2026 Kansas City Wide Open | MPO R1F9 | Buhr, Barela, Lizotte, Hammes | Jomez Disc Golf

Hello and welcome to round one front nine coverage of our mo feature card here in Liberty, Missouri for the 2026 Grip Equipment 44th Kansas City Wide Open presented by Nexus Disc Golf. Jeremy Cole, Paul Ulibberry here in beautiful Missouri, man. >> Yeah, I was just sorry I was a little taken back by that super >> adorable puppy dog. >> No, after that the triple whammy flipper make from Simon, but the puppy dogs were nice. How you guys doing? Let's get into it. That was awesome. Nice putt, Simon. Hole one, par4, 575 ft. I mean, you can go for this. It's a little headwind today. Uh, it's downhill, so don't look at that distance as a real number. Plays a little bit shorter. I'd say it plays about 500 ft. >> Yeah, I think that's fair. >> And out of bounds, it goes all the way down the around the pond. And then, uh, >> wa, we're already starting off with a check-in. >> And there is out of bounds left. So, you used to be able to go as far left as you want. Not anymore. You uh you have a little landing area you got to get to. >> Eeks is going is going, man, today isn't a going day. But he went >> are just softly lands it on the five foot green. >> Wow. >> What a start. >> Does he make it? Oh, >> he stays in the circle. >> What? It's hard to stay in the circle on your up shot. Honestly, >> that is that's amazing. >> Fantastic shot. >> Not too many uh eagleable par4s that we have on tour. Hole one at ID Wild is one. >> Yeah. >> And threetime Kansas City wide open champion. and he's your reigning world champion from Urbanddale, Iowa, Ganon. >> Sorry, I didn't explain the hole very well. There is a left two pockets that you can land. One's at about 420 ft and one's at about anywhere from 300 to 350. Anything super far left, you you have a shot at going out of bounds. >> And Ganon with the pretty conservative layup. >> That's lifting. I don't love it. That could find itself in like that no man's land. >> Yeah, that's gonna be pretty close to the OB line, too. I think >> from Mesa, Arizona, Anthony Varela. >> These guys can just really throw it hard and and almost pass the second landing zone in that pocket left, you know, crash trees. Oh, >> he he could throw it OB long if he wants. Whoa. >> Going to the moon. Yeah. Okay. >> That's a lot of distance for how much height that was. It's crazy to be honest. >> Massachusetts. >> We got a stud card. Goodness. Now all these guys are going for that second landing zone. The problem is if you go too far left, that's actually that's actually really good right there. He's going to have a wide up. But farther left, you get into these trees and it's low ceiling and that corner kind of gets in the way, you know. >> Mhm. >> Adam Hams, who's been obviously playing very well this season. So good. a great event last week keeping Ganon honest in Jonesboro. >> Yeah, I I know it's bad over there because I went for it in practice and obviously I don't have a ton of distance. So, I ended up in that left little pocket and as I was picking it up, I looked to my right and I was like, uh, this would be kind of awful. Kind of like honestly where that is. >> We're going to see what Adam's got from up there left. See if he's got anything to work with. >> It's not going to be much. Now, this is kind of a tricky little approach because you want to kind of go a little high, but this is hard to stick close to the basket. Yeah. Like Ganon's going to work it himself to about 45 ft. That's a tough putt to run even for Ganon. >> Absolutely. Yeah. Yeah. This is almost exactly where I was. This is not almost doable. >> Yeah. >> And he's smart about it. >> Great putter. Gives himself a good angle to run it. Not worried about the OB. Oh, come on, Simon. >> Good run from Simon. Keeps it close, too. >> Great effort to draw a little chain. >> I mean, even this is pretty tricky. He's going straight left. >> Oh, no way. >> Oh, no. disaster. >> Oh, brutal. >> Adam, who does play it smart? That slides down the hill. Should be pretty close. But how aggressive does Gen get with this? >> He does run it. But oh my gosh, is this going to come? Wow. >> Nice curl. >> I mean, you don't even want that that one. >> No. >> So, this is for par. Good par putt. >> Yeah, it's a good putt. Easiest hole on the course or No, it's