Victor Cervantes, 28, of Mosier finishes a hole Saturday afternoon during a disc golf tournament held at Hyzer Pines disc golf course in Sisters.

SISTERS — The course is thick with trees and scattered with pine needles, branches and rocks. Save for the metal baskets, it’s all natural.

But throughout the wide-spanning forest, brightly colored discs soar and the clanking of metal chains rings through the still mountain air as disc golfers sink their shots.

Nearly 200 players gathered in Sisters on Saturday for the first day of the Shootout at Hyzer Pines. The two-day disc golf tournament is the second of seven events in the 2008 Oregon Series, which is sanctioned by the Professional Disc Golf Association, the governing body for the sport.

Followers of the tour — from professionals to intermediate players — will travel around Oregon this summer racking up points in the series. Overall series winners are recognized at a season-ending final nine holes and celebration in Albany this October.

The Shootout at Hyzer Pines offers nine divisions: pro open, pro master and pro women; advanced men, advanced masters, advanced grandmasters and advanced women; and intermediate men and intermediate women. Masters are classified as over age 40, and grandmasters are over 50.

“We really have a broad base of people who participate in the sport — and age groups,” PDGA vice president Cris Bellinger said Saturday at the registration table over the sounds of rhythmic reggae tunes playing from large speakers inside the event tent.

“One of the big appeals of the sport is that a family of any ages or backgrounds can come out for fairly cheap,” noted Greg Ruhl, who was running registration on Saturday. “Just like your kids or your grandparents can be out there playing … and each have an equal amount of fun.”

The 18-hole Hyzer Pines Disc Golf Course, situated near Sisters High School, was transformed into a 27-hole course for the tournament, with the added holes designed for an extra challenge — and to allow for more participants.

The 27-hole course is relatively flat with several long holes, some reaching nearly 600 feet in distance. (A typical disc golf hole is about 350 feet, according to Ruhl).

“It’s quite a bit more challenging than the rest of the course,” said tournament director Mike Ruzicka of the added nine holes. “It’s a good balance, I think. There’s people cursing me and there’s people thanking me at the same time,” he said with a laugh.

“It’s a tough course,” said Bend’s Andrew McGettigan. “There’s a few holes that are extremely difficult.”

Disc golf is played much like conventional golf. Instead of a ball and clubs, however, players use a flying disc or Frisbee. The object of the game is to complete each hole in the fewest number of throws. The typical course consists of either nine or 18 holes.

After Saturday’s round, several players are in a good position for today’s finals. Top scorers in the upper divisions are:

In the pro division, James Moore of Gladstone shot a 72 — 10 under par for the course. Brody Miller of Portland was 9 under par at 73.

The only pro woman in the tournament, Teresa Bellinger of Vancouver, Wash., scored a 90.

Pro master Kent Parsons of Coos Bay shot an 81. Sean Phillips of Portland led the advanced division with a score of 78. And advanced master Dave Heider of Amity shot 82.

Players in the pro open division are competing for the grand prize of more than $400, with money awarded to the top 40 percent of that division, according to Ruzicka. Winners in each amateur classification will be awarded $200 in merchandise.

Most of the players Saturday were from towns outside of Central Oregon, such as Eugene, Corvallis, Portland and Medford. About 20 competitors were from Central Oregon, while others traveled from as far away as Seattle and Vancouver, Wash., to attend.

“Some of us travel 300 miles just to do this,” said Brad McDougall of Corvallis, who was competing in the advanced division. “It’s a series, so it’s a yearlong thing — one event per month.”

The first tournament in the Oregon Series, the Great Northwest Open, was held the last weekend in April at Whistler’s Bend course in Roseburg. PDGA Oregon Series tournaments to be held later this season include the Rose City Open, the Beaver State Fling, the Calapooia Classic, the Eugene Celebration and the Willamette Open.

Of the 190 participants Saturday, 21 were women.

“Nine years ago when I played,” said Bend’s Miranda Erickson, 33, who plays in the advanced division, “there was maybe a consistent four women that played (in the traveling circuit), and that was it. So it has changed a lot.

“I love the Oregon Series events. I don’t know that many girls that come out here and play, so when the PDGA events happen it’s a good time for us to get together and be GIRL STRONG (represent women) on the golf course,” said Erickson with enthusiasm. It’s a cool environment. It’s friendly and you learn a lot. It’s a good time to learn more about the sport and get to see people who are passionate about it.”

“The Oregon Series itself has grown so popular — it’s run so well,” noted Ruzicka. “And our player base in Oregon has grown to where we have fields this large at every event if we can hold them.”

Competition at Hyzer Pines continues today from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m., with the pro pool “teeing off” at 1 p.m. Spectators are welcome.

“I love the golf,” said Bend’s James Taylor. “(The tournaments) are usually in beautiful parks. So I enjoy the outdoors, the spectacular views and locations we get to play. And there are usually nice people — good people to play with.”