ZANESVILLE, OH – Mud, Majors, and Messner: Eaglesticks Invitational Tests Every Element

The Eaglesticks Invitational wasn’t just the first Major of the 2025 DGA Tour season—it was a test of heart, humor, and how much rain one league can possibly endure. On a soaked Saturday in Zanesville, Kyler Messner rose above the puddles and pressure to capture his second career Major title, grinding out a field-best 79 (+9) in conditions that had no business being called golf weather.

With a downpour on the drive in and a relentless drizzle over the first six holes, the event could have easily unraveled. But the DGA players—equal parts stubborn and passionate—marched on. The soaked fairways splashed under every step, and with cart path only in effect, players were forced to trek up and down Eaglesticks' signature elevation changes like caddies without pay. Morale wavered. Tempers flared. Golf balls disappeared. But the Major continued.

Messner, unfazed, led from the front with 7 pars, a birdie on the par-3 5th, and a gritty +3 on the front nine. That birdie came by way of a 20-foot putt, dead-center, in a moment that felt like a momentum swing early in the round. He played smart, steady golf—10 bogeys, no doubles, and zero blow-ups—a model of how to survive when conditions go sideways. This wasn’t just a win; it was a statement. The 2024 Masters champion at Lancaster Golf Club now adds another Major to his resume, and with his calm demeanor and ability to grind, Messner is starting to look like the Tour’s big-game player.

He held off a surging Jack Spence, who took second with an 84 (+14). Spence, the reigning View Open champion, kept pace early with 6 pars and a birdie on 4, but four double bogeys—including a topped tee shot into the water on 8—proved too costly. Despite the setback, Spence’s game continues to trend upward, and his new rain jacket at least kept him dry while things got soggy on the card.

The real chaos came in the battle for third. Auston Sorg and Dylan Sharp were both one stroke ahead of Trevor Monk heading to the par-5 18th. But golf is cruel, and so is water. Both Sorg and Sharp stumbled to double bogeys, while Monk carded a clutch par, leapfrogging into solo third. The mistake cost Sorg and Sharp not just positioning—but prize money.

Still, the tie for fourth was hard-earned. Shea McGuire, who birdied 18 with a grin on his face despite rain and mud, joined Sorg and Sharp at 88 (+18). McGuire’s scorecard was a chaotic blend: 5 pars, a birdie, 8 bogeys, 2 doubles, a triple, and a quad—but his spirits were sky high throughout. No matter the weather, the man is just happy to be on the course. What stood out most was Shea’s composure—never flustered by the mess around him, he quietly played one of the cleanest middle stretches of the day, recording four straight pars from holes 3 to 6.

Sharp, meanwhile, quietly posted a career-high 5 pars, balancing his card with 9 bogeys, 2 doubles, and a triple. Progress? Sure. Style points? Maybe not. But for once, Dylan entered the 18th with a legitimate chance at the money. That alone is headline-worthy.

Sorg deserves credit too. He’s another player who openly hates playing in the rain, but battled through it anyway. After a rough 46 on the front, he steadied himself with a 42 on the back, including 4 pars that kept him in the hunt. A double on 18 was the only thing between him and a podium finish.

Mike McGuire and Seth Paszke shared seventh place at 90 (+20). Mike, who has made no secret about his disdain for wet conditions, deserves credit just for gutting this one out. He finished all 18 with 4 pars on the card and somehow managed to keep his composure through a series of frustrating breaks—including 7 short mishits, a pair of balls into the creek, and a few missed short putts. But his attitude stayed even, and his finish in the middle of the pack shows he’s trending upward.

Seth, on the other hand, was undone by the flatstick. With 39 putts and five three-jacks, he had four birdie looks that could have shifted his entire day—but not one found the bottom of the cup. Even so, Paszke showed signs that a hot putter might be all that separates him from climbing into the top tier.

Will Eyman and Harry Gilmore rounded out the field with matching 95s (+25). Eyman’s round was the full emotional spectrum: 3 pars, 1 birdie, a quadruple bogey, and everything in between. At one point, he rotated his hat sideways to deliver some of his favorite one-liners—a reminder that while the swing may not always be pure, the vibes are undefeated. Harry, meanwhile, started the day with shoes on but reverted to his usual barefoot routine for the back nine. The results? A tale of two nines. After a promising 44 on the front, Gilmore fell apart with a 51 on the back, and he nearly took out Messner with a shanked missile on 18. The jury’s still out on whether the shoe swap was genius or self-sabotage.

And while the conditions were brutal, the players battled like pros. This wasn’t supposed to be playable. It barely was. But the fact that 10 brave souls finished the round is a testament to just how much this league values the game—and what it means to compete for a Major.

The Eaglesticks Invitational was proudly presented by TheGrint—official score tracker of the DGA Tour, and supplier of dry hats in a very wet round.