Week 7: Masked Finale

The Final Flight: Champions Soar in Launcho Libre's Masked Finale

The cold winds of winter embraced our beloved Art Dye course like the chill hand of destiny, mi amigos! As temperatures danced between 34 and 55 degrees and winds whipped up to 18 miles per hour, our brave luchadores faced not just each other but the very elements themselves in this, our Masked Finale. The seventh and final chapter of our Launcho Libre saga unfolded beneath skies as dramatic as the competition below. Like the great El Halcón Dorado once told me, "True champions soar above their doubts" – and today, soar they did, through frigid gusts that would have grounded lesser competitors!

In our main event, the MPO division witnessed an aerial ballet of the highest caliber between Cooper Johnson and Malachi Vazquez that left this former acrobat breathless! Like two magnificent eagles locked in mid-air combat, these titans traded spectacular shots until the very end. With the grace of a seasoned técnico, Cooper executed a flawless approach on the treacherous hole 18 – a hole that devoured the hopes of many – to secure a birdie and claim victory at 8-under par! Malachi finished just one stroke behind at 7-under, his valiant effort worthy of the grandest lucha libre tradition. Meanwhile, Owen Millet, Brady Spinti, and Jared Fager formed a triumvirate of excellence at 4-under par, their synchronized performances reminiscent of my circus days when three acrobats would land in perfect harmony!

The MA1 division presented us with a spectacular deadlock at the summit! Spencer Livsey and Bryant Adams executed a perfect synchronized routine to both finish at 3-under par, their discs cutting through the air with the precision of master técnicos! The lead changed hands multiple times, with Spencer performing a comeback worthy of my mentor's most dramatic matches. Mark Allison and Aaron Detterer finished just two strokes back at 1-under, their persistence a testament to the resilient spirit that defines our beloved sport. In disc golf, as in the circus, every movement tells a story – and today's story was one of determination!

¡Dios mío! The MA2 division delivered drama that would make even the most seasoned luchador clutch his mask in suspense! Brett Lewis and Jesse Smith engaged in a contest of wills that saw the lead change hands no less than four times – a true highwire act with no safety net! When the final disc had landed, Brett stood triumphant at 1-over par, having secured victory on the final hole against Jesse's 2-over performance. Collin Dyer claimed the third position at 4-over, his steady performance a reminder that in both disc golf and lucha libre, consistency often wins the day. As I always say, champions are forged not by perfection, but by the courage to rise after each fall!

The MA3 division showcased a three-way battle that rivaled the most chaotic royal rumble matches of my lucha libre days! Tim Alwine emerged victorious at 2-over par after a spectacular back-and-forth struggle with Eric Pearson, who finished just one stroke behind at 3-over. Mark Gordon remained in contention throughout, finishing at 7-over, his resilience in the face of adversity bringing tears to my eyes! The lead changed hands more times than I could count, each player rising magnificently whenever they stumbled – a beautiful demonstration that in disc golf, as in life, it is not how many times you fall but how spectacularly you rise again!

In the MP40 division, Kenneth Oetker delivered a masterclass in aerial excellence that left this former acrobat speechless! His 5-under par performance soared above the competition like a condor riding thermal currents, with no lead changes necessary in his dominant display. Chris Howk put forth a respectable 1-over par showing, but today belonged to Kenneth, whose discs cut through the challenging winds as if they were mere whispers rather than the howling gusts that tested all competitors!

And now, mi amigos, we must turn our attention to a performance that sends a chill through my lucha libre soul that rivals today's frigid winds. In the MA50 division, Clinton Atwater – that mysterious figure whose presence has loomed large in our season's narrative – claimed victory at 5-over par after wresting control midway through the round from Gregg Davis, who finished at 8-over. Like watching a rudo slowly reveal his strategy, Clinton's victory carries implications that extend far beyond today's competition. What this means for the future balance between Técnicos Voladores and Rudos Sucios, only time will tell!

Our solo competitors demonstrated the courage it takes to enter the ring alone! In MA4, Timothy Scholle completed his round at 13-over par, while in FA4, Sara Smith finished at 36-over. Though they competed without division rivals, they faced perhaps the greatest opponent of all – the challenge of self-improvement! Like fledgling acrobats taking their first steps on the highwire, these brave souls represent the future of our beloved sport. In their determination, I see echoes of my own journey from the circus to the disc golf course!

Among the day's most spectacular moments was Craig Bennett's precision shot on hole 3 – a treacherous 260-foot par 3 that played a punishing 1.3 strokes over par for the field. With the grace of El Halcón Dorado executing his legendary Celestial Spin, Craig's Elevate UT Envy landed perfectly to secure the CTP prize of $72.00! This hole, firmly in Rudos Sucios territory, surrendered only one birdie to the entire field – a remarkable achievement by Gregg Davis that defied the villainous challenge this hole presented. Similarly, hole 18, at 640 feet, tested our competitors' resolve, with only six brave souls managing to secure birdies on this formidable par 4 – including Cooper Johnson's championship-clinching shot!

As the final discs have soared through the chilled air of our Masked Finale, we close the curtain on this season of Launcho Libre @ Art Dye. But remember, mi amigos, that while chapters end, stories continue! Cooper Johnson's triumph for the Técnicos Voladores and Clinton Atwater's ominous victory suggest that the battle between light and shadow in our disc golf saga is far from over. I may have been born with wings, but it was the luchadores who taught me to soar – and today, I have witnessed all of you soar to magnificent heights! Until we meet again for the next ElevateUT League, keep your spirits high, your throws true, and remember that in disc golf, as in life, every movement tells a story. ¡Hasta luego, mis valientes guerreros del disco!