Women’s Resilience Shines at Gulf Coast Charity Open Disc Golf Tournament: The Stories of Six Strong Players
The 2023 Gulf Coast Charity Open Presented by Lennar Homes brought together some of the best disc golfers in the region, including six members of Team Tacky Saks. While each of these women faced different challenges on the course, their stories all share a common theme: resilience and determination in the face of adversity. In this feature article, we will highlight the stories of Nid Ovathanasin, Hilary Petonke, Emily Barbre, Samantha Hood, Robin Licitra, and LeighAnne Pagenkopf, and explore how they embody the spirit of empowerment in disc golf.
Nid Ovathanasin: Pushing Through Struggles
Playing in the FPO Women’s Pro Open Division Tournament, Nid faced some tough competition. In the first round, which took place at Cypress, she struggled and ended up in last place. However, she didn’t let this setback get her down, and she continued to work hard on the course. In the second round at Picnic Island, Nid managed to shoot the hot round with a -5 and a 946 rated round, which brought her up tied for 5th.
In the final round at Taylor Park, Nid knew that she had to make a serious push if she wanted to make it to the cash line. And that’s exactly what she did. She shot a 951 rated round of -6, which was an impressive achievement and earned her a solo 4th place finish.
Reflecting on her performance, Nid said, “I’ve been struggling for the past 4 months on the course while working on form changes, and it really hit me full-on my first round at Cypress. This put me in last place from the start, which is far from what I was hoping for. But those last couple rounds, I finally got glimpses of the work I’ve been putting in coming to fruition. Some of the greatest things happen from coming out of your comfort zone, so I plan to keep working, keep pushing, and trust the process.”
Nid’s performance at the Gulf Coast Charity Open is a testament to her resilience and determination. Despite struggling on the course in recent months, she didn’t give up and continued to work hard to improve her game. And in the end, her hard work paid off, as she managed to make it to the cash line and earn a solo 4th place finish. Her story is a reminder that some of the greatest things can happen when you step out of your comfort zone and trust the process.
Hilary Petonke: Focusing on Improvement
Hilary Petonke, also a member of Team Tacky Saks, recently participated in the 2023 Gulf Coast Charity Open Presented by Lennar Homes in St. Petersburg, Florida, and while she did not play as well as she had hoped, she was still able to have a great time at the tournament. Hilary is an amateur player who joined the PDGA in 2021 and currently has a rating of 845. Throughout her career, she has participated in 17 events and has won five of them. She is currently ranked 9th in the Global Masters Series.
During the FA1 Women’s Amateur 1 Division Tournament, Hilary finished in fifth place with a total score of +9. While her performance was not what she had hoped for, Hilary felt that she played well considering the conditions. She said, “I felt like my timing was a little off and my putting could have been better. I probably caged between 15-20 putts across the 3 courses.”
Despite not playing as well as she had hoped, Hilary was still able to have a great time at the tournament. She was particularly happy with the performance of her Tacky Saks grip solution, which kept her hands dry throughout the tournament and was extremely pleased with the other players she played with during the tournament. Hilary said, “….my cards were great and my hands were dry. I feel like I played pretty well at Picnic with the winds. Cypress really had me in my head with some of the baskets being higher than the others and no time to practice the new layouts beforehand. Maximo was my real disappointment.”
Hilary’s story is a reminder that improvement is a process, and even when things don’t go as planned, focusing on what you can do better next time is key. With a positive attitude and a commitment to improvement, Hilary is sure to achieve her goals and continue making progress in the sport.
Jacalyn Barbre: Confidence and Calmness
Disc golf player Jacalyn Barbre, dominated her division in the 2023 Gulf Coast Charity Open Presented by Lennar Homes. The tournament, held in St. Petersburg, Florida, was a PRO/AM A-TIER event that attracted players from across the region.
Competing in the FA2 Women’s Amateur 2 Division, Barbre won the tournament with a total score of 19 over par. She finished 7 strokes ahead of her closest competitor, Christina Beatty, and 8 strokes ahead of third-place finisher Gerleen Dineros.
