For the fourth time in tournament history the Discraft Ledgestone Insurance Open will boast more than $50,000 of added cash to the pro divisions. The 2018 event will have $55,000 added cash, which is the second largest amount of added cash in the history of the PDGA. The projected payout with a full field of players will be $107,000. The 2015 event featured a then record $117,453 professional payout while the 2016 event featured a $95,400 professional payout. The 2017 event featured a $91,500 professional payout. Tournament Director Nate Heinold was determined to make sure this year’s event hit $100,000 again. “The last few years we didn’t quite make it to $100,000, but I expect this year to push above that figure. With the changes we are making and the growth of disc golf in general we expect to fill up on the professional side.” There are room for slightly less than 300 professional players, which is in line with 2017. The tournament expects demand to be higher for all professional divisions because of the positive changes the tournament has made, the larger amount of added cash and the general growth of the sport. View the projected payout.
The MPO payout looks staggering with everyone in the top 27 projected to get at least $1,000. The other divisions are no slouch when it comes to the payout, including the FPO division which is projected to pay $2,300 to the winner. The FPO division is also unique in that it will see 19 of 28 women paid. “We want to do whatever we can to support the growth of disc golf on the Women’s side, and we feel that paying more women will help that growth,” said Heinold. The Ledgestone Insurance Open is unique in how much added cash goes into the event. No tournament can boast the added cash that Ledgestone wields. No tournament has ever added $50,000 of added cash to an event, and this will be Ledgestone’s fourth straight year of doing so. Heinold is also quick to point out that his added cash is true added cash. “Some tournaments say they have X dollars of added cash, when it’s really a smaller amount because they subtract course fees, management fees, expenses, player packs, etc from player entry fees. That’s certainly within PDGA guidelines, but it’s not how we do it. We don’t subtract anything from player entry fees except for the PDGA fees,” said Heinold.
FPO entry fees were decreased $15 to encourage more participation, while MPO entry fees were increased $15. Age protected professional divisions went up $10. Registration opens 3/12 for MPO players rated 970 and above and FPO players rated 870 and above. DGPT card holders can sign up starting on 3/5 while hole sponsors can sign up starting 2/1. Registration will take place exclusively at Disc Golf Scene.
