FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 28, 2020

JONESBORO, AR:  Officials from the Disc Golf Pro Tour (DGPT) and the Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA) have announced the plan to restart the 2020 DGPT Season, and it includes a new date for the Play It Again Sports Jonesboro Open. The professional disc golf tournament will be played Oct. 1-3 at Disc Side of Heaven near RidgePointe Country Club.

The 2020 season was put on hold in mid-March due to the Covid-19 virus.  The original date for the Jonesboro Open was April 17-19 and it was the next scheduled event on the Disc Golf Pro Tour when the tour was placed on hold.

The new date will now make the fourth edition of the Jonesboro Open the last DGPT event before the Tour Championship which will be held on Oct. 16-18 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The tournament is just days before the United States Disc Golf Championship (USDGC) Oct. 7-10 and will be the last qualifier for players to earn entry into that Major. 

Play It Again Sports and Prodigy Discs, the tournament’s major sponsors, remain committed to the event, as do the other naming sponsors. Proceeds from the event will continue to go to The Arkansas Pet Savers.

“We are very excited to have the opportunity to bring the best in the world to Jonesboro in 2020 after the events that have hit our community this year,” said Brad Pietz, Tournament Director for the event.

“Jonesboro had a rough spring. My hope is this event will help continue the healing process as we host these professional athletes in the last battle before the USDGC and the Tour Championship.”

Jeff Spring, Director of the DGPT, said it was a priority of his for the tour to make a 2020 stop in Jonesboro.

“We looked at several options to get back to Jonesboro this year. Of all the dates we considered, we believe the first weekend in October was the homerun option,” he said. “We are beyond pleased to get this tournament in before the Tour Championship.”

Dan Koukol, CEO of Prodigy Discs, had this to say about the new date: “The team at Prodigy is thrilled that the DGPT is returning to action and could not be more excited for the 2020 Jonesboro Open this fall.  We are looking forward to another wonderful event this year as amateurs and pros alike get back to playing disc golf; and what better setting than Disc Side of Heaven?”

This will mark the first time the three-day event will be held on Thursday through Saturday. Officials elected to use these days so players would have an extra day to travel between Jonesboro and Rock Hill, SC, the location of the USDGC.

The concurrent Amateur Tournament will be held on October 2-4 allowing one pool of amateurs the opportunity to test themselves on the Championship Course at Disc Side of Heaven. This will be the first, and perhaps only, time the amateurs will have access to the Championship Course in the DGPT layout.

More details regarding the tournament guidelines will be released at a later date.  For more information on the Play It Again Sports Jonesboro Open – Presented by Prodigy, go to JonesboroOpen.com

# # #

Brad Pietz

Tournament Director

Jonesboro Open

discsideofheaven@gmail.com

870-336-0347

Jeff Spring

Director and CEO

Disc Golf Pro Tour

jspring@dgpt.com

Dan Koukol

CEO

Prodigy Discs

Dan.koukol@prodigydisc.com

937-344-5336

MARCH 8, 2020

JONESBORO, ARK:  The Play It Again Sports Jonesboro Open presented by Prodigy has announced another first for the Disc Golf Pro Tour event in Jonesboro.  The Farmers Insurance Scramble for TAPS will be held on Monday, April 13.  Last year the Jonesboro Open teamed up with The Arkansas Pet Savers (TAPS) and this event is aimed to create more awareness for TAPS as well as a help with funding for the local non-profit. 

The Farmers Insurance Scramble for TAPS will be a 4-person disc golf scramble that is geared to groups of people that do not play disc golf regularly.   Played exactly like a regular golf scramble, teams of four will play together and the team plays the best shot of the group.  The scramble will take place at Disc Side of Heaven on the Recreational Course. 

All proceeds from the Scramble will go to TAPS.  The cost to play is just $100 per team and each team member will receive a brand-new commemorative golf disc to take with them.  Teams can choose their tee time and there will be a brief disc golf lesson before each group starts.  Tee times are 1:00, 2:00, 3:00 and 4:00 and there will be a maximum of four teams per tee time.  The round should not take more than 2 hours for teams to complete. 

