240 years after the Battle of Charlotte, Hornet’s Nest still carries a sting. | Professional Disc Golf Association

**TITLE:** Charlotte's Hornet's Nest Course Stings Top Pro Tour Players

**META_TITLE:** 2020 Disc Golf Pro Tour Championship Update from Hornets Nest Park

**META_DESCRIPTION:** The top players in disc golf face off at Hornets Nest Park in Charlotte, North Carolina. After a challenging first round, only four players advanced to the quarterfinals, including Eric Oakley and Andrew Presnell.

The historic Hornets Nest Park course in Charlotte, North Carolina, has been a benchmark of excellence for disc golfers since its inception. Named after General Cornwallis's infamous "hornet's nest" comment during the Battle of Charlotte in 1780, the course has lived up to its reputation as a formidable challenge. On Thursday, 16 of the top 32 MPO players on the Disc Golf Pro Tour took on the demanding track for the first round of the 2020 Tour Championship.

The course was still damp from the heavy rain that had affected the previous week's United States Disc Golf Championships, making it even more challenging for the pros to navigate. The players struggled to find their footing, with none of the four who advanced to the quarterfinals achieving a birdie on the notoriously difficult first hole. This 390-foot par 3 has a narrow fairway and punishing rough, requiring precision and skill from the top players.

Eric Oakley emerged as one of the leaders after a slow start, rebounding with an impressive stretch of play that included a memorable 270-ft throw-in for Eagle on hole 5. His seven-under-par score was matched by Andrew Presnell, who posted a bogey-free scorecard and demonstrated his versatility in using all shots in his bag to control the course.

The drama unfolded as Jeremy Koling, Thomas Gilbert, and Ezra Aderhold battled down the stretch for the remaining two spots. Aderhold's jaw-dropping Eagle three on the 727-ft par-5 17th was a thrilling moment, but Gilbert secured his spot in the quarterfinals with a fortunate break after his wayward drive on 18.

The top players will be joined by the 9-15 seeds on Friday as they vie for a spot in the championship. Meanwhile, 12 of the top 16 FPO players will begin their three-round Championship event, with live coverage available on the Disc Golf Network starting at 9:25 a.m. EST for FPO and 2:35 p.m. EST for MPO.

This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/news/240-years-after-battle-charlotte-hornets-nest-still-carries-sting