Homegrown Talent: Max Nichols

Max is a true San Diego disc golf success story. Max grew up in a disc golf family with his dad Jeff Nichols and brother Alex Nichols. Morley-ites from the day have seen this talented little kid around the course grow into a rising star in the disc golf world. This well produced video created by Max and AJ Risley give a glimpse into what it takes to go pro. MANY talk of future success, Max is earning and OWNING his success.

http://youtu.be/WVfnwd9J2hs

San Diego Aces Bag Tags For Sale

If you play Morley Field on a regular basis you're sure to see colorful San Diego Aces Bag tags hanging from players bags. SD Aces memberships are available from Aces course reps Daniel Lichtman or Donny Olow. Also the great team at Kit Carson's pro shop - SDSF is another great place in the area for all membership items.

Player Profile: Jason Erik Tydingco "JET"

Jason Erik Tydingco "JET"

PDGA#: 56202 Division: Advanced

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Began Playing Disc Golf?:  18 February 2012. My cousin Jose Duran invited me to play "disc golf" at morley field. I had never heard of disc golf before, and had no idea what he was talking about. Jose explained the game real quick, and I laughed in his face and made fun of him... Disc golf sounded like a girly sport and a waste of time. After playing holes 1-5 at Morley I went to the shop and bought 5 discs! I have been hooked ever since!

First Disc?: I bought 5 discs my very first time ever playing... Angel Garcia was working the shop and I asked him what I should buy. Angel sold me - DX ROC, Star Dart, KC Pro 12X ROC (still have it), Champion Roadrunner, Champion Mamba. Thanks Angel! hahaha

Favorite Hole at Morley and Why?: My favorite hole at Morley has to be hole 1. Doesn't matter the pin position I just like hanging out before rounds, after rounds etc. and watching other people approach the hole. When I was a newbie at the course I didn’t know much about the game or disc selection. I would hang out at Hole 1's bench and try to link up with good players or groups of players to learn more about the game. I've had the privilege to shoot rounds with sponsored players, knowledgeable players, players that ran their mouths too much until my score at the end of the round shut them up!... LOL...

Morley Field Aces?: My one and only Ace is 9C... My little brother was there to see it. It was with a MVP Axis 180g, it was a straight laserbeam shot, clipped a tree branch, hit a tree to the right bounced hard left, hit another tree and kicked right into the cage! It was ridiculous!

Favorite Disc and Why?: 11X Firebird 175g I always have two of them in my bag. I love the feel of the 11x plastic, and the firebird just does exactly what I want it to do! Plus, I throw a mean thumber and the 11x plastic seems to hold up better than the 12x plastic.

Favorite Driver and Why?: First run Proto stamp Star Destroyer! I have quite a collection of first run Destroyers. A lot of people get mad that I throw them, but they fly beautifully and feel perfect in my hand. I don't see the point in hoarding great discs and not letting them fly...

Favorite Midrange and Why?: My favorite midrange is my CE Gator... She does exactly what I want her to do and she's quite the meat hook! Plus the CE pearly plastic feels oh so sexy!

Favorite Putter and Why?: My favorite putter is the Black 5X JK Pro Aviar-X 175G. The JK was introduced to me by the very wise Mark Wilson... He saw me putting with a KC Pro Aviar and he asked me why I was using those. I told him I had seen a lot of the Open players at Morley putting with them. I told him I like the stability of the putter, but not the feel of them. They felt slippery and really stiff. He bought me two JK's that moment and I have been putting with those ever since, and I love them!

Whats In My Bag?: 3 Black JK Avairs 2 First Run Destroyers CE Whippet X CE Gator 2 11x Firebirds Big Bird stamp Roc3 Teebird AJ Edition First Run NukeOS Wasp Elite Z 2 Ti Stalkers First Run Zombee Ti buzz

Favorite Disc Golf Websites?: www.morleyfield.com

Tourney Wins or Top Finishes?: 2nd Place Vegas Gentleman's Classic

My favorite tourney play was FEB 2014 monthly, I place second to Max Nichols, he shot -23, I shot -22. I shot my personal best in the first round which was -13.

Favorite Pro Player?:  I don't have a favorite Pro player... I have met a few but I can't say they are my favorite players. My favorite disc golfers can be found at Morley almost every other day of the week.

