WASHINGTON – The Gallaudet University Disc Golf team made history by competing in their first-ever College Disc Golf (CDG) events, participating in three consecutive Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA) XC-Tier tournaments across British Columbia, Kentucky, and Virginia from February to March 2025. This inaugural run provided a valuable experience for the team, as they faced strong competition from all over the United States and Canada and adapted to different course layouts and formats.
The journey began at the TWU Spartan National Qualifier, hosted by Trinity Western University in Surrey, British Columbia, on February 15-16. The team—
Jaylen Johnson (Redlands, Calif.),
Donovan Holmes (Valley Springs, Calif.),
Travis Carrizales (Austin, Texas), and
Nicholas Barron (Faribault, Minn.) competed in the MA1 division, finishing seventh out of eight teams with a final score of +3 (192). They posted round scores of 68, 60, and 64, competing in a format that included singles and team doubles on day one, followed by team doubles on day two at the Hills at Portal Golf Club.
The following weekend, Gallaudet traveled to Lexington, Kentucky, for the Bluegrass Regional, hosted by the University of Kentucky on February 22-23. With
Enrico Miller (Riverside, Calif.) replacing Barron in the lineup, the team finished 36th out of 37 teams in the MA1 division, recording a total score of +21 (208) with round scores of 77, 73, and 58. The event featured team doubles and singles at Shillito Park on day one, followed by team doubles at Jacobson Park on day two.
Gallaudet wrapped up its three-week stretch at the Liberty Flamethrower Collegiate Regional Championship, hosted by Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia, on March 1-2. Competing in the MA3 division, the team - Johnson, Holmes, Barron, and Miller - finished third in three teams with a final score of -4, posting rounds of 57, 60, and 72. Unlike the previous two tournaments, Gallaudet did not participate in singles, focusing solely on team doubles due to their CDG Division III status. The first two rounds were played at Camp Hydaway White on Saturday, while the final round took place at Ivy Hill Disc Golf Course, a prestigious venue that hosted the PDGA World Championships in August 2024.
"It's been a great experience competing with this team so far. I've been seeing rapid improvement from each of us as we've gained tons of experience in only three weeks! Next stop, nationals!" said Gallaudet Disc Golf Club Team Captain Holmes.
Gallaudet Disc Golf Club Team Coach
Tom McKnight echoed, "It has been unbelievable to see this unfolding in the last few weeks. Regardless of the results, it is a great achievement for Gallaudet to field a disc golf team and play in a tournament. So proud of the team and their commitment to disc golf and to represent Gallaudet as best they could. I am definitely looking forward to what it will be like in the future."
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With their first collegiate tournaments now complete, the Gallaudet team will take a month-long break before traveling to Rock Hill, South Carolina, to compete in the College Disc Golf National Championship, hosted by Winthrop University from April 1-5.
