The Usual Suspects - Jonesboro Open

     Next up on the Disc Golf Pro Tour is the Jonesboro Open presented by Play It Again Sports and Prodigy Discs. This tournament is a three round event between April 16th and 18th with all three rounds taking place at Disc Side of Heaven Championship Course. The name of the game at this course will be hitting the player's intended lines, while managing the various elevation changes and missing the huge trees that are present on the course. The Championship Course at Disc Side of Heaven is a par 64 that measures a monstrous 9,485 feet. While the enormous trees play a factor this course isn't nearly as tight as Brazos Park East was at the Waco Annual Charity Open this time last month. Most of the course plays fairly wide open, catering well to the big arm bombers that are on tour. 

The 2020 Jonesboro Open was played in October last year after being moved back for Covid earlier in the season. Calvin Heimburg narrowly bested Paul McBeth, trailing McBeth by 3 strokes going into the final round. The next closest competitors, last year, were Garrett Gurthie (-25) and Chris Dickerson and Andrew Presnell (Tied at -24). Players will need to have their backhand's and forehand's on point for this course and many of our Usual Suspects exemplify this. With a bigger field than 2020's event was allowed, this years event should make for an exceptionally exciting tournament. 

Jeremy Koling: Big Jerm has a good backhand and an exceptional forehand game. He has control but can still bomb it down the fairway on the big holes. He checks more of the boxes we are looking for in a Suspect this weekend. 

Kevin Jones (Pick to Win): This course commands a balanced sidearm and forehand game. Kevin Jones has that in spades. He only has 2 tops 10's on the young season but he has, somewhat, of a homefield advantage at this course. We are looking for the Arkansas native to compete at the highest level at this event.

Garrett Gurthie: 3rd place last year, 2nd place in 2019 and 2nd place in 2018. His game fits this course like a glove. I would be shocked if he wasn't in contention on Sunday.

Paul McBeth: What is there to say about McBeth? There's a reason why his nickname is McBeast. He finished 2nd last year and won the year before. A weekly contender, with this week being no exception. 

Eagle McMahon: With, arguably, the best forehand in the game and an equally good backhand game, this course fits Eagle's play style perfectly. He sat out last years tournament but finished 4th in 2019 and 7th the year before. He should be at the top of the leaderboard for most of the weekend. 

Emerson Keith: Keith has a great amount of control and touch to his game. Despite having a quiet start to the season, his game sets up well for this course. He is definitely a player to watch this week. 

Austin Hannum: Austin is our dark horse this weekend. He finished just outside the top 10 last year and in 2018 to go along with a 17th place finish in 2019. He has yet to put it all together for an entire tournament this year. This could very well be the event that he does.

Eric Oakley:  Oakley is one of the few players to have played this tournament since it's inception and knows this course well. He has 2 top 10 finishes to go along with a 3rd place finish in 2018. We will see if he can take the next step and cash in a W this weekend.