BIG EASY OPEN: FPO LOOKAHEAD
FPO1 Feature Card: Holyn Handley, Ida Emilie Nesse, Cadence Burge, & Lisa Fajkus
FPO2 Feature Card: Madison Walker, Hanna Huynh, Ohn Scoggins, & Taylor Chocek
Here’s a look at the top FPO storylines headed into this weekend…
1️⃣ A Champion’s Start for Ohn Scoggins
Reigning World Champion Ohn Scoggins opened 2026 in style with a comeback win at the Supreme Flight Open. Starting the final round in fifth place, Scoggins fired a 58 to surge from the chase card and claim the title. Scoggins gained more than 20 strokes on the field during the event, including over five strokes with the putter, while also ranking fifth in Circle 1 putting to start 2026. The victory also continued a notable trend. Several recent FPO world champions have captured their first DGPT win of the season early in the year. Scoggins now leads the standings and brings one of the most reliable top-10 streaks on tour into Louisiana.
2️⃣ Podium Momentum for Taylor Chocek
Few players turned more heads at the Supreme Flight Open than Taylor Chocek. Her tie for second marked the best DGPT finish of her career and her first podium at the Elite level. Chocek even held a one stroke lead entering the final round before settling into the runner up position. Chocek’s performance was backed by strong putting numbers as she currently ranks fourth on tour in Circle 1 putting percentage and gained more than six strokes on the field on the green during the event. With elite numbers and confidence on her side, the next question feels obvious. Can the Big Easy Open, hosted at a course that may tend to favor big arms, become the stage for her first DGPT victory?
3️⃣ Holyn Handley’s Consistency Continues
If consistency were a statistic on its own, Holyn Handley would sit near the top of that leaderboard. The 2025 DGPT points champion opened this season with another strong showing, tying for second at the Supreme Flight Open. Her results at that event tell a familiar story as well with finishes of third (2024), second (2025), and second (2026) across the past three seasons. Handley also ranks inside the top ten in Circle 1 putting and scrambling, and she carries one of the better active top-10 streaks on tour entering the second stop of the season. Handley continues to show why her name rarely strays far from the lead card conversation.
4️⃣ Parc des Familles: Fresh Fairways in Louisiana
The Big Easy Open introduces a course the DGPT has never used before. Parc des Familles joins the tour schedule for the first time, and the layout has been modified specifically for this Elite Series debut. With no previous tour results or course records to reference, the field will be learning the layout in real time. That type of environment often rewards players who limit mistakes, which could benefit competitors such as Missy Gannon, Ohn Scoggins, and Ella Hansen, all of whom rank among the lowest out of bounds rates in the division.
5️⃣ The Art of the Recovery Shot
When a course appears on tour for the first time, the ability to recover often proves just as valuable as pure scoring. Several players arriving in Louisiana excel at turning mistakes into pars. After one event, Rebecca Cox leads the division with a scramble success rate above 76%, followed closely by Sofia Donnecke (75%), Sarah Hokom (75%), and Jessica Gurthie (70%). Those same names also rank among the best at limiting penalties. Combine strong scrambling with low out of bounds percentages and the result is a group of players capable of surviving unfamiliar layouts. On a course where every competitor is learning in real time, that skill set may prove decisive.
BIG EASY OPEN: MPO LOOKAHEAD
MPO1 Feature Card: Matty Orum, Calvin Heimburg, Simon Lizotte, & Silas Schultz
MPO2 Feature Card: Eagle McMahon, Aaron Gossage, Ricky Wysocki, & Sullivan Tipton
Here’s a look at the top MPO storylines headed into this weekend…
1️⃣ A Fast Start for Ricky Wysocki
Ricky Wysocki opened the 2026 season with a statement victory at the Supreme Flight Open, his first Tour event win since the 2024 European Disc Golf Festival and his first season opening win since 2017. That season also ended with a World Championship for Wysocki, his last of 6 PDGA Pro Major wins, making the early result even more intriguing. Statistically, his SFO performance was dominant, as he led the field with over 17 strokes gained tee to green while adding nearly five more on the putting surface. After a rare 2025 season without a Major or Elite win, Wysocki looks determined to reset the narrative quickly.
2️⃣ Gannon Buhr Keeps the Pressure On
Reigning DGPT Player of the Year Gannon Buhr wasted no time reminding the field why he finished last season on top. Buhr finished second at the Supreme Flight Open and closed with a 1096 rated final round to push the eventual winner. His 2025 campaign featured six wins and a remarkable stat where he finished first or second in more than half of his events. The runner up start also marks a ten place improvement from his finish at the same tournament last season, suggesting the consistency that defined his 2025 run is carrying directly into the new year.
3️⃣ Anthony Barela Looks to Rebound
Few players experienced a bigger contrast from last season to this year’s opener than Anthony Barela. The Supreme Flight Open had been one of his most reliable stops on tour with a win in 2024 and a runner up finish in 2025, but the 2026 edition resulted in a surprising 32nd place finish. Barela remains one of the most dangerous players in the field statistically, averaging more than 8.7 birdies per round during the 2025 DGPT season while maintaining strong putting inside the circle. With that kind of scoring potential, the Big Easy Open at a course that may favor big arms could quickly turn into a bounce back opportunity.
4️⃣ Chandler Kramer Breaks Through
Chandler Kramer continues to surprise on the DGPT stage. His fifth-place finish at the Supreme Flight Open is his best Major/Elite result in 77 career starts, improving on his 21st-place best from 2025. Known more for flashes than consistency, Kramer’s strong opening round shows he can mix it up with the top MPO names, and his presence in the Big Easy Open adds intrigue as fans wonder if this is the start of a breakout season.
5️⃣ Several Players Still Hunting Their First Elite Win
While established champions headline the standings, a group of highly rated contenders continues to search for their first Major or Elite Series victory. Sullivan Tipton sits at the top of that list as the highest rated player without a win at this level, and he backed that status with a fifth place finish at the Supreme Flight Open while gaining nearly 16 strokes on the field with his drives and putting. Players such as Aaron Gossage and Evan Smith also remain close to a breakthrough, making the Big Easy Open another opportunity for a new name to capture a career defining moment.
All the action starts on Friday, March 13th! Tune in to the Disc Golf Network and catch post-pro coverage from JomezPro all weekend.