probably in the middle. >> Yeah, it's not. >> No, it can't be easy. >> No, it's it's there's there's danger to be had. And these guys all had like great distance on the drives. Maybe Ganon didn't have a ton of distance. That's a pretty normal drive for most players. But a lot of people are going out of bounds off the tee and then they're doing what we're seeing the rest of these guys doing. So >> the double comes in quick when that happens. >> Yes. >> Surprisingly, Simon with the only par. >> Birdie, >> I mean with the excuse me, with the only birdie, three pars for the rest of the group. >> What do you think about this guy? >> I think that these two big posts there really keep make this hole honest. I mean, I think it's it's a very uh good distance at the 359 up the hill and then you obviously have this basket that is just completely surrounded by whatever the wind's doing is going to dictate how you play this hole. It's just a tough hole. It's going to be completely exposed to wind at all times. >> Yeah. And it switches from left to right to right to left. So, it's important to get a nice read off the tea. If you can hug this right side by that right pole, it's good. Or play this the Annie. This is coming out. >> There is OB um both left and right and and long about 15 m around the green. >> I think it's a left to right crosswind. >> Yes. Again, just such control with the forehand. Seemingly effortless to get that distance. I'm telling you that plays is a long forehand and he made it look so easy. Hey, we're tied for second. Hey, >> nice job, dude. Nice podium. Let's go. AB OB freaking podium. I'm used to seeing Oh gosh. You know what? I' I've birdied the first hole obviously and I was thinking to myself, finally, I did the Julie thing. I'm going to be tied for first place. Freaking eagle. Dang it. >> I'm surprised there weren't more eagles, to be honest. >> The headwind made things tough. >> Yeah. >> Now AB for the par. >> Simon looks like he's lining up the dad putt. Yep. >> That is >> Oh, that was a bad angle. How much did that roll? This much is how much it rolled. Hm. Ganon with the just nonchalant forehand turnover gets all the way to the base and taps in the birdie. And we're going to have two bogeies and a par. And the winds are really down compared to what we practiced in. I mean, it was brutal practice conditions out there. every day was upper upwards of 15 to 20 30 40 m an hour at times. >> So, it's going to be interesting to see how these guys can figure it out because every shot's going to play just slightly different. Hole three, par4 605 through this gap. Backhand through here or sidearm through here. Just get anywhere right here or beyond. And then you're going to have to play a hiser or sidearm into this bucket. Those like uh telephone poles. Um they cause a sort of a problem. >> They do. They're right where you want that hiser to swing by. >> Got to make a decision. >> That's why it's nice to go a little higher on the hill. Then you don't really have have to worry about them as much. >> Ganon going PD turnover. Maybe overturned. No, it gets through. And I think from that low on the hill, Ganon might elect to go more straight at it or forehand. >> Yeah, forehand would be be nice. >> Extreme chop angle for Adam and gets chopped down. I mean, that's a great T-shot on the flat, too. So, he's going to have dealer's choice. >> Relatively rare backhand on this T. Most players electing to go with that forehand turnover. AB does as well. Now, you're talking about the wind being down and I was just looking at scores and still 10 holes played over par on this course. >> That's a tough one. very demanding on the angle control and >> AP is going wide. Got to watch out. That's past everything. And Spike, >> great shot. >> What a weapon. >> Yeah, it's interesting to see how accurate he is going that high, that wide. >> It's awesome. >> Really impressive. >> And Canon is actually looking wide. We were wrong. >> And this is this is I don't think great. Yeah. >> Yeah. The high grasp will not skip. It is not good to miss wide. But he does get to advance all the way to the power poles because the OB does bubble out right there. And I have a little straddle putt there. >> How far is that? 20 feet. 25 ft. >> Yeah, maybe a little bit farther. Looked like about another bullse eyes out. So, >> Adam