Tips for newer players and players looking to improve: Try to have fun... don't get stuck thinking about a bad shot or bad hole. Try to learn from your mistakes. Play with players that are better than you. Go to an open field and get familiar with your discs.

personal note- Jasons answer to "Favorite Hole At Morley?" is why I love this sport and its community. Its also the reason I love putting together these player profiles. Some great stories. Especially about how one began to play the sport.

February Monthly Results

Open-12IMG_1377 1st-Max Nichols -23 $80

2nd- Jason Tydingco "Jet" -22 $55

3rdT-Tyler T -18

3rdT-Jason P -18  $33 split

Advanced-6

1st Derek Orangeman -7   $40 shop credit

2nd-Brady -6 $29 “ “

Intermediate-16

1st- Josh H -9 $36 shop credit

2nd-Jamers B -3 $32 “ “

3rdT- Steve F $26.6 “ “

3rdT- Chris D $26.5 “ “

5th- Tommy G. $ 23 “ “

Novice-14

1st-Ryan -6 $24 shop credit

2nd-Tyler S-2 $21 “ “

3rd- Koltin 0 $18 “ “

4th Brett R +9  $15 “ “

5th Pam +10 $13

Ace pool $48 not won

Player Profile: Tyler Tremelling

Name: Tyler Tremelling

Favorite Disc Golf Websites?: Discgolfvalues, Innova factory store (whenitworks) and Facebook

Began Playing Disc Golf?: New years day 2009 with a work group

PDGA#: 57406

Division: Open

First Disc?: Champion Teebird

Favorite Hole at Morley and Why?: 17 so many trees on such a short hole.!!

Morley Field Aces?: 17

Favorite Disc and Why?: The 11x Firebird has always done me right. Loves the basket.!!

Favorite Driver and Why?: Star Destroyer because it just goes so far and feels great in the hand. Very reliable.

Favorite Midrange and Why?: Gator because of its consistency and strong fade.

Favorite Putter and Why?: Wizard because it just feels right... Been through a bunch of putters...

Whats In My Bag?: 2 Wizards 2 pop top Destroyers 11x  Firebird Z Xtreme, ESP Zone 2 Crystal Z Challengers Champion Gator first run Champion Whippet 2 Champion Terns Pinnacle Ghost glo Nuke OS Z Nuke OS glo Nuke 11x Eagle first run TL champion Roadrunner and a DX Stingray.

Tourney Wins or Top Finishes?: On Team San Diego when we beat Santa Cruz 2012. Fourth in the 2012 Course Chapionship and fifth in 2013  Course Championship.

Favorite Pro Player?: Mark Jarvis. Amazing just to watch him throw. Looks like he is barely throwing and it goes a mile!!! Perfect form.

Tips for newer players and players looking to improve: Don't let one hole ruin your day whether it's an ace or a triple bogey. Focus on one thing at a time. It's not over till its over there is always a chance.

Player Profile: Adam C Aguilera

Name: Adam C Aguilera 292060_10200150137777750_261033612_n

Began Playing Disc Golf?: I began playing disc golf at the ripe old age of 8 years old. My uncle Frank Aguilera used to run the pro shop at Oak Grove (1984 or 5ish) and I would go out with him and all his buddies (Zimmerman Stokley, Sheldon, the Lissamens and the likes, I even remember a very young Steve Rico). Watching these titans of the old school was very motivating. I remember a wintertime open tournament sponsored by BUD LITE!!! So I played recreationally (or scarcely) until moving to north park about three minutes by skateboard from Morley. Then I started playing seriously. Motivated by the Jarvis twins and Micah Dorius until I believe 1999 Spring Fling at Morley placed 3rd Am. Won my first PDGA contest where I retired for a decade due to being a young and arrogant poor sport. Fast forward 2009 I am back and now a little more mature with a renewed passion and love for the sport.

PDGA#: 38257

Division: Open

First Disc?: This a tuff one. First disc for golf had to be a Midnight Flyer. The Aero Driver was my first driver.

Favorite Hole at Morley and Why?: My favorite hole at Morley has to be a tie between 5, 6, and 7 all long. Or pro tee 8 any of the longs.

Morley Field Aces?: Been a while so my memory of letter to pin position is rusty... 1 middle of trees short, 2 right by the park lot, 4 by the road, 8 straight by tee 9, 12 right side by fence, 15 pre pyramid, 16 straight and short and back 30 ft bye the wall, last but not least 18 behind the willow I hyzered over the pro shop. P.S. I chained out of 19 long once.

