Disc golfers will be competing for the biggest purse in the state Sunday in Augusta at the 2nd Annual Porcupine Ridge PDGA Open at Porcupine Ridge.

Players get a crack at some of the $2,000 in prize money in the Pro Disc Golf Association’s final event in Maine for the 2015 season. Up to 90 competitors in pro and amateur divisions will vie for first place and up to $1,000, tournament director Aaron Wilmot said.

Disc golf is played with the same rules of traditional golf, except players try to throw their specially-designed disc into a basket. The game has seen increased popularity in the state and nationwide and is looking for more exposure as a professional sport.

Wilmot said the Porcupine Ridge Open and other PDGA tournaments bring in players of all abilities, “but we really want to be an established sport,” and hopes the tournament helps the sport gain a foothold in the state along with the recreational culture that’s been around more than a generation.

Sunday’s event features play in pro and amateur intermediate, advanced and masters classes.

Defending champion Jason Dore of East Waterboro is expected to return, along with runner-up Tyler Grady of Whitefield, who finished fourth in a recent Vermont tournament that drew some of the top players in the world.

“We have some of the best players in the state and New England coming,” Wilmot said. “We have a lot of young up-and-coming talent that has been touring around New England.”

The two-round tournament drew sponsorship backing from well-known names in the pro tour circuit, such as Dynamic Discs and Vibram Discs, which helped raise the added cash to double last year’s purse.

The open tournament will pare the field down to nine pros after the first round, with the championship round on last year’s safari layout. Registered players can also vie for prizes such as discs and disc bags in closest-to-pin, long drive and Ring of Fire competitions.

Randy Whitehouse — 621-5638

rwhitehouse@mainetoday.com

Twitter: @RAWmaterial33