BANDON, Ore. – It was the kind of beautiful shot golfers dream about. Pure contact, the ball soaring against a blue sky and sliding just a touch a right before touching down on the green near the flagstick on the closing stretch at iconic Bandon Dunes Golf Resort. And it was all propelled by a late bathroom break and a quick walk back into the fairway that left little time to overthink a pressure-packed situation.

This particular shot, an 8-iron from 173 yards, had significant meaning. Jesse Droemer, a teaching professional at Riverbend Country Club near Houston, was tied for the lead through 16 holes in Wednesday’s final round of the PGA Professional Championship. His lead had been as many as three during the back nine, but he had been run down by Ben Kern. Droemer needed to make something happen.

Advertisement

On No. 17 of the resort’s Bandon Dunes course, Droemer faced a challenging shot into the green with the flag tucked on the left behind a knob as strong winds blew off the left. He nailed that 8-iron to within birdie range. He missed the putt and settled for a par, but that proved to be enough. Kern, playing in the final group behind Droemer, soon after landed his approach on the right side of the putting surface and watched the ball slide off the green into the rough. Kern’s ensuing bogey gave Droemer a one-shot lead, and after both players parred the 18th, the title was Droemer’s.

What were Droemer’s thoughts as he left the 17th tee on his way to what would prove to be the tournament-deciding shot? Probably not what you would think, as Droemer explained after receiving the trophy.

“Well, honestly, I had to use the restroom so bad, I had to run from the tee over to the Porta Potty that was like 200 yards away,” Droemer said with a smile. “[Caddie Carl Everts] got the number, and I said, ‘Give me a yardage,’ and he had it, and I just stepped up and hit the shot. No time to think, just react. I do think that was one of the shots of the tournament, for sure.”

Advertisement

After nearly holing a 77-yard approach shot into the par-5 18th that set up the winning par, Droemer finished with a 2-under 70 in the final round, good for a 4-under total of 283. Kern, of South Bloomfield, Ohio, shot 71 in the final round to finish in second place at 3-under. Michael Kartrude of Royal Palm Beach, Florida, was third after a closing 70 and a 2-under total. It was the second straight day of strong breezes that at times surpassed 20 mph, causing havoc for club selection and making it tough to hole putts of any length.

“I was just embracing the challenge,” said Droemer, 34. “I knew it was gonna be windy. I knew the conditions were gonna be tough, and I was just really was trying to embrace the elements. And, you know, I’m glad it was windy. I’m glad it was playing hard.”

Droemer, Kern, Kartrude and 17 other players now have a new challenge: the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club on May 14-17. The top 20 from the PGA Professional Championship qualified for the major in Pennsylvania. It will be Droemer’s third appearance in the PGA Championship, having first qualified via the PGA Professional Championship in 2023 and again in 2025. He missed the cut in both those tries, but the victory at Bandon Dunes inspired fresh confidence.

Division Street’s Ducks of a Feather (DOAF) is back again with another epic Nike sneaker collaboration. This time, DOAF is teaming up with Flight Club, the original sneaker consignment store, to drop the limited edition DOAF x Nike GT Future “Metallic Nova.”

This is a bold new take that reimagines Oregon’s legendary aesthetic through a cutting-edge, forward-thinking lens. It draws inspiration from the unmistakable sheen of the mallard duck and the evolution of Oregon’s iconic uniform finishes. Below is a detailed look and breakdown of the fashion-forward hoop shoes.

Shopping Information

The DOAF x Nike GT Future “Metallic Nova” will be released exclusively at Flight Club New York on Saturday, May 9. No pricing was mentioned in the press release. However, each pair is individually numbered, with only 300 pairs produced worldwide.

Like all initiatives from Division Street’s Ducks of a Feather brand, proceeds generated from the DOAF x Nike GT Future “Metallic Nova” will benefit participating University of Oregon student-athletes.

“Metallic Nova” Colorway Details

The silhouette sports in a striking metallic green and gold with a mesmerizing shifting finish that captures the iridescence of the Pacific Northwest’s most iconic waterfowl. The design showcases sophisticated technical details, including tinted rubber on the outsole and synthetic suede accents that provide tactile contrast.

Rooted in Oregon’s signature green and yellow palette, the colorway blends tradition with next-generation design. The result is a statement piece that honors the past while pushing boldly into the future — where nature, performance, and the evolution of sport converge.

Nike GT Future Tech Specs

Like every other colorway of the Nike GT Future, the tech specs include a full-length Air Zoom Strobel and a responsive forefoot Air Zoom, packed in Cushlon 3.0 foam.

Meanwhile, the molded upper blends lightweight foam with a dynamic synthetic skin. The aggressive rubber outsole provides the foundation of the performance basketball shoe. But these sneakers look so good, you have to wear them off the court.