TAPS is a group of individuals in Northeast Arkansas who concentrate on saving dogs and cats that are scheduled to be euthanized in local shelters.  In 2019, over 600 dogs and cats were saved and new homes were found for them by the group.  Last year, members of TAPS helped with the Jonesboro Open by selling sponsorships, working the gate, selling merchandise, driving the shuttle and other efforts to enhance the tournament.

Famers Insurance Clark / McFadden Agencies approached the Jonesboro Open to be a sponsor in 2020 and agreed to add their name to this inaugural event.  Our goal is to have a full field of sixteen teams and raise an additional $1,600 for TAPS.  Teams have already started to register and officials with the Jonesboro Open are hopeful the Scramble will sell out.   Teams already confirmed include companies like Ritter Communications & KJNB.  To register your business or group for the Scramble, contact Parker Sitton at 720-498-4651 or email parker.sitton3.1@gmail.com. 

Although all Naming Sponsorships are spoken for, it is not too late for additional hole sponsorships for the Jonesboro Open.  To learn more about sponsorship opportunities, log on to JonesboroOpen.com or call Disc Side of Heaven at 870-336-0347.

The Play It Again Sports Jonesboro Open presented by Prodigy is the third stop on the Disc Golf Pro Tour and will be held April 17-19 at Disc Side of Heaven near RidgePointe Country Club.

 # # #

Parker Sitton

Farmers Insurance Scramble for TAPS Coordinator

720-498-4561

Parker.sitton3.1@gmail.com

Kendra Wattelet
Event Coordinator – The Arkansas Pet Savers
tapsrescue@yahoo.com

February 28, 2020

JONESBORO, ARK: The Play It Again Sports Jonesboro Open presented by Prodigy announces two more Naming Sponsors have been signed for the 2020 tournament. Ritter Communications and Farmers Insurance will add their support to the third stop on the Disc Golf Pro Tour which takes place the week of April 13-19 at Disc Side of Heaven and Craighead Forest Park.

Ritter Communications has been a part of the Jonesboro Open from the inaugural event and this year they have agreed to up their sponsorship and add their name to the Media Day. The Ritter Communications Media Day will take place on Wednesday, April 15. This is the time when all local and national disc golf media have an opportunity to ask the top players in the world about the tournament and their preparations. Currently, there are five national media groups that have confirmed they will be in Jonesboro as the Disc Golf Pro Tour continues to grow.

Ritter Communications has a long history of supporting community events in Jonesboro as well as all the communities they serve. As the tournament grows Ritter wants to be a bigger part. Hadison Bates, Marketing Communications Specialist says, “We have been a part of the Jonesboro Open from the very beginning and we love to see the impact it is making on Jonesboro and Northeast Arkansas. This event brings hundreds of people to our area each year and we want to ensure its growth in the future.”

New to the Jonesboro Open is Farmers Insurance – McFadden/Clark Agency. The Paragould and Jonesboro agents have decided to add their name to the 4-man scramble to be held on Monday, April 13. This event is geared to people that have never played disc golf before to introduce them to the sport. The scramble will also serve as a direct fundraiser to The Arkansas Pet Savers (TAPS). Four-man teams will get to play the Rec Course at Disc Side of Heaven for just $100 per team and each team member will receive a brand-new disc to take home. The Farmers Insurance Scramble for TAPS will raise money and awareness for the local non-profit that rescues dogs and cats that have been placed on local shelters’ death row.

Prizes for the Farmers Insurance Scramble for TAPS will be provided to the top teams by Disc Side of Heaven and all money raised by the event will go directly to TAPS. Andrew Ingle from Farmers Insurance had this to say on why they have decided to support the Jonesboro Open, “We at Farmers love to see the Pro Tour come to Jonesboro and bring new opportunities to the community. More importantly, we love what TAPS does for dogs that have no options left. Farmers looks forward to giving back to the community and supporting organizations that make the area a better place to live.”

