The Dave Kimmel Memorial Disc Golf Tournament was first hosted in 1999 and is in memory of Dave Kimmel, who spearheaded the fundraising for the installation and design of the original nine holes of disc golf in 1998. Kimmel unfortunately lost his life to cancer shortly thereafter. The Alliance Disc Golf Committee works with the Alliance Park Foundation to fundraise for the tournament.
The Dave Kimmel Memorial Disc Golf Tournament took place at Laing Lake on July 16, where there were competitors from Lincoln, Rapid City and even some from Colorado who came to compete in different divisions such as Open, Advanced, Amateur, Intermediate, Recreational and Novice. The different Divisions were based on skill level.
The tournament had a huge purse for the winners which was $2,500. Robert Cerv was the Tournament Director and also one of the pro players who was helped out by Assistant Tournament Director Dr. Derek Shafer, who also competed in the tournament in the pro division. They both made the tournament possible.
“I’m playing in the professional Division NPO just finished our first round. Robbie Cerv has put on a really great tournament with a lot of people coming from out of state. We have a lot of cash for this event, $2,500. It’s quite a bit for a disc golf tournament. We got players from Lincoln, Rapid, I think a couple from Colorado coming into play. Conditions are great. Parks Department did a great job with the course, mowing the fairways, keeping the pads clean and keeping the baskets looking good. If I could putt, then we’d be doing pretty well,” said Dr. Shafer.
Although there were pros competing for the win, there also were players in other divisions who play the game in hopes of getting better and enjoying the experience that comes with the tournament.
“I enjoy being outdoors for disc golf and I just love playing it. It’s an escape from reality. Lets me enjoy nature. Lets me have fun and I enjoy playing in the Dave Kimmel Tournament Memorial. This is my second year playing, took first last year in the recreational, but doing a lot better than last year as I enter the intermediate,” said Brock Brass.
There was also an Ace pot of $100 which was given to any person in the tournament that hit a hole in one, which was Alliance’s own Rick Krohe who got an ace on hole 21 over the lake.
“I was surprised! All I can remember was the sound the chains made. I was just trying to get it over the water,” said Rick Krohe.
The following are the results for Alliance Competitors for the Dave Kimmel Disc Golf Tournament:
Open:
4. Derek Shafer: -5 Round One: 68 Round Two: 65 Total: 133 $370
16. Robert Cerv: +13 Round One: 69 Round Two: 82 Total: 151
Amateur Masters 40+:
3. Michael Garcia: +31 Round One: 82 Round Two: 85 Total: 167
Intermediate:
4. James Greene: +26 Round One: 83 Round Two: 81 Total: 164
5. Brock Brass: +34 Round One: 87 Round Two: 85 Total: 172
8. Kalin Krohe: +45 Round One: 88 Round Two: 95 Total: 183
9. Peyton Hudson +51 Round One: 94 Round Two: 95 Total: 189
Recreational:
2. Rick Krohe: +30 Round One: 82 Round Two: 84 Total: 166
Novice:
1. Garret Myers: 0 Round One: 68 Total: 68