Barsby Roars Ahead at European Open After Stunning Second Round

The 2017 European Open is heating up as we enter the halfway mark at Nokia, Finland's Beast course. On the front nine of the Open division, Gregg Barsby and Paul McBeth engaged in a thrilling battle for the top spot, with the two players trading blows from one to two strokes' difference.

However, it was Barsby who ultimately emerged victorious on the back nine, carding an incredible 8 birdies and only one par. This impressive display propelled him to the top of the leaderboard, where he now enjoys a comfortable six-stroke advantage over McBeth.

Meanwhile, Catrina Allen continued her dominance in the FPO division, extending her lead to three strokes over Henna Blomroos and Eveliina Salonen. The trio engaged in an intense game of cat-and-mouse throughout the day, with each player vying for position at the top.

Allen's strong play was punctuated by a birdie on hole 10, which helped her establish some distance between herself and the chasing pair. As the day drew to a close, she found herself in a commanding position heading into the final round.

Notable performances from other players included Eagle McMahon's -12 round, which tied him with Seppo Paju and Simon Lizotte for second place on the Open division leaderboard. McMahon's impressive display marked a significant improvement from his previous round, where he struggled to find his footing.

Paju, who carded a bogey-free -10, will join McMahon and several other players in the chase card tomorrow. Lizotte's strong play was also noteworthy, as he birdied three of the final four holes to finish with a score of -15 for the tournament.

In addition to the on-course action, fans were treated to two hole-in-ones and one eagle during the second round. Markus Mäntylä and Devan Owens each recorded ace shots, while Joonas Kuitunen's 2nd shot from approximately 90 meters earned him an eagle on the island hole 16.

The European Open will continue tomorrow with a highly anticipated lead group featuring Barsby, McBeth, McMahon, Paju, and Lizotte. With plenty of action still to come, fans are eagerly anticipating what promises to be a thrilling conclusion to this year's tournament.

This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/barsby-keeps-dominating