Kline, Spradlin notch Par 2 Invite wins

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For AlleganyPlayground.com

CUMBERLAND — It took some getting used to.

Heading into the seventh hole on the nine-hole course, Kalyi Kline had thrown a plastic disc a total of 28 times in her life — and all of those throws had come in the last hour or so. But the 14-year-old was figuring things out along the way and used her newfound knowledge to have her best result of the evening.

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Kalyi Kline, 14, celebrates after securing her best score of the day – a 3 – with a fantastic putt.

When the disc rattled the chains and settled at the bottom of the basket from a putt about 17 feet away from the basket, Kline was pumped.

“Yes!” she exclaimed while flexing her muscles and smiling wide.

It was a milestone in her budding disc golf career, and she knew it. She was proud of it.

Kalyi, of Frostburg, finished atop the girls’ division with a score of 39 and placed sixth overall among competitors ages 17 and under in the inaugural Par 2 Invitational on Saturday evening at Central Assembly of God in Cumberland. She had a score of 3 on No. 7, and six other times threw a 4. On No. 5 — the only one in the woods —Kalyi ran into trouble, as even the most experienced player can do, and finished off a frustrating 7 with a solid putt.

The course was modified and instead of using traditional tees, temporary tees were marked by orange surveyor flags no more than 125 feet from the basket. On the traditional course, the distance from tee pad to basket on holes one through nine ranges from 162 feet to 222 feet. For the Par 2 Invitational, all nine tees were roughly 125 feet from the basket. Other changes were made to accommodate the range of players, ages of whom went from 6 to 22.

The invitational was an event designed to celebrate the ninth birthday of Frostburg resident Luke Spradlin-Vogelsang, who first picked up a disc in December 2020 at Mile Lane Disc Golf Course in Mount Savage. Luke, along with his brother and father, have been playing the sport regularly since August 2021. Last year, Luke had his birthday party at the Frostburg community pool. This time, Luke decided to share his enjoyment of a new sport with friends.

“I liked it,” Luke said of the party that doubled as a disc golf tournament, “’cause it’s disc golf (and) I like disc golf.”

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Each of the players took home a new disc to continue their disc golf careers.

Luke finished in a tie for fourth place, highlighted by throwing a 3 on No. 1. Both he and Marcus Cutter, 13, of Frostburg, earned a score of 38. Big brother Josiah Spradlin, 12, led the youth division with a score of 27 for his third club win in the month of June. Kayden Fazenbaker, 11, of Finzel, was second (35) while Gary Schultz, 9, of Frostburg, was one one stroke behind (36) in third place.

Jameson Kline, 6, of Frostburg, placed seventh (41), while Ryan Cutter, 9, of Frostburg, rounded out the youth division with a 43. Carsen Fazenbaker, 9, of Finzel, threw a 24 through six holes.

Noah Spradlin, 22, of Frostburg, led the adult division with a score of 27. Both he and younger brother Josiah scored a 3 on each of the nine baskets.

Eight of the 10 players earned a score of 3 at least once, and six of them did so at least twice. Throughout play, the athletes were provided instruction on the fundamentals of the sport, including throwing technique, rules and course etiquette.

The event was facilitated by the Allegany County Disc Golf Club, which intends to continue its grassroots outreach effort to grow the sport by facilitating private birthday parties, corporate retreats, team-building exercises and more, in order to #GrowTheGame. Such activities can be budgeted to meet the needs of each family or organization. Proceeds will serve as a fundraiser for the Allegany County Disc Golf Club’s normal operations.