Allen Edges Closer to Third Straight Win at Santa Cruz Masters Cup

Heavy rain and strong winds greeted players at the DeLaveaga Disc Golf Course in Northern California on Saturday, but it was business as usual for top contenders Catrina Allen, Sarah Hokom, and Paige Pierce. The three women took on the challenging course, enduring a late Spring storm that dumped over an inch of rain in some areas.

Allen's steady play earned her a 1010-rated even-par result, a feat she has achieved seven times this season. Her ability to recover from bad stretches without letting the day get away from her was key to her success. "I just wanted to fight back to even," Allen said. "I figured in the conditions that would be alright."

Hokom and Pierce also performed well despite the challenging conditions, with Hokom shooting a 1000-rated round and Pierce moving up to third place with a 6-over par total. Hokom's long-range accuracy was on display as she threw-in from 60 feet to birdie hole 26a and added a 40-footer on 13, the famed I-5 hole.

Pierce, however, had a more difficult time channeling her focus at the chaotic course. "There's people everywhere," she said. "You look left, right, yelling 'fore!' -- it's chaos out there." But she managed to snap back into focus and shot a 6-stroke improvement over her round one performance.

The three women will face off in Sunday's final round, with Allen holding a one-shot lead. Hokom is confident about her chances despite not having the same distance off the tee as her opponents. "I feel confident with most of the shots out there," she said. Pierce, on the other hand, needs to make a more aggressive effort to chase down five shots and will rely on her putting skills to do so.

The forecast for Sunday's final round is uncertain, with thunderstorms possible throughout the morning. The Open Women's lead card tees off at 10:30 a.m., and scores and stats will be available via UDisc Live.

This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/news/allen-hokom-pierce-all-hit-1010-masters-cup