hanging this out wide. That is taking its time to swing back, but it does eventually. And it's on the green. >> Adam will have that for par. Oh, he did not cross up by the power poles. >> He took it really wide. >> Really wide. Yeah. Okay. But you can see the OB bubble out there. Just guess for future reference. Simon from 26 27 ft. That is in for the birdie and a good save for Adam. relatively slow starts for Ganon and Adam. >> Yeah, you really want to get under par one, two, and three. Two under is the mark really. It's pretty simple, >> but it can get you a little >> ticks here, an OB there. Hole one like you said, fast green. This is a beautiful hole. >> This is a wonderful. It really is. It's a forehand back in dealer's choice off the T. And that 939 for the par4, it can be played with a seven speed off the T and a seven speed on the second shot or even less. >> Yeah, >> I mean, you can get there cuz every shot is a little downhill. the T-shot. It's kind of level, but I think it plays a little down. >> Oh, yeah. Especially if you get it turned over, which that's not in Simon's >> game plan here. >> I haven't seen really anyone do the spyheiser, but that seems to work well. >> I like the low piercing Annie with something stable. >> Mhm. Or neutral. I don't like this. >> Needs to find the earth. >> This is heading up towards OB. And >> safe. And there's the green flag. It's going to be a long way to go even for AB. That's going to be a long shot. Longer than he'd like to have. >> Here's what I like. Little baby Annie stable coming out. He's going to have >> Yeah, that's a great shot. Mhm. Probably 430 from there. >> Yeah, >> maybe maybe more. But it like 350. >> Yeah, exactly. It doesn't play that far though. >> He gets this one to ride to the right and that's going to be prime as well. >> Good shot. Good control. >> So AB first and he's got the hiser width because he got a lot of distance. gets it turned over though. He needs help. If >> it gets on Heiser, could get to Circle's edge. Yeah. >> Wow. >> Well done. >> Really tough putt up that hill though. >> Super well controlled throw. I mean, nice nice to see an AB birdie putt coming. And >> this is going to be high on the hill. up there. >> Hard to see exactly how close that got, but that looked nice for Simon. This is pretty much prime. Like you said, this is what you're looking for. And the good width on that left side of the fairway so he can push the right side with Heiser. He picked up quickly. He likes it. A lot to like. Did it get over the mount? >> Oh, good question. It seemed like it did, but you're right. I didn't hear claps. We didn't have >> I wonder if he was picking up the mini quickly because he liked it or he didn't like it. >> Oh yeah, this is going to be kind of like AB, I think. Even better. >> Yeah. All right, let's see where everyone's at. Who's up first? Oh, okay. That's a great birdie. That was back edge of 400. Probably close to 500 foot shot for AB to get into the green. Good chance for a starframe here on the fourth. We're going to get it. Yeah, it was kind of a surprising lack of apparent collapse for Ganon's approach shot. It didn't sound like maybe they just expect it. I kind of expect it. Another little tricky par4. 624 foot. You can go to the right here right now or play it to the very top. Get it to go right. Sidearms the play typically if you got it. And then from there you're really just trying to max uh maximize whatever you angle you got into the green. You're scrambling. >> You could throw right in the middle. You're scrambling. >> Yeah. Yeah. You're not trying to really Okay, I'm going to go here, then I'm going to go over. Riches. What? This doesn't get lucky. There's an inside route to the right. >> Do like a little hiser flip. He almost got it. Huh. >> Huh. It gets to a pretty good spot, I think. Seemed like a missed line. >> I think so. >> But that's the right miss line. Yeah, maybe not. >> It's a guess. What do you guys think? You think he hit his line? >> Adam did. >> Adam hit a line. And that's going to be tricky. It's a lot of power to throw from a standstill. Yeah, he did this last year. >> Well, you can live with that. You'd like that extra distance. >> Oh, yeah. It went from almost a gimme to >> going to be tricky. >> A difficult shot to get the bird. >> What is Simon going to