SAFFORD, Ariz. — The fairways of Discovery Park Disc Golf Course baked under the late-August sun on Saturday, but the heat could not stop 70 disc golfers from carving their names into local history. For the first time, the Gila Valley played host to a PDGA-sanctioned event, the 1st Annual Desert Chains Classic. With the largest disc golf field the region has ever seen, the debut delivered everything from seasoned professionals chasing paychecks to first-timers, families, and a 14-year-old hometown kid writing the weekend’s most unforgettable story.
Duran adds another chapter to his career
Lakeside’s Nicholas Duran provided the professional headline. A steady hand in the Arizona disc golf scene since 2005, Duran fired rounds of 46 and 47 to finish at 15-under par, winning the Mixed Pro Open division and earning $429. The victory carried weight—it was the 36th win of his career, pushing his lifetime earnings near $20,000. Phoenix’s Todd Quigg finished runner-up at 11-under.
Duran’s win also capped a special weekend for his family. His father, Manny, placed third in MA50 at +5, and his mother, Pat, finished third in FA3 at +7, making the Durans the only family with three members on the podium.
Taylor cashes in, Bowyer keeps it local
The biggest purse of the day went to the Pro Masters 40+ division, where Fountain Hills’ David Alan Taylor Jr. shot rounds of 48 and 47 to finish at 13-under par, collecting $536. For Taylor, a PDGA member since 2004, it marked the 27th victory of his career. Oakland’s Josh Draper finished second at -6 for $322, while San Tan Valley’s Saul Juarez was third at -5.
In Pro Masters 50+, Willcox’s Greg Bowyer kept the cash close to home, carding -5 to earn $215 and becoming the Gila Valley Disc Golf Club’s first sanctioned pro champion.
Amateurs keep it close across divisions
The amateur fields were no less compelling. Tucson’s Cory Blain matched Duran’s torrid pace at -15 to win MA1, but it was Safford’s Skyy Chamberlin who drew cheers from the gallery by finishing second at -11. Gilbert’s Skyler Stock was third at -10.
Casa Grande’s Daniel Gracyalny captured MA40 at -9, ahead of Tucson’s Erik Beam (-6) and Coolidge’s Mario Pinedo (-4). In MA50, Tucson’s Jason Gilmore took first at -3, Pima’s Michael Thompson finished second at +1, and Lakeside’s Manny Duran third at +5.
The MA2 division went to Tucson’s Isaac Yeanoplos at -3, followed by Phoenix’s Sean Terrillion at +1 and Queen Creek’s Jonathan Herring at +4.
The MA3 division delivered extra drama. Tucson’s Seth Yeanoplos shot -6 to win, while Mesa’s Richard Cornejo and Chandler’s Sammy Gallegos Jr. tied at even par before Cornejo won a sudden-death playoff for second.
In FA3, Phoenix’s Anissa Quigg topped the field at +2, while Safford teenager Krista Zale earned second at +5 and Lakeside’s Pat Duran finished third at +7.
A 14-year-old steals the show
The moment of the weekend belonged to 14-year-old Safford native Kaden Zaugg in MA4. Playing in just his third career tournament and his first outside the junior division, Zaugg started his final round three shots behind the leader. He rattled off five straight birdies in round two, vaulting himself into contention and never looking back.
By the time the final putt dropped, Zaugg had posted +1, good enough to edge Queen Creek’s Joshua Lawton at +2 by a single stroke, with Pima’s Clint Woods finishing third at +6. For Zaugg, it was not only his first victory, but also a statement that the future of disc golf in Safford isn’t even old enough to drive yet.
His older brother, Kyle, battled in MA3, while their father, Shawn, placed fourth in MA40—making the Zauggs one of several families to define the weekend.
“First win, first time out of juniors, and to close with a run like that? He made the club proud,” said tournament director Lee Patterson.
The MA4 field itself became one of the weekend’s great stories: nearly all of the division was made up of first-time tournament players, reflecting the rapid growth of the sport in the Gila Valley.
Heat and hometown help
The Arizona heat left its mark, forcing three withdrawals in the women’s field, but community support kept the players upright. Ice King delivered ice and water by the truckload, Trash Panda Disc Golf provided every competitor with a Canyon disc, and umbrellas were handed out—more survival gear than souvenirs on a day like this. The United Way of Graham and Greenlee Counties also lent support. At the same time, the Gila Valley Disc Golf Club’s board—President Todd Draper, Vice President and TD Lee Patterson, and members Michael Thompson, Jay Franzen, Kyle Zale, Seth Daley, and Jesse Chamberlain—helped bring the event to life.
More than a game: the economic boost
Beyond the scorecards, the Classic offered a glimpse of the economic lift sports tourism can bring to the Gila Valley. With seventy competitors traveling from cities like Phoenix, Tucson, Gilbert, Mesa, Lakeside, and even Oakland, California, the tournament filled hotel rooms, packed restaurants, and introduced first-time visitors to Discovery Park and the surrounding community. For many, it was their first trip to Safford — and organizers believe it will not be their last.
A tradition in the making
For a debut, the Classic had everything: a seasoned pro adding another chapter to his career, a veteran collecting yet another masters title, a Willcox native winning on home turf, and teenagers like Zaugg and Zale proving the future is already here. With champions from across the state and locals from Willcox, Pima, and Safford standing on the podium, the Gila Valley proved it was ready for disc golf’s spotlight.
Organizers plan to make the Desert Chains Classic an annual tradition, though next time the goal is to hold it in cooler weather. “Today was history for disc golf in the Gila Valley,” Patterson said. “We’ve got a foundation now. And we’re only getting started.”
