The ACU disc golf team is competing in the 2016 national collegiate disc golf championship. In its three seasons on campus, each year the team as qualified and competed at the national level.
Deonna Shake, instructor in the kinesiology and nutrition department and the team’s sponsor, said it is a big deal to compete at nationals.
“There are teams with players who compete professionally already, and schools with a much larger and more organized team system,” Shake said. “ACU is definitely looking to turn some heads and finish in the top 25.”
Shake said she gets to see her team compete in the Texas Collegiate tournament each year, but will not be with the team this week.
“I am more of a coach, mom, sponsor, mentor, and encourager than coach in the normal sense,” Shake said. “It’s really hard not to be there with the team. My heart is with them for sure. I have not been able to attend the national tournament due to my teaching load and the sheer length of time I would be gone, plus the cost.”
Shake said the team does send her updates each day.
Brian Lang, senior accounting major from Abilene, said he is excited to get to go to the championship this year.
“Even though I’ve played for many years, I’ve never really competed in disc golf tournaments until this year, so this is a unique experience,” Lang said.
Lang said the most difficult thing about disc golf is how it is not very forgiving.
“There isn’t much luck involved so you will get the results you deserve,” Lang said.
The tournament will be held in Augusta, Georgia this week. The tournament will last four days, which will include seven rounds of play-five doubles rounds and two singles rounds.
“I’ve always been an active person and I love all kinds of sports,” Lang said. “It’s pretty awesome that it’s held in Augusta, Georgia, just a few days after the Masters, which is my favorite sport event of the year.”
If you are interested in following the action this week in Georgia, you can catch glimpses of the 72 teams competing for the championship on ncdgc.com.
