This weekend’s Disc Golf Pro Tour event in Nashville, Tenn., the Music City Open, saw play suspended for nearly two hours during second-round play Saturday while Nashville police investigated a threat against the event.
A statement from the DGPT said that a call came into the site of the event that stated there would be “a threat of potential violence against a competitor at this weekend’s tournament.”
“Threats of violence at DGPT events are utterly unacceptable and are treated with the utmost seriousness by our entire staff,” Jeff Spring, DGPT CEO and Tour Director said in an official statement. “We have deployed additional security resources to enhance the safety measures in place for all individuals on-site. Those measures will be in place for the remainder of the weekend.”
The second round was completed but with a higher level of security on the grounds. Among those who received additional security was Natalie Ryan, a transgender woman who is a tour regular who fought a year-long legal battle over her eligibility to compete.
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Her fight has been a subject of pride for some, and an object of derision for others online and in public since the DGPT tried to change the rules to disallow her playing in pro women’s competition in 2023.
Ryan later confirmed via Instagram that she was one of those threatened along with the entire tournament.
“I’ve dealt with threats to myself through my career, but today was different. Today someone called in a threat of violence against myself and potentially the other players, staff, and spectators,” she said.
“This threat is a perfect example of what happens when extreme views are tolerated in a community. Tolerating and including folks with extreme views, like today’s caller, breed these threats. Continuing to use language that makes these people feel comfortable and valid will only make our situation worse.”
An LGBTQIA+ advocacy group within the sport, Throw Proud, also issued a statement.
“It is one thing to disagree, and for something as new to public debate as trans women competing against cis women, it is understandable that people will disagree,” the group stated.
“What is more important than whether you disagree is how you do so. Hate and violence have no place anywhere. Everyone deserves better — do better.”
Estonian Kristin Tattar, who has been dominant on the tour for the last two years, won the tournament. Ryan was 13-over par for the weekend and finished 15th.
