Monterey California is a beautiful place, and an epicenter for West Coast Collegiate disc golf. The 2014 West Coast College Open took place there recently and the competition was fantastic.

With teams from all across the West present, it was anyone’s match to win. Defending champion Oregon Ducks were there to represent, but missing key member Jake LaPutka, it was going to be an uphill battle.

The University of Nevada-Reno, featuring the well-known James Proctor (1018 PDGA rating), was the murmured favorite among the teams prior to the start of the tournament. Yet, it was still anyone’s game to win.

Host team and perennial collegiate powerhouse California State University-Monterey Bay was looking to put their name back on the trophy after suffering their first loss in finals play last year at the hands of the Oregon team. Anchored by Brian Schoenfelder, the CSUMB team was looking to upset everyone.

The format of this event is Team Match-Play. With each seed counting evenly, it takes a team effort to win. No one member can carry any school to victory.

Formal play began on Saturday, with each team facing off against one opponent school. Each of the three top ranked teams won their first matches. As play developed, the picture was becoming clear. It was going to be a showdown among those three teams.

Oregon suffered their first loss as a team to Reno. James Proctor birdied six of seven holes on the long side of the Oaks course to take the win over Oregon seed Cory Higdon in short order. Battles down the ranks were close with two seeds ending in ties, and Reno taking the win in one other to win 3 to 2 over Oregon.

CSUMB took Reno to the brink, and ended up with a tie across the board; 3 to 3. The tiebreaker was held off until after regulation play had finished. If Oregon lost again, the tiebreaker would not be needed.

In the final match of regulation, Oregon and CSUMB faced off. Knowing they were playing for their tournament life, the Oregon team came out hot and won the team match with resounding numbers.

After five matches, the tiebreaker between CSUMB and Reno was needed to determine who advanced to the finals. If Reno won, they would face Oregon in the Championship round. If CSUMB won, the top three teams would find themselves in a three-way tie.

The tiebreaker began with much excitement. CSUMB took a quick point over Reno, but on the third hole, James Proctor came up huge. He parked the final hole of the playoff to force a sudden death finish. On the first hole of sudden death CSUMB hit an enormous anhyzer putt from 70 feet, over a bush, into a head wind. Reno capitalized on the drive, and both teams advanced to the next hole.

On the second hole of sudden death, Reno five seed made a costly error, throwing into the bushes to the right of the fairway. Their six seed struggled to give James Proctor a par look, and left his team 40-45’ from the basket. To CSUMB’s delight Proctor couldn’t make the putt, and CSUMB won the tiebreaker.

Now, with three teams tied for first place another playoff was needed to determine who would play in the finals. Higdon, Schoenfelder, and Proctor each played their tee shots similarly, each landing near the circle’s edge. Following the tee shots, the two seeds approached the lies. CSUMB laid up, fearing the dangerous drop-off behind the basket. Reno, with a more advantageous angle went for it and made the putt for a two. Oregon’s Matt Beattie made a great run, but his putt lifted a bit in the headwind and ended up below the basket, 25 feet from the hole. Facing a difficult uphill comeback putt, Paul Fraser barely missed, and the Ducks would card a bogey on the first hole of the playoff.

All three teams carded a par on the second playoff hole, featuring an amazing clutch upshot by Oregon’s Jonas Perrin. On the final hole of the playoff, Oregon needed a two, and a par from CSUMB. Sadly for the Ducks, a par was taken, and the CSUMB and Reno teams advanced to the finals.

Reno ended up winning the tournament, with CSUMB taking second, and Oregon third. The excitement of the playoff was unbelievable, and this author is proud to have been a part of something so exciting. It is unfortunate that we couldn’t come up with the repeat victory, but we are proud to support the victors.

Collegiate disc golf on the West Coast is alive and well. The WCCO is a testament to exactly how competitive the teams on this side of the country have become. Look for all three teams to do well at the Northwest Collegiate Invitational in late February and at the National Championships in North Augusta, South Carolina in April.