WARNER ROBINS -- The first time was definitely a charm for Brandon Thomason.

The Macon State College senior placed first in the Warner Robins campus’ disc golf tournament Tuesday.

Thomason, who started playing disc golf “about two hours ago,” said he has played Ultimate Frisbee, which might have helped his game.

The inaugural tournament is part of an effort to grow participation from students in intramural sports, said Harley Miller, intramural sports and club coordinator.

In a field behind Oak Hall, Miller and his assistants set a course of nine holes from just across the lawn to a far walk through high grass and large trees.

Discs, which are smaller than Frisbees, are thrown into a basket with chains. Courses are set with a specific number of throws. Score is kept like golf, with bogeys, eagles and pars.

Miller said the sport is relatively new but catching on in Middle Georgia.

He has been playing for about six months.

The Macon State disc golf set is portable, so it can be transported between the two school locations.

In previous disc golf tournaments at Macon State, Miller said the Macon campus has had good turnouts. Only four people participated in the first round of the Warner Robins tournament, including Miller.

After doing half the course, senior Michael Spencer decided he was going to stop using the orange driver disc and use the white putter.

“This one goes straighter,” he said. The others in the group followed suit and agreed the white disc flew straighter for them.

The longest hole was near Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., and all four hit trees during the drive to the basket. By the time they finished, the group had recruited a few more to join them.

Spencer and senior Michael Durfee spent the down time between matches throwing a regular Frisbee on the lawn near the parking lot.

Though the turnout wasn’t ideal for Miller, he has other sports in mind to get students involved on campus.

In the fall, there will be many new sports available to students, including club football and Ultimate Frisbee.

“We are trying to get ideas for more intramural sports like a traditional college setting,” Miller said.

Contact writer Angela Woolen at 923-5650.