Allen Takes Command with Dramatic Finish at Pittsburgh Flying Disc Open

The Pittsburgh Flying Disc Open has been marked by thrilling moments from start to finish, but none as electrifying as Catrina Allen's second-round performance. Allen, who had coasted through the first day, took a rollercoaster ride through Saturday's action-packed round, carding a crucial 2-under par 64 that catapulted her into the lead.

The competition was fierce from the start, with Paige Pierce and Allen trading blows throughout the day. Both players began strong, collecting birdies but also missing opportunities to build on their momentum. However, it was Allen who seemed to regain traction mid-round, thanks in part to a clutch birdie on hole 10 that put her back in contention.

Pierce countered with an impressive birdie putt from outside the circle on hole 11, only to be met by another bogey from Allen on the par-4 12th. The two then battled on, each scrambling admirably after wayward tee shots on the next hole. Pierce's aggressive tee shot on the signature hole 15 came up short of its mark, forcing her to hit an approach from under a large bush and ultimately resulting in a missed par-saving putt.

As the round wore on, Allen held a narrow one-stroke advantage heading into the crucial 16th hole – the second par-5 on the course. A strong scramble game was again showcased by both competitors, but it was Allen's backhand roller that left her with an easy birdie putt. Meanwhile, Pierce's air shot did the same.

The tension continued to build as both players opted for backhand turnover shots on the short 17th hole, with Allen nailing a 28-foot conversion from the circle and taking the lead. However, it was Pierce who had the last chance to level the playing field heading into the final round. Unfortunately for her, her birdie attempt fell just short of its mark.

As for the rest of the field, Sarah Hokom carded an impressive 3-under par 63 that moved her total to a 6-under par 126 and secured her spot in third place. Lisa Fajkus ended the day at 2-under par, putting her fourth overall with a 5-under par 127.

In fifth place, Jessica Weese closed out her second round with birdies on holes 16 and 18, while Melody Waibel finished the day two strokes above par and sits in sixth place with an even-par total.

Heading into today's final round, Allen remains focused on putting herself in position to scramble for par when needed. "I feel like I have to keep doing what I'm doing," she said, acknowledging that almost every hole is birdieable for the top contenders. Hokom, meanwhile, is hoping to build momentum during the final round and work her way up the leaderboard.

In a surprising aside, Hokom revealed her pre-final-round plans, which include cheering on Conor McGregor in his mixed martial arts bout against Floyd Mayweather. When asked about the evening's festivities, she exclaimed: "Go McGregor!" before reiterating that tomorrow would indeed be a battle – albeit one fought with discs rather than fists.

This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/pfdo/2017/fpo-round-2-recap