January Player of the Month pick likely to increase ‘friendly hostilities’

Farris couple go 1-2, Raynor 3rd
4 league rounds, 5 glow rounds in February

* Allegany County Disc Golf Club on Facebook
* Previous Player of the Month selections
* 2022 Player of the Year winner

FROSTBURG — Tim and Shania Farris were somewhat unexpected participants in Winter Doubles League play in January. It was news to them when, on New Year’s Day, they showed up to The Glades at Meshach Run in Accident at just about the same time as Week 1 action was getting underway.

They were asked if they wanted to join the group. They said yes.

The rest, as they say, is history.

Tim Farris putts to finish out No. 8 at Central.

The Farris couple, both 26 and from Wiley Ford, W.Va., played very, very well throughout the month and each competed in all five league rounds. In doubles league, though, sometimes an individual’s performance can be overshadowed — for better or worse — by the performance of their doubles partner on a given week.

That, along with a league-best (and personal best seven under par 48) round in Week 5 at Central, helped propel Tim Farris to the top of the selection process to be named the club’s Player of the Month for January with 20 points. Tim also leads the Rec Division in points through five weeks with 25 points (and is second overall by only two points).

Shania Farris, meanwhile, finishes second with 14 points. She leads the two-person Women’s Division by 13 points and is currently a lofty fourth in the overall points standings (only two points out of a share for third place). Keith Raynor, 46, of Vale Summit, placed third with 11 points in consideration for Player of the Month honors. Raynor played in four of five league rounds during the month — missing Week 5 to play in an Ice Bowl in Winchester, Va. His January was highlighted by a first-place finish with Colby Mallery in Week 4.

Tim Farris will receive his choice of a range of options for the monthly award, which has a non-cash value of up to $15.

The Player of the Month selection can only heighten the intensity of what Shania calls “friendly hostilities” between the two on the disc golf course over the coming weeks. Each member of the couple offers what can only be labeled as “supportive trash talk” towards the other while competition is in progress.

Tim Farris is currently ranked seven among the club’s Rec Division members (behind Levi Campbell, Ethan Shreve, Keith Raynor, Sam Lick, David Lick and Steve Kay). He becomes the second male Rec Division player to win the monthly award since its inception in June 2022. The Women’s Division is the only division yet to field a winner for the award. Shania is currently ranked second in the Women’s Division behind Summer Flex League points winner Becky Shreve.

And for most of the month, it was oh-so-close between the two players.

In Week 1, both players finished with a share if division wins at The Glades in their club debut. In Week 2, Shania was paired with Colby in the combined score format. In the couple’s first round at Mile Lane Disc Golf in Mount Savage, Shania threw a three over par 63 from the long 18 tees. She and Mallery finished first with a combined score of 120. Tim, meanwhile, placed second. He threw even par and paired with Scott Mallery to finish four strokes off the winning pace.

In Week 3 at Central, the club debuted a true match play format in which players were paired up with opponents on a card, instead of partners, and tried to beat their opponent on as many holes as possible. Tim won six holes over opponent Jay Goodman, and coupled with Kevin Spradlin to finish with a combined 12 holes won — only one point off the winning standard. Shania, meanwhile, won four holes (against Spradlin) and was paired with Jay Goodman for a combined eight holes won, good for a tie for fifth.

Shania Farris headed for long No. 2 at Mile Lane Disc Golf in Mount Savage.

Play returned to a more traditional format in Week 4 at Mile Lane. The best shot format, with no cap on consecutive drives, favored Tim Farris and Ethan von Hagel. The pair placed three strokes behind Raynor and Colby Mallery for the win. Shania Farris, paired with Kevin Spradlin, finished fourth, nine strokes off the winning pace.

The field played an Iron Man Scratch Match in Week 5 at Central. Standard par was changed for basket Nos. 7 and 8 from the short tees to two from three. Shania threw a 59 on the arguably more difficult standard, but Tim had the round of 2023 and a personal best of seven under traditional par for a final score of 48. He scored 27 of his team’s 28 points to finish tied for third. Shania, meanwhile, was paired with Noah Spradlin. She scored two-thirds of her team’s 12 points and settled for a fifth-place finish.

Tim Farris on long No. 4 at Central. It was the only sunny day of five league rounds in January.

Shania Farris on long No. 4 at Central in Cumberland.

Keith Raynor finished third in consideration for the Allegany County Disc Golf Club’s Player of the Month award for January.

 

 

 

 

 

Filed in: Latest Headlines, Outdoors, Sports

You might like:

M. Bishop sinks putt for Mixed Division playoff win M. Bishop sinks putt for Mixed Division playoff win
Von Hagel wins drawing for Pixel Von Hagel wins drawing for Pixel
Application period open for club sponsorship Application period open for club sponsorship
S. Farris wins Player of the Year S. Farris wins Player of the Year
© 2024 AlleganyPlayground.com. All rights reserved. XHTML / CSS Valid.