5/13/2026

Forward Momentum

The Barbasol Open at Austin felt like pure magic.

I took on a different role this year.

I just wanted the chance to enjoy this event.

I didn't want to be burned up after another big show at Sprinkle.

My job was course prep and Mint.

Sprinkle was ready.

Mint opened our new store expansion.

Both of things don't happen without the help of a lot of people.

Guy, my family, ABWs amazing team, Jacob, Efrain, Greg and everyone else that is a part of Team Mint, the Texas Chain Rattlers and the Sprinkle Valley Disc Golf Club.

The last month at Sprinkle was an absolute blur of course prep while we dealt with more rain than we're used to getting this time of year.

I mowed that course a lot.

I already need to do it again.

This place is so green right now.

This is our third year on the tour.

The first year was Sprinkles debut at USWDGC.

Our first Major.

The course was so green back then.

The next year was The Open at Austin.

DGPT Elite+

One hole became the story.

I was so green back then.

Run it back.

The Barbasol Open at Austin.

DGPT Elite+

Two more days at Sprinkle.

Third year going through this cycle.

The best FPO layout yet.

A kinder version of Hole 18.

No rain. No wind.

The players got to attack this course.

Build momentum.

You could hear the whispers in the crowd during Round 1 & 2.

Ulibarri was right there.

6 through 6 to start Round 1.

10 down both rounds out here.

That's always been the key to Austin disc golf and Olse designs.

Yes, you can cook these courses.

Good play is rewarded.

You just have to be ready to play golf.

You have to get off the tee box.

Believe in yourself.

Trust your plan.

Be consistent. Score when you can.

Simon's -15 is pretty incredible on it's own. That includes missing birdie on Holes 12 & 14, which are usually the easier Par 3s.

By Round 3 I was set up at Harvey doing some vending.

Ulibarri was still cooking despite a slow start.

By the time the lead cards hit the Back 9 in Round 4...the crowd was already praying for it.

I was checking scores every few seconds by the time Uli got Hole 14.

He kept rising, while others started to fall off.

He's in the lead.

We have a playoff.

The crowd was chanting his name before it was over.

A feeling I've only felt a handful of times.

The magic of sports when it all works out just right.

Watching Dave Moody's Final 9 to win the 2010 COTO was one of those moments.

Seeing the Holy Shot was another.

The closest thing I can relate to how this moment felt for me was the Spurs 2014 title game.

I was lucky enough to attend(thanks Phil).

A group of old vets, winning one last title.

Playing the series of their life.

Pure basketball.

Leaving it all out there.

Because they were confident they would win.

A moment that made most people in that arena cry tears of joy.

That's the same feeling I had this weekend.

You just can't help but be happy for the story that unfolded.

It was pure disc golf.

Uli delivered great shot after great shot.

He made the putts that mattered.

He stayed confident.

Left it all out there.

He was the veteran showing them how to play. 

He stopped being green a long time ago.

The disc golf world has watched him grow up.

The sport shaped around him.

He earned this moment more than most players ever will.

Very few people will ever get the type of adoration he got on 18's green at Harvey this weekend. 

For me personally, he was one of few pros that went out of his way to offer kind words last year.

It's pretty hard being a TD at times. Players are selfish. They can't separate winning from everything else.

You remember the kind ones. The ones that go out of their way.

Uli uses his confidence as a shield.

Being around him for the little bit that I have been, it doesn't take long to see the side that cares about the sport.

He understands there are 1000's of people behind the scenes, across the country, doing all this work for the love of the game so that he can go to work every weekend.

He's been here since the end of the Climo days.

Witnessed Doss, Jenkins and Feldberg.

Through the dominance of McBeth and Wysocki.

Into Gannon and Robinson.

The Disc Golf Pro Tour era.

Ulibarri is still here.

Believing in himself.

He has a perspective on the sport few have.

His words meant a lot to me.

The speech he gave to the disc golf world will have an even bigger impact.

This weekend was a moment for disc golf.

I feel very lucky that this was the year I chose to just sit back and watch the show.

Congrats Paul.

Thank you for the inspiration.