For more information on the Play It Again Sports Jonesboro Open presented by Prodigy go to JonesboroOpen.com

# # #

Hadison Bates

Marketing Communications Specialist

Ritter Communications

Hadison.Bates@rittercommunications.com

Andrew Ingle
Office of Ginger McFadden
Farmers Insurance
870-938-0958
andrew.gmcfadden@farmersagency.com

FEBRUARY 13, 2020

JONESBORO, ARK:  The Play It Again Sports Jonesboro Open presented by Prodigy has announced that all Naming Sponsors from the previous year have agreed to return to the professional disc golf tournament held in April.  In 2019 there were five Naming Sponsors and they have agreed to renew in 2020.

For the fourth consecutive year Centennial Bank has agreed to add its name to the Spectator Tent.  The 20’ x 40’ main tent at the Jonesboro Open will be sponsored by the local financial institution.  Last year over the weekend more than 400 people came out to watch the third stop on the Disc Golf Pro Tour (DGPT) and the Centennial Bank Spectator Tent is where they start before heading out to the course.

Another company that has been a part of the Jonesboro Open from year one is Jonesboro Cycle and ATV.  In 2019 they upped their sponsorship and added their name to the Entrance Tent.  The Jonesboro Cycle and ATV tent is where everyone, players and spectators, enter Disc Side of Heaven.  They have agreed to continue their Naming Sponsorship in 2020.

Three other companies that partnered with the tournament for the first time in 2019 have all agreed to continue in 2020.  North Delta Engineering, Buffalo Wild Wings and Lost Pizza Co. will partner with the Jonesboro Open again.  The Lost Pizza Co. Putting Green is located at the beginning of the course and is where the professional players warm up before their tee times.  Buffalo Wild Wings will again host the Player’s Party on Friday night for all amateur and professional players and North Delta Engineering will sponsor the Player and Sponsor BBQ Dinner on Thursday night.

Assistant Tournament Director Jordan Lane said, “After last year every sponsor came up to us stating they wanted to come back next year.  It is really a testament to what we are building in Jonesboro that these companies want to continue their sponsorships without us asking.  They are seeing the benefits and want to help us grow the event.”

As with all big events, additional sponsorships are welcome and encouraged.  To learn more about sponsorship opportunities log on to JonesboroOpen.com or call Disc Side of Heaven at 870-336-0347.

The Play It Again Sports Jonesboro Open presented by Prodigy is the third stop on the Disc Golf Pro Tour and will be held April 17-19 at Disc Side of Heaven near RidgePointe Country Club.

 # # #

Jordan Lane

Assistant Tournament Director

jordanwlane@gmail.com

January 24, 2020

JONESBORO, ARK   The Play It Again Sports Jonesboro Open has announced a new partnership with Prodigy Disc, which is known as one of the most-progressive disc golf manufacturers in the business. The 2020 version of the tournament will be known as the Play It Again Sports Jonesboro Open presented by Prodigy.”Kai Vesa and Prodiscus is a big part of the reason this tournament has grown so quickly. We truly would not be where we are today without Kai and his leap of faith to support a tournament literally halfway around the globe from his company in Finland.  Thank you Kai,” tournament director Brad Pietz said about Prodiscus, which presented the first three Jonesboro Opens. “On the other hand, to have Prodigy and their entire team on board as a partner, not just a sponsor, is the next step to create a truly grand stage for the Disc Golf Pro Tour here in Jonesboro! I can’t wait to see where we go with Prodigy on board.”

Prodigy Disc is based in Dalton, GA, and brings with them instant recognition as an innovative disc golf manufacturer with an excellent team of top pros. The company was launched in 2013 and has honed itsskill of developing and producing high quality discs, targets and accessories.

Charlie Cavalier of Prodigy Disc said there were several reasons why partnering with the Disc Golf Pro Tour event in Jonesboro was important to the company. “We are grateful to be able to work closely with organizations like Cedar Creek (West Fork, Arkansas) and people like Kevin Jones that have had such a profound impact on disc golf growth in Arkansas,” Cavalier said. “We hope to contribute in the same manner to the Jonesboro Open by embodying that spirit of dedication and enthusiasm to give our sport’s best professional athletes the experience they deserve.”