try from here? >> That was had the shape. Had the shape. It had the want. Well, Adam's not as bad of a spot as I thought. >> No, he's Yeah, it looked like he was edge of the tree line, but he was actually up there. Oh my goodness, what a shot. >> Whoa, that should get to Adam to two under. Great shot, >> Simon looking high. >> Oh, Ganon. >> Sorry, Ganon. Whoa. Weird little Theta, >> what? Straight to the bullseye. >> He was going in the hole. >> How do you generate that much power? Falling backwards. And there is a time extension given to him by one of our friends from Minnesota, Mr. OD. But that's what's really cool. Oh, good goodness gracious. Holy moly. That was uh perfect. >> And so here's the deal. That was a nice shot there, Ganon. But what you see yet, you took more time than you're given. That was the conversation. You're welcome. Doesn't get the turnover. Doesn't get the height. It has that branch right there. Mhm. So now you see why he didn't go higher. Simon trying to make it. >> Simon trying to make it. Whoa. You weren't kidding. Wow. That's just a perfect Simon shot. I mean, this is like what he lives for. Little back stop behind the basket. He You give him five shots from there, he's hit. >> He makes four of them, maybe. >> Yeah, it's He's the one guy that could make four of them. Yes. V circle two >> just said no somebody >> he is the roller master. >> What is happening on coverage with Anthony Bella? Get to try again. Young Buck. Oh, >> good catch. Watch this. Left the whole time. But perfect. Have you ever seen a Nomez to slow combo from the same player in the same hole? >> Probably seen a lot of holes. >> I don't think we ever have. I mean, maybe someday. >> Oh, I mean, you mean in general? Yeah. >> Yeah. No. onto the sixth challenging T-shot. Very important to get the right distance, which is here. Backhand off the tea, maybe even a forehand turnover. But from there, it is kind of another scramble shot through the woods. A little S turn forehand, maybe a flip up backhand. Very technical twoshot hole. playing 23 above par. >> 23. >> Mhm. >> Wow. >> Is that We got a little check in here with Mr. Ricky Weissaki who goes >> around the corner. >> Around the corner. >> This is prime cuz you want the sidearm coming into this green. >> Yeah. Ricky says, "I want exactly that. in no danger whatsoever. And Ricky does look at that start. Gets the hot start. Three through three. Couple of pars and now back on track. Four through six is off to the races. Now I have him after his birdie. Back to back birdies now for him. >> Really nice side army through the last hole to get that bird too. inside route. That's kind of in no man's. >> It's a it's a really tough spot. He's going to be scrambling for the for the par I think there. >> Also back to back birdies for Ganon. >> This looks like Ricky territory. >> Yeah, love that. inside, but he could get the skip. Ah, tight. Little short armed there for Simon with his dimension. That's going to be a tricky approach. Maybe with more height, more commitment, more distance. Is that a good thing or a bad thing? bad. Yeah, it's just a little too far. He's got the little backhand flex, but it's not going to be easy. >> All right, Adam is giving himself a time extension or just announcing it rather. >> That's a good play. Gets around the corner. Still going to be tricky from there, but he'll be able to figure it out, I think. Yeah, when you're out of position on the six, there's no easy pars. You're you're going to have to come up with some crazy. >> Simon is looking crazy. Simon line caught something coming out. Poor camera guy. >> And we'll see. Don't know. That's absolutely stunning shot. Wow. Zero margin of air allowed on that approach shot. Very well controlled. Right where Ricky was. Little overturned for Ganon and he's gonna pay the price to the tune of one stroke or two strokes. We'll see. That looks pretty deep. >> And little OD sighting over here. >> Yeah, giving him a time time extension right there on that approach shot. >> Simon gets to a spot. Looks like he's in the circle or just outside. Adam trying to save the par. Going wide with a zone. Looks tight. That's fine. >> Good touch. >> Hugged it. He had a lot of width. >> Yeah. Yeah. What is Ganon looking at? Okay. And that will cost him a couple of strokes to miss approach. And now he's