Passion for disc golf drives Augusta man

Our area could someday be known as the Disc Golf Capital of the World, and Augusta's Pete May will be one of the reasons why.

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The 62-year-old May finished second in the Senior Grandmaster division at the Professional Disc Golf Association's World Championships last week in Flagstaff, Ariz.

What's more, May also has been involved in the movement to help make Augusta the home of the association's international headquarters and Hall of Fame.

"Disc golf has become a very popular sport in Augusta, and there is a good chance that Augusta will become the home of the sport," said May, who is the manager of administrative services for Morris Communications Co., the parent company of The Augusta Chronicle.

"They're looking at moving the headquarters here, and I believe the hall of fame is already going in now at the Augusta Museum. We have several excellent courses in the area, and we would be looking at hosting the world championships here on a rotating basis."

May, formerly a national-level table tennis player, turned to disc golf a few years ago when his oldest son, Derek, introduced him to the sport.

"My son got me interested in it five years ago at Pendleton King Park. He told me it was a game I think you'd like," May said. "It was a lot of fun for me, and I seem to have a knack for it."

May gave up table tennis two years ago to focus on disc golf, and quickly emerged as one of the premier senior-level players in the sport.

He qualified for the event by placing well in various events on the professional circuit across the Southeast.

At last week's World Championships, May played himself into contention before eventually falling to defending world champion Peter Shive.

Golfers played eight rounds on three courses. May said the altitude - Flagstaff is more than 7,000 feet above sea level - and the courses' rocky terrain made it difficult for "the flatlanders like me."

May hopes to see the sport thrive in Augusta, and says the local club has grown by leaps and bounds.

For information on disc golf, contact Augusta Disc Golf Association president Brian Graham at (706) 736-8537, or show up for weekly matches on Tuesday and Thursdays at Pendleton King Park, Lake Olmstead Park, Patriots Park or Riverview Park in North Augusta.

WILD UPDATE: Local high jumper Stuart Wild, a 36-year-old native of Holland, won the silver medal in the men's 30-39 age division at the USA National Masters Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Ore., Aug 7-10.

Wild's top jump was 6-feet, 1 3/4 inches. Although the masters series is geared toward older former Olympians and Olympic hopefuls, Wild says he hopes to continue improving, with designs on qualifying for the U.S. Olympic Trials in July in Sacramento, Calif.

DAY FALLS: Four-time U.S. Amateur Kickboxing champion Zack Day of Augusta lost by unanimous decision to Brian Schwartz in an undercard fight at the K-1 Battle of the Bellagio, the world's premier pro kickboxing event held last week in Las Vegas.

For Day, it was his second professional bout and first defeat.

The event was held before a sold-out crowd of more than 4,000 people at the Bellagio Hotel and Casino and was broadcast live on ESPN Pay-Per-View.

Day's bout did not air live, but will likely be shown on a rebroadcast of the event on ESPN.

Reach Rob Mueller at (706) 823-3425.

--From the Thursday, August 21, 2003 printed edition of the Augusta Chronicle