Favorite Disc and Why?: My favorite disc is a signature 1984 Aviar Driver model of the disc my uncle Frank set the world record. May very well be one of Innova’s first signature discs.

Favorite Driver and Why?: My favorite driver is the Innova Champion upper signature 08 Feldberg world Champ Boss.

Favorite Midrange and Why?: New favorite mid range champ Roc 3 Mcbeth signature model

Favorite Putter and Why? Favorite putter is a Stiff DX Aviar

Favorite Disc Golf Websites?: www.morleyfield.com

Whats In My Bag?:

4 - DX 175 Aviar putter

1 - Legacy Icon Clozer putter for straight short drives.

2 - 180g Star Marino Roc

1 - 180g Mcbeth Roc

1 - 180g DX Roc

1 - 175 Innova Atlas - delicate touch Shots.

2 - 175g  Innova Valkyrie,

2 - 175g Innova Roadrunners

1 - 175g Legacy Cannon

2 -175g Innova Wraith

2 - 175g Boss

1 - 175g Xcaliber

Tourney Wins or Top Finishes?: 2nd place wintertime 31 2nd place Sylmar match play 3rd place tie Sky High Showdown

Not too impressive I know.

Favorite Pro Player?: Steve Rico, Marc and Ken Jarvis, Paul McBeth, and Frank Aguilera.

Tips for newer players and players looking to improve:: uhh maybe this isn’t a question I am qualified to answer....but I will say keep calm and focus on being courteous that way you wont focus on that putt you just missed. Adapt a consistent grip and never get attached to a disc cause I got 99 problems but a disc aint one...

Miss you Morley. Tell Leo I said sup.

January Monthly 2014

Open-121st-Jason Perdue -17 $85 2nd-Noel -13 $53 3rd-Matt Howard -12 $30

Intermediate-26 1st-Chris Wright -10        $36 shop credit 2ndT-Brady -8 $29 “ “ 2ndT-Josh H. -8 $29 “ “ 4thT-Stephan P-5 $25        “ “        4thT-Derek D -5 $25 “ “ 4thT-Drewski -5  $25 “ “ 7thT-Mike F. -4 $22 “ “ 7thT-Eric R -4 $22 “ “ 7thT- Eric D. -4 $22 “ “

Novice-12 1st-Dan B. -3 $30 shop credit 2nd-Kyle -2 $20 “ “ 3rd- Bob M. -1 $15 “ “

Ace pool $90 Dan B.