looking at a thummer. Oh my. It might cost them three outside the circle for the bogey. And that is why it's important to be clutch, folks. Costly bogey for Gon. That's a great putt from Simon. Nice par. Great scramble. And that's just a perfect illustration of how one bad shot can take a birdie to a bogey here at Bad Rock. An outstanding birdie. The approach shot from Anthony was absolutely perfect from back there. I don't think it's being said enough about this course, but I put it as a top five on tour. >> I'm with you, man. It is. Not only is it tough, it's fun. >> It's a fun course that you'd want to play all the time. >> All the time. Yep. >> You got short holes, long holes, technical like this one here in seven. You've got hills, you've got flat, you've got long, you got short, you got water. It literally challenges the entire game. Forehand shots, backhand shots. That's what I'm looking for in a well-rounded golf course. Hats off to the designer, to the club, and to Kansas City for showing out every year at the Kansas City Wide Open. >> If he gets this to turn, >> that's what you want your drive to look like, folks. That is yummy. So, after the slow start, AB is waking up real nice right now. just outside Bullseye. >> So, whoopsie. >> Going to be a really tough part for me. Yeah, really tough. >> Sure will. It'll be a look. Canon. This slips out a little bit early but catches the inside route. needs to watch out for that left side, but it does stay safe. >> Gets all the way to pin high. That's going to be a That's going to be a putt. Did you know he's putting 50 50% over 50% for circle 2 this year? >> There's no way he's doing that actually. >> Yeah. >> Is that for real? >> I think that's for real. >> That's Steph Curry 2015 numbers. >> That's like the stat of the year for me. Adam with a great shot, but catches a bad reaction off the tree. >> Yeah, but that was like you said, great shot. Simon from range. He's known to make this putt a time or two. Not this time. >> Okay, that's going to help the percentages over 50%. I think so. I heard that secondhand. But >> even if it's not true, the fact that you're saying th those things to me is impressive that you'd even say it and that I could believe it. Adam for the par. Uh he wanted to and got to watch out that skip that's going to take him back to the 28t range and that is slides out for the double. Oh, can't have that happen. But he did. >> And Simon in for the par before we eventually get to AB's drive. And that's about as tricky as the putt will get from 13 ft. But in for birdie and Barela has birdied four the last five now. GO on to the eighth. Low ceiling with this branch. Obviously tight woods as well. You want to get past that little dirt spot up here on the hill. Moving right helps the second shot because if you have to clear the hill, it turns into a pretty tricky shot to cover quite a bit of distance. Basket's pretty open on the front end, but if you get pin high right or left, you might not have a look even if you're only 15 ft away. So, I just looked. It's 47% right now. >> Okay. Eagle McMahon big forehand moving right. Check. Check. gets to the top of the hill and still has to go up and over on his next shot. >> And this looks great. Nice width. Oh my goodness. That is That's as good as they make them. Term bullseye. I guess if we count what he's made this round, he's 100% from circle 2, I think. So, he's I would say he's over 50% as of right now. Stellar. >> That's just a mind-blowing statistic. >> AB splits it through the wickets perfectly. Distance is not as important for him as it is for everyone else on this hole. >> That's including like edge circle too. Like >> 66 ft. >> Yeah, that's like >> that's everything. >> That's like crazy. >> It's it it is truly crazy. It's really I mean it's it's insane, you know. I think that if you just counted 45 and in, he's probably 65 70%. >> Yeah, >> that's my guess. >> I I like that guess. Simon taking Oh, hello. >> Right through the armpit of the gap. >> You got to really push that branch to get the distance. That's what's crazy about this hole is we see these guys come near that branch, but it's like you have to push it as high as you can. >> Not that high. Oh no. >> And that changes everything. Can't go for it from there. Well, >> I don't know. He's got the big distance. >> It's