Warwick disc golfer wins national championship
WARWICK — Steve Brinster of Warwick won the United States Disc Championship on Oct. 5 in Winthrop, South Carolina, taking home a $7,500 purse and the first major title of his career.
Brinster, 33, grew up in West Milford, where he started playing disc golf in 1994 at Buzzy’s, a short course on the edge of Greenwood Lake, and he co-designed the world-class Animal Course in Warwick Town Park.
Brinster shot 31 under par on a course famous for being unforgiving, the Pebble Beach of disc golf. At the end of the third day of play, he was tied with the two-time champion Will Schusterick, of Nashville, Tenn., with two holes to go. After Schusterick threw out of bounds twice in a row, the title was Brinster’s to take – or to lose.
“It was intense and nerve wracking,” said Brinster. “I just took a lot of deep breaths and focused on every single shot, just kind of pushed away the nerves with my experience. I felt like it was my time to win. It helped me kind of turn any energy that was inside me into focus, into positivity.”
His wife Lesli Brinster, who’s also a pro disc golfer and who was walking the course with him, admitted that she had to force herself to look up to watch him throw. Back home, fellow golfers were huddled around computer monitors watching the live stream, clutching their hair.
Taking no chances on the 18th hole, Brinster did not attempt a downhill putt leading into out-of-bounds territory, but laid the disc right under the basket for a drop-in putt.
“I’m glad that I got to bring home a win for the local community. I think everyone always knew I was really good, but I’m not sure they knew I was that good. It feels good to prove that I’m one of the best players in the world,” he said.
In the post-game interview, the interviewer pointed out that Brinster’s win was remarkable because Brinster has “a life,” while he was competing against opponents who tour full-time. He co-owns a business with his dad, Eagle Security and Sound based in West Milford, and has 14-month-old twins, Lydia and Leighton, also known as “the twinsters.”
What’s next?
“I hope that this is just a stepping stone to winning multiple majors and becoming the number one player in the world. I feel like I’ve gotten better every single year of my career. This is not a game that has an age limit, and some of the best years that people have put together are in their late thirties," said Brinster. "Even though there are a lot of young kids, I still feel like I’ve got plenty of time. I don’t feel like I’ve lost my edge on anything, even distance-wise. I look to improve, and apply my latest lesson, how to close the deal in a super pressure situation."