Team Tournament Individual Results

DIV San Diego (SD) Wins Loss Ties
MPO1 Micah Doius 2 2 3
MPO2 Carlo Pelg 5 2 0
MPO3 Max Nichols 2 3 2
MPO4 Luke Christianson 2 4 1
MPO5 Tyler Tremelling 3 3 1
MPO6 Mason Newstead 2 3 2
MPM1 Dave Devine 4 2 1
MPM2 Mike Westerman 3 3 1
MPM3 Mike Slonim 4 2 1
MPG Jeff Nichols 3 0 4
MPS Fred Aguero 4 2 1
FPO Shonda Garcia 2 5 0
36 31 17
DIV Santa Cruz (SC) Wins Loss Ties
MPO1 Avery Jenkins 1 5 1
MPO2 Shasta Criss 3 2 2
MPO3 Tony Tran 3 3 1
MPO4 Myles Harding 2 4 1
MPO5 Matt Bell 2 3 2
MPO6 Chris Foss 0 6 1
MPM1 Jon Baldwin 7 0 0
MPM2 Jim Hagen 0 7 0
MPM3 Marty Hapner 2 4 1
MPG Doug Werner 3 3 1
MPS Hunt Hyde 3 3 1
FPO Carrie Berloger 3 3 1
29 43 12
DIV Huntington Beach (HB) Wins Loss Ties
MPO1 Kyle Eckmann 4 3 0
MPO2 Jeff Spohr 3 3 1
MPO3 Mike Raley 3 4 0
MPO4 Jeff 4 2 1
MPO5 Robert McIntee 2 4 1
MPO6 Marcus Cisneros 3 2 2
MPM1 Chris Brophy 3 3 1
MPM2 Dan Duron 3 3 1
MPM3 Mark Collicott 5 2 0
MPG Steve Killian 1 5 1
MPS Tom Clickner 3 4 0
FPO McKayla Thomas 2 5 0
36 40 8
DIV Arizona (AZ) Wins Loss Ties
MPO1 Ricky Wysocki 6 1 0
MPO2 David Feldberg 6 0 1
MPO3 Devan Owens 4 1 2
MPO4 Andrew Bohme 1 6 0
MPO5 Mike Lassuy 4 2 1
MPO6 Mike Downes 4 1 2
MPM1 David Neff 1 5 1
MPM2 Javier Kowalski 3 3 1
MPM3 Steve Johnston 0 6 1
MPG Dan Ginnelly 5 2 0
MPS John Kirkland 6 1 0
FPO Nicole Bradley 5 1 1
45 29 10
DIV Redwood Empire (RE) Wins Loss Ties
MPO1 Gregg Barsby 2 3 2
MPO2 Brad Armstrong 0 5 2
MPO3 John Child 4 2 1
MPO4 James Proctor 5 1 1
MPO5 Roger Cansler 4 3 0
MPO6 Justin Wilson 2 2 3
MPM1 Peter Sontag 2 4 1
MPM2 Scott Riley 5 1 1
MPM3 Kevin Parkhurst 2 4 1
MPG Jeff Fielder 5 1 1
MPS Mark Karleskind 1 3 3
FPO Anni Kreml 4 2 1
36 31 17
DIV Sylmar (SM) Wins Loss Ties
MPO1 Steve Rico 2 5 0
MPO2 Gabe Cota 2 2 3
MPO3 Wally Moore 2 4 1
MPO4 Freddie Sotelo 5 2 0
MPO5 Chris Horn 2 4 1
MPO6 Bamba Rico 4 2 1
MPM1 Jerry Goff 4 2 1
MPM2 Gary Sandoval 5 2 0
MPM3 Mike Byrne 4 3 0
MPG Mike Roberts 2 2 3
MPS Mark Horn 7 0 0
FPO Ohn Scoggins 5 1 1
44 29 11
DIV SoCal (SA) Wins Loss Ties
MPO1 Angel Garcia 3 2 2
MPO2 Trey McKelvey 3 4 0
MPO3 Garrett Tapken 2 5 0
MPO4 Scott Miller 4 1 2
MPO5 Carl Huering 4 1 2
MPO6 Shane Dehner 1 3 3
MPM1 Ed Speakman 3 4 0
MPM2 Greg Stanbro 2 2 3
MPM3 Mike Tyberg 5 2 0
MPG Randy Wylot 2 3 2
MPS Dave Oney 0 7 0
FPO Elaina Crusher 3 3 1
32 37 15
DIV Oak Grove (OG) Wins Loss Ties
MPO1 Philo Brathwaite 4 3 0
MPO2 Randy Saab 1 5 1
MPO3 Brian Vagi 3 1 3
MPO4 Jeff Thomas 2 5 0
MPO5 Harold Hampton 2 3 2
MPO6 Kyle Hughes 5 2 0
MPM1 Dago Bribiesca 1 5 1
MPM2 Ken McKelvey 3 3 1
MPM3 Denny Bohanan 4 3 0
MPG Robert Valenzuela 1 6 0
MPS Mark Hassan 1 5 1
FPO Erin White 1 5 1
28 46 10

2013 Team Tournament Recap

This year’s edition of the 32nd annual team tourney began with the usual putting contest on Friday afternoon.Only 28 contestants vyed for the $300 in prize monies. Many players unaware or prefering practice time. The cagy veterans waiting till the last minute before the prelims were to close before entering. Hoping the wind would die and their prelim qualifing round would keep them sharp in the finals. But several top contenders failed to qualify ; Greg Barsby, Randy Saab and last year’s winner Kyle Eckmann who was the only player in the last 2 years to hit from all 9 stations. In the end it was San Diego’s #3 Open player Max Nichols who took home the $100 first prize outlasting Jerry Goff, Steve Rico, Steve Johnstan and Scott Miller. Max had an amazing year on tour finishing tied for 4th at the USDGC shooting a 55(1075 rated) on famed Winthrip Gold course. Saturday morning dawned with cool cloudy weather. The weather report called from torrential downpours all day and hugh winds increasing as the day progressed. Thankfully, the weatherman’s dire predictions were like political promises. More bluster than reality. There was one good downpour around 2 p.m. (round 4) that sent most players scurring for shelter. One San Diego player though, newby Mason Newstead turned it to his advantage scoring 4 straight birdies during the heaviest part of the deluge.