scary, but this is just a safe hiser to get back in bounds. >> Yep. >> Oh. Uh boy. >> Uh >> I don't know what you do from there. >> I'm not I've not factored that in to the equation. >> Oh, this is >> I've lost it, folks. >> There it is. I found it. And that looked online. Oh no. >> Not sure. >> Me neither. >> You thought that one was high. Let's see where this guy takes it. Oh, not as high. And not good. >> I'm Yeah, underwhelmed for AB. That's And I'm sure he is as well. >> It's a hard hole. Can't see the pin. >> Yeah. >> Hard to judge the distance. >> Yeah. Going with more of a low screamer at it. Try to crush it in there. Yeah, that'll be okay. I'm not sure how close that is, but better than this. >> Yeah, I'd say it's better than this. I would say it's better than a stick in the eye, but I actually literally ran into a stick this round. And I know how that feels now. I've always said the expression, didn't know how it felt. Today I found out. Is it better than the stick in the eye? >> No, I honestly I would have rather had the stick in the eye than be where Adam was. >> Yeah. >> Kind of the worst thing is scratching your eye out of all the things. >> It Yeah, it hit the side of my eye. I kind of had like a little white thing that I saw for a little while. It was painful, but not as painful as going double bogey bogey. But there's there's literally nothing worse than a scratched eyeball. Triple bogey. Double bogey. >> No. Scratching your eyes is the worst. >> Uh Ganon got close. Very close. Yeah. Nice birdie for Simon. That was a great approach. Great putt. And going backwards is Adam who was just two under a few holes ago. Finish up here on a technical hole. A hole that relatively easy in its concept. Low ceiling, but you also have the high floor as well. You have to get over these steps through the corridor. Control the height with a little nose up. Maybe a faster disc than you're used to throwing on a 268 ft hole. A lot of players liking the forehand baby flex. Little high. >> Yeah. >> Oh, lot of action. Whoa. >> How on earth is that? Out of the gap putting for birdie. Pretty fortunate break for Genanon. >> Now if he makes that one. >> Yeah, >> he's at like 100% times a thousand million billion lies. Carry the two. >> Look at that driven shot from Simon. So much commitment. >> Beautiful. Makes it look easy. It is not easy. That back end on this hole is hard. >> Mhm. >> Well done from AB. Going to come up just short. >> Adam needs a This is his forte. >> This is his forte. This is a time for him to write the wrong on the last hole. Get back to even on the front nine. >> And it looks like he's done it. Get on Heiser. >> Yep. Yeah, this should be fine. Ganon up first from back edge of C2. >> Oh, this is really deep. >> Oh, right on line. It's actually pretty tough putt here up the hill. >> Yeah, and rocking back on the edge of the basket, but that's a good putt. That's a good putt to get the uh momentum going into the back nine. AB solid front nine. Four under with the bogey. Giving himself a lot of birdie opportunities. Simon finishes with couple birdies of his own to finish at three under. Tied with Ganon and Adam is at even falling behind the pace. Eagle McMahon is setting right now at five under. Quite a few players at four under and a ton more at three. Seems like the pace. >> Yeah, it's a interesting front nine because you come off of there and every hole feels like one that you can get. And so even if you're two, three under, you're not far off the pace obviously looking at the best scores, but you feel like you're missing the mark, you know? And so if you're overpar going into those, it feels awful. But you're really not that far off either. >> Yeah, it's it's it's a scorable nine that can bite you. I mean, you can see there's a lot of out of bounds. Geneton had that one birdie opportunity almost turn into a double bogey just from one bad approach shot. And there's a few holes in the back nine that'll do the same thing. We're talking about U-Haul 12 coming up. That's a shot you can throw right in the middle, walk away with a big number. So, there are, I'd say, equally as many two-stroke holes, two-stroke swing holes on the back nine as there are on the front nine. >> I like that. Let's go check it out. >> Yeah, we will see you guys in the back now in just a minute. My ly.