, disc golf is hungry work and menus from local restaurants were conveniently made available at the ad hoc "clubhouse."

The annual Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA) event, hosted by Westchester Disc Golf Enthusiasts (WeDGE), took advantage of the mild winter conditions in a contest that saw 72 professional and amateur competitors putting on elite performances. According to organizers, the unseasonably dry, warm weather helped produce thrilling scoring, including two aces and some dominant performances by pros and amateurs.

Robert Bennett ended his day with his very first pro win and Jaime Hume finished with a remarkable 14 under.

Final Results per WeDGE:

PROS:

• MPO - Jaimen Hume -14
• FPO - Cassandra Lioi
• MP40 - Robert Bennett -5
• MP50 - Erik Dienemann

The Pro Trophies were donated by Vegetablepeople.com.

AMATEURS:

• MA1 - Jake Yanoviak -7
• MA40 - Mark DeRosa 0
• MA60 - Timothy J Smith (Waveny Disc Golf)
• MA2 - Taylor Edwards -4
• FA2 - Kelli Terpening
• MA3 - Matt Strickrodt
• FA3 - Fiorella Sanchez

Of course, there was more fun to be had than just the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat.

• Two players, pro Jaimen Hume and amateur Jake Yanoviak, hit "aces," the disc golf equivalent of a hole-in-one.
• Steve Brinster was parked under the basket on Hole 7 for the "closest to the pin" prize.

The event raised money for the Food Bank For Westchester, through a raffle, sponsors, tee signs and amateur entry fees.

After a long day of disc golf, the competitors headed to Captain Lawrence Barrel House in Mount Kisco for a "19th hole" celebration and trophy presentation.

More details about the tournament can be found at the PDGA Tour site or the WeDGE Facebook group. But be careful, because the sport can be addictive.