Prodigy currently sponsors several of the best players in the world, including the 2019 Men’s and Women’s Disc Golf Pro Tour Champions in Chris Dickerson and Catrina Allen. Also on Team Prodigy is Arkansas native and the seventh-highest rated player in the world, Kevin Jones. “I can’t wait to once again compete on my favorite course in the country. I’ve always felt lucky to have it right here in my home state where I grew up,” Jones said. “To now include Prodigy Disc as the presenting sponsor of the tournament has truly allowed me to share my great company with my friends and family.”

The Jonesboro Open is played at Disc Side of Heaven, where the Championship Course will get an upgrade as part of this agreement. Eighteen brand new T-2 Targets will be installed before the tournament. The current targets, or baskets, have been onsite since the acclaimed course first opened in 2013. The rolling hills, the massive trees and the challenge Disc Side of Heaven’s Championship Course provides has made it a favorite among many of the elite players in the world.

The Play It Again Sports Jonesboro Open presented by Prodigy will be played April 17-19. For more information, log on to JonesboroOpen.com

# # # # #

Brad Pietz
Tournament Director
Jonesboro Open
discsideofheaven@gmail.com

Charlie Cavalier
Managing Partner and Part Owner
Prodigy Disc
Charlie.Cavalier@prodigydisc.com

January 7, 2020

JONESBORO, ARKANSAS      Officials from the Play It Again Sports Jonesboro Open have announced that for the first time in the tournament’s history, the 2020 Disc Golf Pro Tour event has been selected as a qualifier for the United States Disc Golf Championship (USDGC). 

The USDGC will be played Oct. 7-10 in Rock Hill, SC, and is one of the most prestigious and sought-after titles in the sport of disc golf. All competitors in the event must be invited to play or qualify. 

In 2019 only 116 players took part in the tournament.  The field is made up of the top ten finishers from the previous year, all former champions that choose to play and the winners of seven major championships during the season.  If a player is not in this invited group, the only other way to compete in the USDGC is to earn their spot with great play in a qualifying event.  The maximum number of qualifiers from the Jonesboro Open will be five competitors.

The Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA) estimates there will be over 4,000 sanctioned tournaments around the world in 2020.  There are ten Disc Golf Pro Tour events across the USA.  Of those 4,000 tournaments, only 25 have been selected as a USDGC qualifier, including just five of the ten DGPT events.  This places the Play It Again Sports Jonesboro Open in very elite company.

A representative from the USDGC, Kevin McCoy, stated that the Jonesboro Open was a perfect fit regionally and was “highly recommended” to the USDGC from various participants.

“This is truly an honor.  To be picked out of the thousands of tournaments across the world to be a USDGC qualifier is something that I never imagined,” tournament director Brad Pietz said.

According to Matt Loyd, PDGA State Coordinator, this is the first time the state of Arkansas has ever hosted a USDGC qualifier in the 22 year history of the event.   The Play It Again Sports Jonesboro Open will be played on April 17-19 at Disc Side of Heaven’s Championship Course, located near RidgePointe Country Club.  For more information go to JonesboroOpen.com

# # #

Brad Pietz

discsideofheaven@gmail.com

December 23, 2019 – JONESBORO, AR – The Play It Again Sports Jonesboro Open, the third stop on the 2020 Disc Golf Pro Tour, has renewed its partnership with the local organization The Arkansas Pet Savers (TAPS). The goal is to raise funds and awareness for the charitable organization.  The mission of TAPS is to pull death row dogs about to be euthanized out of local facilities.  Unlike other pet rescue organizations, TAPS does not have a permanent location anywhere in the state of Arkansas.   Members of the group use their own homes and resources to foster dogs until either a family adopts the dogs, or they are transported to other parts of the country that need available family pets.

The goal all along for the Play It Again Sports Jonesboro Open has been to help a local or regional charity both financially and promotionally. In 2019 TAPS volunteers helped before, during and after the professional disc golf tournament by selling sponsorships, manning the front gate, selling merchandise, directing traffic and several other duties. After the event, Assistant Tournament Director Jordan Lane presented the members of TAPS with a $1,400 check to assist their cause on rescuing dogs and cats that are scheduled to be put down.