Barbre had a strong start to the tournament, shooting the hot round in the first round at Maximo, one of her favorite courses. She finished with a score of +2 and a six-stroke lead going into the second round, which was held at Taylor, her home course. Barbre continued her solid play in the second round, shooting another hot round and extending her lead to 10 strokes over second place.
Despite facing a challenging course in the third round at Cypress, Barbre kept her lead and took home the win by an impressive seven-strokes! Reflecting on her victory, she expressed her gratitude for the well-run tournament and the amazing women she got to play with.
“I’m thrilled to have won this tournament and to have played with such talented competitors,” Barbre said. “I felt confident going into the tournament and I knew I had to stay focused and calm throughout all three rounds. The support of my team and the performance of my Tacky Saks grip solution helped me maintain my grip and stay in control during each shot. I’m excited for the rest of the season and can’t wait to see what’s next.”
Barbre’s story is a reminder of the importance of confidence and calmness on the course. By trusting in herself and her abilities, and by using a reliable grip solution, Barbre was able to maintain her lead and take home the win. Her story is a testament to the power of mental strength in disc golf.
Samantha Hood: Learning and Growing
Team Tacky Saks was well represented, including member Samantha Hood who recently took part in the 2023 Gulf Coast Charity Open Presented by Lennar Homes disc golf tournament in St. Petersburg, Florida. The amateur player competed in the FA3 Women’s Amateur 3 Division against 10 other female players.
Samantha put up an impressive fight during the three rounds, finishing tied for 4th place with a score of +36. Her performance was especially impressive considering that she has only been playing for a short time, having competed in just 10 events since she started. With one win under her belt and a current rating of 744 +3, Samantha is showing great promise in the sport.
Reflecting on her experience at the tournament, Samantha shared, “I got the opportunity to play the GCCO this weekend and left feeling really proud of myself. I did much better than what I anticipated shooting (always wanting to do better) but realistically being so new to this sport, I like to give myself some grace.”
Samantha also expressed her excitement about the progress she has made in the sport and her focus on what she needs to work on. “As I continue to grow in this sport I continue to reflect on what I need to work on and I am more focused than ever. GCCO was the perfect first A Tier to start the season and so grateful I got to be apart of it.”
Samantha’s use of Tacky Saks’ grip solution also played a role in her success at the tournament. In her quote, she expressed gratitude to Tacky Saks for “keeping my hands dry all weekend!” Disc golfers know that maintaining a good grip on the disc is essential to success in the game, and Tacky Saks’ grip solution is designed to help players maintain a strong and consistent grip, even in wet or humid conditions.
Samantha’s story is a reminder that everyone starts somewhere, and that learning and growing is an important part of the journey in disc golf. By staying focused on what she needs to work on and by maintaining a positive attitude, Samantha is sure to continue making progress in the sport.
Robin Licitra: Holding Her Own
Robin Licitra, a Clearwater, Florida resident recently competed in the 2023 Gulf Coast Charity Open Presented by Lennar Homes, an event that brought together some of the best players in the region. And while the competition was fierce, Licitra proved that she was more than capable of holding her own on the course.
Playing in the FA3 Women’s Amateur 3 Division Tournament, Licitra was up against some tough competition. However, she didn’t let the pressure get to her, and she managed to hold her own throughout the tournament. In the first round, which took place at Taylor Park, Licitra managed to shoot a +12, which put her in a tie for 3rd place. Despite the windy and chilly conditions, Licitra was able to play above her usual rating, which is a testament to her skill and determination.
The second round took place at Maximo Park, and the strong wind persisted. Unfortunately, Licitra had a tough time on this course, going out of bounds three times and shooting a +13. This score was not her best and dropped her down to a tie for 6th place. However, she still managed to perform 13 points above her rating, which is a testament to her skill and resilience.
On the second day, the third round took place at Picnic Island, and the weather was calm and beautiful. Licitra went into this round with a relaxed attitude and focused on hitting her lines and making putts. The scores were very close, but she managed to shoot +11, which put her in 4th place. This was a fantastic achievement, and it earned her a rating of 24 points higher than her current one.
