Lady Flames, DIII men claim team titles at CDG National Championships

Wednesday, April 3

Rock Hill, SC

9:00 AM

Liberty University Club Sports

College Disc Golf Nationals - Doubles

Liberty's Division III men pulled away with the team championship on Saturday in Rock Hill, S.C. (Photos by Steve Bowman)

Lady Flames, DIII men claim team titles at CDG National Championships

4/6/2024 11:16:00 PM | Disc Golf

After being commissioned by President Dondi Costin before their bus trip to South Carolina last Saturday, the Flames and Lady Flames concluded play in the four-day College Disc Golf tournament Saturday.

Liberty University's top women's tandem and Division III men's foursome captured team titles and its Division I men finished in a three-way tie for seventh place after Saturday's fourth and final round of doubles play at the College Disc Golf (CDG) National Championships played on five courses in Rock Hill, S.C.

DI-mens-lineup — The Flames' top four-man team rallied fo finish seventh of 80 teams in the College Disc Golf Division I ranks.

The Flames' DI squad, led by senior Clayton Lewis, graduate Timothy Schmidt, and sophomores Jonah Burdick and Evan Riley, tied with Oklahoma Christian and Ohio State at 19-under-par 223. They trailed only UNC Charlotte, which won a tiebreaker for first place with Cincinnati after both finished at 27-under-par 215, North Carolina State (25-under 217), Ferris State University (23-under 219), Emporia State (22-under 220), and Texas A&M (20-under 222).

"It was a pretty good weekend," Head Coach Steve Bowman said. "It was good competition, and it gets better and better every year. We put the work in throughout the season, and I liked where we were and how we were competing going into nationals. We were on a high after (winning every division at) the Flamethrower and we were right up there going into Day 3. Everybody was in contention, and everybody was representing well."

He said persistent high winds played a factor in the team's performance.

"It was pretty windy, and the wind became progressively stronger throughout Friday," Bowman said. "We battled it pretty well, but it took us out of our rhythm. It slowed us down a little bit."

The entire team was exhorted by Liberty President Dondi Costin, who met them last Saturday at 6:30 a.m. as they were loading their luggage onto the bus before sending them out with a time of prayer.

"He engaged with some of the team members and powerfully prayed us out, sharing encouraging words," Bowman said. "We are competing as hard as we can every time we step off the bus."

Liberty experienced the most success in the Division III men's ranks, where its top team of senior Graham Clawson, junior Elijah Persson, sophomore Kyle Sennett, and senior Ian Rankin pulled away with the championship after finishing 51-under-par at 187. Its other two DIII groupings finished fourth (38-under 200) and tied for fifth (36-under 202), respectively, out of 45 teams.

Individually, the Flames landed six players in the top nine spots, led by runner-up Clawson (10-under 49) and third-place Rankin (9-under 50). Liberty's Persson, Sennett, and freshman William Hathaway finished in a four-way tie for fifth place at 8-under 51 followed by junior teammate Ethan Burgin (7-under 52).

Maggie-Presley-Julia-DiMartino-womens-champions — Senior Maggie Presley (left) and graduate Julia DiMartino showcase their trophies for claiming the women's championship.

In the women's competition, Lady Flames graduate Julia DiMartino and senior Maggie Presley paired up to win the team championship out of 34 female tandems with a combined 12-under 226 through four rounds, edging Clemson's Missoury Wolff and Noelle Erb (10-under 228) and Empire State's Atlanta Krueger and Maya Ringgold (7-under 231).

"Maggie and Julia played really well, and it was encouraging for them to meet teams they hadn't seen in the regular season," Bowman said. "It was good to have six ladies competing, and we had all divisions represented and playing well."

In singles play, DiMartino scored an eagle on No. 17 and finished in a three-way tie for fourth with her 2-over-par 91 before Presley came in a two-way tie for seventh at 3-over 92.

"Julia and Maggie are both graduating, but it will be a good rebuilding year with some good recruits coming in," Bowman said. "The girls are ready for it."

DII-mens-top-players — Liberty's Division II men's team was led by Grayson Lifto (second from left), the individual singles national champion.

In Division II men's action, Liberty's team of graduates Grayson Forton and Andrew Sherwood and juniors Greyson Lifto and John Weathersby landed in a tie for 12th place out of 80 four-man teams with their 22-under-par 218 total through four rounds. That was just six strokes back of UNC Chapel Hill and University of Dayton, which lost a playoff after tying the Tar Heels for first at 28-under 212.

Lifto was the overall individual champion out of 319 players with his 6-under 55 total while Forton tied for 17th at 1-under 60. Complete results are available online.

"This was a great year to push each other and to do battle day after day in practice," Bowman said. "They were passionate and excited for each other to do well. Next year, they'll get better really fast and will be fighting for positions."

He said the team will have an opportunity to play a large role in supporting the Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA) World Championships when they are held Aug. 21-25 on two of the same courses used during the Flamethrower this year — at Ivy Hill Golf Club in Forest and the New London Tech course designed by six-time world champion Paul McBeth.

"The students want to come back early and we expect to have 30-35 participate in the project of running a big tournament like that before the first week of classes," Bowman said. "We hope to showcase the campus and opportunities for program to grow from being involved on a world stage, possibly hosting the putting and distance and skills competition on campus."

By Ted Allen/Staff Writer; Video edited by Colleen Schaner/Club Sports Video & Media Assistant