As the galleries were cheering Bower on, many were assured that she would cash. Not this year. Juliana Bower missed the cash by five strokes, but still managed to defeat over 40 of the country's top male players, and our hats are off to her. Advanced apologies for the cliche, but 'you go, girl.' Some big names finishing behind Bower include Dave Feldberg, Tim Schreder (who finished tied for 11th at Worlds this year), and Avery Jenkins (tied for 20th at Worlds).

Dr. Rick Voakes continues to illustrate that -- at 51 -- age has little to do with successful disc golf. Now Juliana Bower has effectively torn down the gender wall. If you have the will to succeed in professional disc golf, there's little left to stop you. Thanks for leading the way, JB.

Back at Hornet's Nest, the favorites were Alabama's Lesi Herndon and the Winnicrew's Sue Stephens of Michigan, both skilled vets who have been touring throughout the 2000 season. Nobody expected to enjoy the performances that a couple of relative unknowns delivered that week.

Nadine Larkin of Breckenridge, Colorado had been playing in PDGA events for less than one year before making the decision to compete in the WNDGC. The 29-year-old would eventually finish second, 13 strokes behind winner Herndon but five over favorite Stephens.

"We had no idea the sport was so organized until this year," Larkin said. "I ended up winning eleven of the thirteen events I entered in 2000 -- including the Colorado State Championships and the New Mexico States."

Larkin and her boyfriend Emmitt Cosgrobe plan on playing outside of their region in 2001, hitting up to ten SuperTours in the process.

The other big surprise of the week came from 13-year-old Nikki Ross, the little pixie with the big arm who finished fifth in the field of 30 women. An eighth-grader from Pennsylvania, Ross stunned the crowd and the players with lazer-sharp drives and smooth, deadly putts.

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