Reflecting on her performance, Licitra said, “The tournament was a great experience for me. The weather conditions were tough, but I was able to focus and play my best. I’m thrilled with my performance, especially in the first and third rounds. The ladies I competed with were fun, positive, and uplifting throughout the entire tournament, which made it an even more enjoyable experience.”
Licitra’s performance at the 2023 Gulf Coast Charity Open Presented by Lennar Homes is a testament to her skill and dedication. She has only been a member of the disc golf community since 2018, but in that short time, she has already made a name for herself in the community for being very positive. As she continues to improve her game, there’s no doubt that she will continue playing for years to come.
LeighAnne Pagenkopf: Staying Focused
LeighAnne Pagenkopf competed in the 2023 Gulf Coast Charity Open Presented by Lennar Homes in St. Petersburg, Florida. Pagenkopf, an amateur player from Largo, Florida, has been a member of the PDGA since 2020 and has played in 82 career events, winning 24 of them. Currently, she has a rating of 752 +4 as of 14-Feb-2023.
Competing in the FA3 Women’s Amateur 3 Division, Pagenkopf faced some tough competition on the course. LeighAnne’s individual stats for the first round of the tournament placed her tied for 6th with a round 1 score of +15 and a total of 71 throws, earning her a round 1 rating of 747. In the second round, LeighAnne moved up to a tie for 4th with a round 2 score of +9 and a total of 63 throws, earning her a round 2 rating of 813. In the final round, LeighAnne maintained her position in a tie for 4th, finishing with a round 3 score of +12 and a total of 72 throws, earning her a round 3 rating of 775.
Despite dealing with an injury in her foot, LeighAnne pushed through and was proud of her performance. “This 3 round tournament was very tough for me. I was dealing with an injury of my foot which just made me determined to finish. I hung in the middle of the pack with some amazing women. This was more than I expected. What I choose to take from this experience is that I can always improve especially with taking more of a positive mental attitude,” LeighAnne said.
LeighAnne’s performance in the tournament was impressive, especially considering the challenges she faced. Her story is a reminder that staying focused and committed to improvement is key to success in disc golf. It’s clear that her determination and positive mindset are assets that will continue to serve her well in her future competitions.
Conclusion: Empowering Women in Disc Golf
The stories of Nid Ovathanasin, Hilary Petonke, Jackie Barbre, Samantha Hood, Robin Licitra, and LeighAnne Pagenkopf are a testament to the spirit of empowerment in disc golf. These women have faced challenges on the course, but they have remained resilient and determined in the face of adversity. By staying focused on their goals, using reliable grip solutions, and maintaining a positive attitude, these players are sure to achieve great things in the sport. Their stories are an inspiration to all women in disc golf and a reminder of the power of resilience, determination, and hard work. They have faced challenges and setbacks, but they have not let that stop them from pursuing their passion and striving for greatness.
Their success is also a testament to the growing diversity and inclusivity in the sport of disc golf. As more women enter the sport and achieve success, they are helping to break down barriers and challenge traditional gender stereotypes.
The disc golf community has also played an important role in supporting and empowering these women. Through mentorship, coaching, and sponsorship, they have been able to build their skills and achieve their goals. In addition, tournaments like the Gulf Coast Charity Open Presented by Lennar Homes provide a platform for women to showcase their talent and connect with other players in the community.
However, there is still work to be done to ensure that women are given equal opportunities and recognition in the sport. According to the Professional Disc Golf Association, only 11.5% of current members are women, and they are underrepresented in leadership roles and tournament payouts. By addressing these issues and continuing to support and uplift women in the sport, we can help to create a more inclusive and diverse disc golf community.
In conclusion, the stories of Nid Ovathanasin, Hilary Petonke, Jackie Barbre, Robin Licitra, Samantha Hood, and LeighAnne Pagenkopf are a testament to the power of determination, hard work, and community support. These women are breaking down barriers and challenging gender stereotypes in the sport of disc golf, and their success is an inspiration to all women who are pursuing their passions. With continued support and empowerment, we can help to create a more inclusive and diverse disc golf community where all players have equal opportunities and recognition.
