Chattanooga Disc Golfers head to the 2008 Pro & Worlds Amateur Championships in Kalamazoo, MI. The events started Saturday and continue through this week-end with finals on Saturday. The 'Nooga crew is lead by 18 year old James Cole of Harrison, TN possibly Chattanooga's next Junior World's Amateur Champion.

James a graduate of Chattanooga Central hopes to follow the lead of 2007 Junior Amateur World's Champion Nick Phillips of Hixson, TN who won the title last year with nine impressive rounds to win by 2 strokes over Portland's Chandler Frye.

James is off to a great start shooting two Pro rated rounds and is currently in 1st Place, (-28) after 3 rounds with a 7 stroke lead over David Wiggins of Highpoint, NC. David holds several world records for the longest recorded drive in several age divisions.

James last year took 3rd place in the long drive contest at the 'Worlds' out of all 530 competitors. James boast adding about 90 feet to his drives in the last year, and is now throwing in the area of 590' almost 2 football fields.. In a report tonight from his father and caddie Mark Cole, James threw 705' in the long drive contest Sunday from an elevated teeing area.

Accompanying James is Jeremiah Ash of Cleveland, TN who is current in 3rd place out of 301 in the Advanced Division, also competing is Richard Van Manen of Decatur, TN in advanced, Jeff Viggers Hixson, Ted Neelands N. GA both in Advanced Grandmaster, and Dave Smith of Chattanooga in the Pro division.

Chattanooga has been tough competition on the Southern Disc Golf tour, getting stronger each year and is showing the World that we are here to stay and ready to play.

The Chattanooga Flying Disc Golf Club (CFDC) a local non-profit which promotes youth recreation has sponsored Chattanooga's up and coming talent to national Disc Golf and Ultimate tournaments.

Scott Homberg (Disc Golf Director) said "We take a sport we love and use it to teach children in our community that through hard work and setting goal anything is possible. Nick and James are proof that if you want something you can have it, if you apply yourself."

Both young men are always ready to share their skills and help teach at free youth clinic offered by the CFDC. Follow the Chattanooga Golfers at www.pdga.com under the tour section.