YORKTON - It was a doubly good day for disc golfer Casey Hanemayer.
Hanemayer, a professional disc golfer from Cranbrook, B.C., is the 2023 Canadian National Champion winning the title at an event held recently in Thunder Bay, Ont.
Hanemayer captured the Canadian title battling back from a deficit in the final round and ultimately inching ahead of Bryan Freese by a single stoke after sinking a 30-foot putt for birdie on the final hole of the tournament.
The Mixed Pro Open (MPO) division at the event had 45 of the country’s best players, including touring pro and defending champion Thomas Gilbert taking part.
Making it a ‘double dip’ sort of day, on the day he won his first national title.
Hanemayer also became the highest-rated player in Canada.
“It was a pretty great result for me winning my first nationals,” he said.
So what made the difference in Thunder Bay.
“This year I was just steadier. I’ve been more consistent. My game is the best it’s ever felt.”
Hanemayer said the biggest improvement in his game this year has been his first throws.
“I think it was my game off the tee,” he offered.
Finding consistency off the tee where the disc was landing where it should be on the fairway really improves a game, said Hanemayer.
“It just makes everything else easier,” he said.
It also plays to his normal strengths.
Hanemayer said generally his approach shots and putting has been the best part of his game.
“My short game has always kind of came to me fairly easy,” he told Yorkton This Week.
And with Hanemayer's tee shots coming around it has made him a far more consistent disc golfer.
“I think I have it mostly under control,” he said of his game. “It shows how much work I’ve been putting into disc golf.”
Hanemayer said he really began to believe he had a shot at the title after day two, and heading into the final day. He was on a card with the lead group, and felt he had a bit of advantage enough though he trailed to start.
“My experience I think was a huge benefit,” he said, noting he has been on the campaign trail almost a decade now.
Hanemayer got his start tossing discs when he was 11 or 12 in Cranbrook, B.C.
“My dad helped build the first course here in Cranbrook,” he said.
As it turned out Hanemayer said he found out he was pretty good at the sport, and stuck with it, turning pro about nine years ago.
Now he’s on the tournament trail “almost every weekend,” and that busy schedule is now paying off. In the month leading up to the national win Hanemayer also captured the Edmonton Open, and the B.C. Open.
