Par carries Padovini to Youth League victory

L. Lick wins Girls’ Youth Division
Newest members of the club: Ayden, Norah, Sara, Peyton and Patti

* Results: Week 1 . Week 2 . Week 3 . Week 4 . Week 5
* Week 3 set for Tuesday, July 4 at 5:30 p.m. (free to play)
* Summer Flex League continues June 30-July 3 (free to play)

Week 2 Summer Youth League notes:
* 10 of 15 players completed their first round at Hoffman Park Disc Golf Course
* 5 of 15 players became Allegany County Disc Golf Club members (Ayden, Norah, Sara, Peyton and Patti)
* 4 of 15 players were playing their first scored round of disc golf
* 15 players is a record turnout for any of the club’s Youth League efforts (Fall, Spring or Summer)

FROSTBURG — Evan Padovini managed to throw for par on 11 of 18 holes (61 percent) to earn his first solo win with the Allegany County Disc Golf Club in Week 2 of the Summer Youth League on Tuesday at Hoffman Park Disc Golf Course in Frostburg.

Padovini, 11, of Frostburg, is one of the Mount Savage Middle School students who benefited from the club’s disc golf instruction during physical education classes over a six-day period in May. He has since embraced the game and practiced at Hoffman Park, which currently is the site of the only public disc golf course in Allegany County.

Norah Corwell

That practice has paid off. Padovini tied Luke Spradlin-Vogelsang, 10, of Frostburg, for the lead in Week 1 of Summer Youth League seven days earlier. On Tuesday, he gained a one-stroke advantage on the Beall Elementary School fifth-grader on hole No. 1 and never looked back. Spradlin-Vogelsang is one of the club’s most experienced youth players. His on-course performance helped him win the club’s inaugural Player of the Month award in June 2022, and he also won the club’s first Player of the Year award for his effort to grow the game, and get better himself, throughout the year.

Padovini carded an eight over par 62. Spradlin-Vogelsang finished seven strokes back with a 69. Peyton Langham, 12, of Frostburg — and a classmate of Padovini’s — placed third with a 73. Noah Gaughan, 12, of Cumberland — who was the club’s Player of the Month in April — earned a fourth-place finish with a 77. Little brother Isaiah Gaughan, 11, of Cumberland, rounded out the field of five players in the Boys’ Division with a 109. Ayden Hollingsworth, 10, of Frostburg, completed the front nine with 63 strokes.

It was the first round of disc golf for both Langham and Hollingsworth.

The club’s three Youth League seasons — Spring, Summer and Fall — are geared towards helping new, younger players between the ages of 8 and 17 learn and improve in the game of disc golf. However, parents, guardians and caregivers are encouraged to play, too — sometimes on the same cards as their kids, and sometimes separately, giving the group something to talk about on the way home as they share their experiences. In addition, the club encourages adults who want to play another 18 holes the opportunity to guide younger players through the trials and tribulations that a round of disc golf routinely offers.

Lick gets a(nother) win

Lily Lick picked up right where she left off, earning another Girls’ Division victory. Lick, 9, of Cumberland, was the club’s Player of the Month in September 2022 after a stellar Fall Youth League performance. There, she was the only player — of any gender, of any age — to improve on her average number of strokes per hole in each of the five weeks of Fall Youth League.

This time, all Lick did was chop off six strokes on the back nine from her front nine effort to finish with a score of 104. At the midway point, Lick was only one stroke ahead of Norah Corwell, 8, of Fort Ashby, W.Va., and three strokes ahead of Sara Gaughan, 15, of Cumberland.

Lick managed to save par just once among 18 holes, and it was nearly a birdie. On No. 2 the second time around on the nine-hole course, Lick’s drive landed within putting distance of the pin. She missed the putt, but the birdie will undoubtably be there in the near future.

It was the first round of disc golf for both Gaughan and Corwell. Corwell had participated in the club’s June clinic in Cresaptown.

Padovini grabs Men’s Division win

Brian Padovini used his Innova Aviar putter over the front nine. He threw even par, requiring 27 strokes to make it through the first nine baskets. On the back nine, he switched to his Innova Pig.

There’s a better-than-fair chance Padovini uses the Pig a bit more often.

The 42-year-old engineer from Frostburg and owner of Knot Worthy Woodworks cruised through the second half of the course in only 22 strokes, earning him a five under par score of 49 — his first under par performance in a club round. He finished with six birdies, including five over the second half of play. Padovini had thrown for one over par on Saturday during Saturday Morning Tag League play at Mile Lane Disc Golf in Mount Savage. Last week, he threw an even par 27 during a nine-hole round of Week 1 of Summer Youth League.

Padovini’s effort edged out Kevin Spradlin, 44, of Frostburg, for the win. Spradlin finished with a 50 while Samuel Lick, of Cumberland, placed third with a 60. Ray “Hoss” Hollingsworth, 40, of Frostburg, placed fourth (72) while Chris Gaughan, 60, of Cumberland, rounded out the Men’s Division field with a 77.

It was the first round of disc golf at Hoffman Park for both Lick and Gaughan.

Gaughan earns Women’s Division victory

There’s something to be said for representation.

After all, the only thing Patti Gaughan can worry about is the people who show up to compete. And if she happens to be the only adult female to toe the teepad, well then, so be it.

Gaughan, 53, of Cumberland, threw for par twice and finished with even splits — 44 on the front nine and 44 on the back nine — for a total stroke count of 88.

It was Gaughan’s first round of disc golf anywhere.