The Arkansas Pet Savers was established in 2014 but began expanding their footprint in 2017 and has active members and volunteers across the state.  The event coordinator, Kendra Wattelet, had this to say about the partnership, “TAPS is honored to be invited back as the featured charity for the 2020 Jonesboro Open. We love that Brad and all the staff share our love for animals and they are gracious enough to help us spread awareness that will reach thousands of people who may not otherwise hear about us.” Wattelet added, “We hope to be able to help grow the disc golf community in Northeast Arkansas in return for this great opportunity.”

Over the years TAPS has purchased a cargo van and configured it to hold over twenty kennels.  Once all options to find a local forever home have been exhausted, members will drive the van to cities like Kansas City,  St. Louis, Nashville, Palatine IL, Bellingham MA, East Hartford CT, Monticello and Minnetoka Minnesota where there are more families looking for pets than dogs to meet that demand.  They are on pace to save over 600 pets this year.

Tournament Director Brad Pietz says the partnership worked well in 2019 and looks for more in 2020. Pietz stated “The passion and commitment this group has toward saving these animals is evident. Each one truly cares and they sacrifice a lot to get homes for the dogs.” Pietz continued, “They helped tremendously last year during the tournament and I am looking forward to working with them once again. I want the Play It Again Sports Jonesboro Open to become a community event that not only brings people to town but brings us together as well.”

This is the fifth season of the Disc Golf Pro Tour and the fourth year for the Jonesboro Open.  The tournament will be held on April 17-19, 2020 at the Disc Side of Heaven Championship Course near RidgePointe Country Club.

Brad Pietz
Owner – Disc Side of Heaven
Tournament Director – Jonesboro Open
870-336-0347
discsideofheaven@gmail.com

Kendra Wattelet
Event Coordinator – The Arkansas Pet Savers
tapsrescue@yahoo.com

December 20, 2019

Registration Dates for the 2020 Play It Again Sports Jonesboro Open Announced

Jonesboro, Arkansas:   Officials with the Disc Golf Pro Tour and the Play It Again Sports Jonesboro Open have released the dates for registration.  Registration will open on January 1, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. CST for MPO players rated 1000 or better and FPO players rated 900 or better.  This is the first step in the new 4-tier process being used by the DGPT in 2020.

The second tier will be for MPO 970 and FPO 870, that date will be Friday, January 10.  That phase will be followed by the third tier, MPO 935 and FPO 835 on January 17 and then MPO 900 and all FPO on January 24.  All times will be 2:00 p.m. CST.

The field will be limited to 124 MPO players and 32 FPO players.  This is the same limit as 2019.  The 2019 tournament saw a maxed out field in MPO and 30 FPO players.  Officials encourage all players that want to play in the tournament to sign up as quickly as possible to secure their space.

The 2019 Play It Again Sports Jonesboro Open had the second highest amount of added cash to a DGPT event with $15,000 added to the event.  Although the final details have not been announced yet, tournament staff believe that amount should not go down in 2020.

On the amateur side, the Jonesboro Open (AM Side) presented by Dynamic Discs will also open registration on January 1, 2020.  The time for this is set for 12:01 a.m. on January 1.  This event also maxed out in 2019 with 144 players coming to Jonesboro from thirteen different states.  More details regarding the AM Side will be announced in the coming days.

Jonesboro, Arkansas: The Jonesboro Open and Play It Again Sports Jonesboro have announced a second partnership for 2020. Play It Again Sports will once again be the Title Sponsor of the Jonesboro Open, keeping the name Play It Again Sports Jonesboro Open.

Play It Again Sports Jonesboro, located in their brand new location at 2006 South Caraway, is a new and used sporting goods store that focuses on All Those Who Play. They also carry the largest supply of disc golf discs and disc golf supplies in Northeast Arkansas and their staff is very knowledgeable of the countless brands and molds of discs they sell. Play It Again Sports Jonesboro and Disc Side of Heaven have had a long relationship and continuing that relationship with the Jonesboro Open strengthens the partnership.

