Johne skipped into the basket on hole 5 from what...200 feet? I was standing very near the basket when it happened. "Who was that?" I thought to myself. Up ran Johne. He continued to absolutely rain incredible shots onto the course, including another incredible 80-90 footer through the bamboo on 7. Suddenly, Johne was in the race.
Walking down the road to 17, he was more than in the race. He was in the lead by 4 strokes. This was a man who was ready to take home the title.
He was walking with Don Smith, both of them elated. Disc Golf Guy was filming. The crowd was in front of him, beside him, behind him, and excited for him.
I heard him say something close to "I've just gotta hold it together for two more holes and I win. That's all I have to do. I can't believe this."
Johne was on cloud 9. Maybe 10. Actually I think he had turned it up to 11.
The tears you see in his eyes in the photo above were tears of joy. He had this. He knew it.
But then, the wheels came off.
NOW...I played hole 17 on spectator appreciation day. I threw a 15. It's the most deceptively simple hole I've ever played. You just have to get it down the hill and inbounds, inside the hay bales, and take your 3. Maybe a four, maybe, but realistically, if you make your drive, you're gonna pretty much be OK. There's a small layup zone that you can play to that buys you 30-40 feet forward of the tee pad. I threw 5-6 of my shots from there, and it wasn't really any easier.
Johne couldn't get it inbounds off of the tee. With every passing throw, you could see the pain coming. "I still love you Lord," he said. "You saved my life. Thank you for everything you've given me." He kissed the cross he wore around his neck.
Will put it inbounds on his first throw, had a good (if not slightly scary) approach shot, and made his putt.
After 18, there was a 3 way tie with Johne, Paul, and Will, all at -19. Whoa. Deja-vu for this photographer. I was at Worlds for the epic showdown between McBeth and Wysocki, and I knew how heated the competition was about to become.
But...let's just take a moment to recognize something here. After 4 rounds of play, on one of the most incredible courses in Disc Golf (if not the most incredible course,) THREE players scored exactly the same. Two guys in their twenties (???), and Johne. I don't know how old he is, but he's not in his twenties. Remarkable. Gave me hope, as a 39 year old guy, to still be able to play lights out golf. Also, it took away my excuses.
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