Ducks of a Feather

At least once a season, DOAF puts its iconic Oregon Ducks-inspired spin on some of Nike’s most popular sneakers. So, it is only fitting that the brand applies a futuristic aesthetic to Nike’s most cutting-edge basketball shoe.

The execution was flawless. The colorway channels liquid-metal textures and iridescent surfaces that shift with light and movement, creating a dynamic expression of innovation and pride.

Stay locked into Sports Illustrated’s Kicks On SI for all your footwear news from the NCAA and beyond.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow

It has been a decade since Oregon launched OReGO, the nation’s first road-user charge pilot designed to test whether drivers could be taxed by miles driven rather than by fuel consumed. What began as a small voluntary program is now on track to become a statewide mandate for certain vehicles, marking a major shift in how Oregon plans to pay for its transportation system.

The timing reflects a growing fiscal challenge. Fuel tax revenues — long the backbone of state transportation budgets — continue to decline as vehicles become more efficient, as electric vehicle adoption accelerates, and as inflation erodes the purchasing power of gas tax revenues collected at the pump. State officials say a per-mile charge offers a more stable and predictable income stream as vehicle technology evolves.

But as the Beaver State moves from pilot to adoption, it remains unclear to what degree there is public acceptance of the concept and whether a user-pays system can work at scale.

Even with those uncertainties, the Oregon Department of Transportation’s innovative programs policy adviser Scott Boardman provided an update on where the rollout stands. Here are the main takeaways:

Adoption is set for July 1, 2027

Unlike the pilot, which relied on volunteer drivers, the road-user charge will apply automatically to electric vehicles already registered in Oregon. Newly registered EVs and hybrids will be added the following year.

A substantial amount of work remains before the launch. ODOT must integrate its systems with DMV, modernize the state’s fuel‑tax infrastructure, and complete data‑exchange protocols with private account managers. Officials note that a few “punch‑list” tasks may slip beyond the go‑live date, but the core systems are expected to be ready.

External contractors will continue managing enrollment, mileage reporting, billing, and customer service. ODOT says the model is far more developed than it was at the start of the pilot, with standardized reporting and improved data security.

The per-mile rate is just over two cents and tied to the fuel tax, at least for now

Under current statute, the per-mile rate is set at 5 percent of the state fuel-tax rate, or just over two cents per mile. The rate will adjust automatically if the fuel-tax rate changes. Over time, lawmakers may choose to decouple the two, allowing the per-mile charge to evolve independently.

A statewide referendum is expected in November on the broader transportation funding bill, but the road-user charge provisions are not part of the measure. Revenue from the per-mile charge is projected to begin flowing in 2029, with more substantial increases forecast between 2031 and 2035. 

Privacy protections remain largely unchanged

Privacy concerns dominated early debates over OReGO, as opponents of the concept argued that a distance-based system could allow the state to track driver location. But the enabling legislation carries forward many of the pilot’s safeguards: The law requires destruction of driver data after billing and limits access to personally identifiable information to vehicle owners, financial institutions, account managers, and law enforcement under defined circumstances.

Drivers will still be able to decide how their mileage is reported — a feature meant to keep both data handling and billing arrangements under their control. After 10 years without a reported breach, ODOT hopes the program’s track record will help ease public concerns as the program becomes mandatory.

Charging out‑of‑state vehicles is still unresolved

Since 2013, Oregon has been part of a coalition of 18 western states called RUC America exploring whether a road‑usage charge could work within their own transportation systems. The consortium allows state DOTs to pool expertise, share research, and potentially jointly develop pilots and policy frameworks. The group has already backed a wide range of studies and demonstrations and continues to steer multi-state exploration of RUC approaches.

Discussions are underway among the consortium to explore potential reciprocity agreements, but officials say no consensus has emerged. The challenge involves both design and policy considerations, including how to verify mileage, how to reconcile differing state systems, and how to ensure that charges are applied consistently across jurisdictions.

ODOT views RUC America as a vehicle for addressing this issue after the program launches. 

Public outreach is underway

According to ODOT, public understanding of transportation funding remains limited. Participation in the OReGO pilot was modest, and surveys found that many drivers had only a basic grasp of how fuel taxes work or why the state is considering a new approach.

To prepare drivers for the shift, the agency is rolling out a statewide outreach campaign. A communications consultant will oversee public‑relations work, and informational materials will be sent out ahead of registration renewals. ODOT also plans to partner with auto dealers so sales and finance staff can explain the new requirements for eligible vehicles.

These efforts, officials say, are meant to close the awareness gaps revealed during the pilot, build trust, and help drivers understand what the new system will mean for them. 

More than a decade after OReGO’s launch, Oregon is preparing to take a major step toward replacing the gas tax with a per-mile charge. The pilot demonstrated that the technology works, that privacy protections can be enforced, and that drivers can navigate the enrollment and billing process. What remains to be seen is how the system performs at scale — and how the public responds once participation is no longer optional.