Tournament Director Brad Pietz is once again elated to have them on board for a second year. “Play It Again Sports has been involved with disc golf in Northeast Arkansas since the store opened several years ago. We could not have this caliber of event without their support over the years.” Pietz continued, “Having someone like Cameron Campbell as a part of the Jonesboro Open will assure this community wide event gets bigger and better every year and brings more people to Jonesboro as we grow.”

Campbell added, “One of our goals as a community owned business is to help bring events like this to Jonesboro. We see this as an opportunity to add a sense of pride to the citizens of Jonesboro and Northeast Arkansas. The Disc Golf Pro Tour is held in cities like San Francisco, Portland, Cincinnati and Phoenix. If we can help keep the Tour coming to Jonesboro, then we are fulfilling one or our goals to give back to the area.”

The Play It Again Sports sponsorship will benefit the Professional side of the tournament as well as the Amateur side. Although the final details are still being calculated, the Play It Again Sports Jonesboro Open looks to once again have one of the largest amounts of added cash on the 2020 Disc Golf Pro Tour. The Amateur Player’s Pack is provided by Matt Loyd and Dynamic Discs; this partnership allows them to concentrate on providing a fantastic package to all amateurs that choose to play in the tournament.

April 8, 2019

Jonesboro, ARK- The 2019 Play It Again Sports Jonesboro Open Presented by Prodiscus is set to take place this week.  This is the third stop on the Disc Golf Pro Tour and all is set for Jonesboro to be the center of the disc golf world for a week.  Professional and amateur disc golfers will compete during the three-day tournament on April 12 – 14.  The professionals will play three rounds on one of the longest courses on the Pro Tour located in southwest Jonesboro.

The growth from the inaugural Jonesboro Open in 2017 to this year is easily noted by looking at the number of players coming to town.  The professional side of the tournament has grown from 66 players to 157. The amateur side has grown from 77 to the maximum number of 144.  In total, 301 disc golfers from around the globe are converging on Jonesboro this week.

Many local, national and international companies have partnered with the tournament to enhance the efforts including the Jonesboro Play It Again Sports store, Prodiscus – a disc golf manufacturer in Finland, Centennial Bank, Buffalo Wild Wings, North Delta Engineering, Lost Pizza Co., Jonesboro Cycle & ATV, East Arkansas Broadcasters and KJNB.  Other support has been provided by Artents, Lyon’s NEA Trophy, Jonesboro Coca-Cola, Sunbelt Equipment Rental and the Jonesboro A&P Commission.

The players are excited to be in Jonesboro as it is quickly becoming a very popular stop on the Disc Golf Pro Tour.  We need to show these players that we are just as happy for them to be here.  We need the community to come out and watch these men and women who are the very best on the planet play.  Jonesboro should be very proud to have them here and we need to make it known we want them back.

New this year is the partnership between the tournament and The Arkansas Pet Savers (TAPS).  TAPS is a local charitable organization dedicated to saving dogs and cats that are scheduled to be put down at local shelters.  Members of TAPS are serving as volunteers this week to help raise awareness and funds for their mission.

The week of festivities begins Thursday, April 11 with the North Delta Engineering Media Day to be held from 4:00 to 5:00 pm at Disc Side of Heaven.  This will be the best time for local media to interview some of the top players in the sport.  The evening will conclude with the Pro Player’s and Sponsor’s Dinner also sponsored by North Delta Engineering.

The Jonesboro Open is held at Disc Side of Heaven disc golf course, located just north of RidgePointe Country Club.  Competition will begin at 7:30 each morning and continue all day; the leaders will tee off at 3:30 each afternoon.  Saturday and Sunday will be the most spectator friendly as there will be games, food, vendors and plenty of world class competition to watch.  To learn more about how to be a part of the Jonesboro Open or for more detailed spectator information, simply log on to JonesboroOpen.com or email Brad Pietz at DiscSideofHeaven@gmail.com. 

# # #

Brad Pietz

Tournament Director

Jonesboro Open

870-336-0347

Steve Dodge

Director

Disc Golf Pro Tour

508-736-0811

Seth Fendley

Media Director

Disc Golf Pro Tour

501-538-5781