Golfer Tom Watson wasn't the only athlete dredging up memories of past accomplishments last week.
Case in point were the 20 teams assembling at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Denver, Colo. July 11-12 for the 2009 Ultimate Players Association (UPA) Grand Masters Ultimate Championships for ages 40-and-over.
Based in Salt Lake City, Utah but featuring some of Ketchum's best, Big Sky Grand Ultimate ended up making the semi-finals and placing third in the first-ever Masters meet.
Local players Eric Rogers, Mike Payne, Bill Sherrerd and Trent Stumph were important cogs in the Big Sky machine. Four years ago, Big Sky won a national championship in the Masters 33-and-older division. Many of the same players, still eager to compete, set out to win another title in the new class.
Big Sky went 3-1 in Saturday's pool play against pool teams NYC Gods of Ultimate, Grandmaster Flash of Atlanta, Sick Hammers of Texas and Duck Pond of Maryland. They won their pool and advanced into Sunday's quarterfinals.
Trailing 6-2 to Southern Comfort, Big Sky used its experience in big game situations to rally for the 11-10 triumph. Stumph's big layout and break-mark forehand to John Selfridge for an upwind score was a key play in the comeback. Chris Eaton, Alex Cross and Kib Dacklin were other contributors down the stretch.
In a very close and hard-fought semi-final, eventual tournament champion DoG of Boston, Mass. ousted Big Sky 13-9. All in all, Big Sky left the two-day tournament proud of its achievements and setting its sights on next year's meet.
Visit the UPA Web site gmmw2009.upa.org/results/masters.
Ultimate League underway
Ultimate League began under beautiful summer skies Thursday, July 16. Wrapcity faced off against KB's and Board Bin met Grumpy's at Ketchum's Atkinson Park.
Playing to 9, games on both fields mirrored each other as The Bin and KB's took quick leads and never looked back. Bolstered by the energy of newcomers Averell Tian and CJ Pierce, Board Bin jumped to a quick 5-1 lead and cruised to a 9-4 victory.
On the other field, Bill "Taco" Sherrerd, just back from a third-place finish at Grand Master Ultimate Nationals, led KB's to an even more dominant victory. KB's ran over the awestruck Wrapcity 9-2.
On Thursday, July 22 at 7 p.m., Board Bin clashes with KB's while Wrapcity and Grumpy's fight for their first win. Fans are always welcome to watch the spirited games and there is room for new players. Email runkel1610@gmail.com.