This event is a match play event. Pitting each player on one team against the correspondingly numbered player on another team. Each team consists of 6 open players, 3 masters (age 40+), 1 grandmaster (50+),1 senior grandmaster (60+) and 1 woman. Match play is unique and fun format in that a each hole is it’s own tournament. Low score on a hole scores a point for that player. Total score for the round is irrelevant. Only that you scored better than your opponent on more holes. Matchs are 12 holes. The course is extended to 24 holes with 6 added holes on Snyder Hill (across Jacaranda Dr.) and the organizational picnic area which we rent from the city for 2 days each year for this event. At the end of 1 full round (24 holes)each player has played 2 matches. 60 competitive holes were played on Saturday. We took one 45 minute break for lunch provided by my son’s Cali Kebab restaurant. Players enjoyed lamb, chicken kebabs, pita bread,dirty rice,falafels, humus and salad.

San Diego started off with 2 straight wins. Arizona with 2 straight losses before lunch. But the afternoon rains were the great equalizer. By the end of the day Sylmar lead the pack at 4-1 and 4 teams including San Diego, Arizona, Redwood Empire and Huntington Beach were all 3-2 at day’s end. Sunday morning dawned bright and cool. By now everyone was intimately familiar with the course and their respective opponents. The traveling tour boys on the AZ team bore down and destroyed their competition. At the end of the 7 match round robbin Arizona, San Diego and Sylmar were all tied at 5-2. Each team had 1 loss among them to the other 2. When it went to points between them Sylmar and Arizona had 12.5 each. San Diego had 11. Head to head Arizona had beaten Sylmar so they were 1st. For second it goes back to head to head and Sylmar had beaten San Diego in the prelims so they were second. Ironically, 3 years ago when faced with the same 3 team tie San Diego got into the finals and then won.

The weather was perfect for the finals. I followed the lead group of Ricky Wysocki and Dave Feldberg for Arizona and Steve Rico and Gabe Cota for Sylmar. This grouping put on a clinic for the crowd following them. Ricky in particular showed why he is the top PDGA rated player (1048) in the world shooting a scorching 14 under in his match play final round. Lead by their Hall of Fame captain Dano Ginnelly the Arizona Team’s momentum carried them to a 10-2 finish in the finals over a flagging Team Sylmar.

The free drawing before the finals saw 70 items donated from the sponsors Innova Champion, Discraft, Legacy, and Dynamic Disc given out to tourney’s participants. This year’s primary sponsor SDHydro had a booth set up all weekend. They had samples, a free drawing and custom stamped discs for all the winners. This year we went to a VHS to DVD conversion store and had all the old Team Tourney videos from 1984 thru 1992 plus a special edition from 2009 made up. We showed these all weeked on a big screen TV at Friz Central. We’ll get these archived onto the website so players can get a glimpse of our past history (and see how far our course has come).

This year Team Redwood Empire won the Spirit Award for the first time. Amidst all the storm turmoil before the 5th round on Saturday we contacted their captain (during round 4)to let him know his team was responsible for scorecards in the 5th round. He had all his players lined up and ready to pick up their cards right on time which allowed us to stay on time and finish the 5th round on Saturday. After herding cats all day trying to get the rounds off on time and running cards out to forgetful players it was refreshing to see a team take responsibility and get the job done in a timely manner. Many thanks to all the staff; Mac the assisstant TD, Team Simmons Eric and EJ, Juan Tapaz, Hans Degnar, my wife Joanne, plus my shop guys Jesse, Mitch and Tyler. Special thanks to Fireman Dave who brought us all donuts on Sunday morning.

Till the next edition of the Team Tourney… Z ya

2013 Team Results

#  Team Name               Abr.  W L T1  San Diego                   SD    5  2  0 2  Santa Cruz                  SC    2  5  0 3  Huntington Beach        HB    3  4  0 4  Arizona                        AZ    5  2  0 5  Redwood Empire          RE    4  3  0 6  Sylmar                        SM    5  2  0 7  SoCal                          SA    3  4  0 8  Oak Grove                   OG    1  6  0

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