Battle Lines Drawn at Trubank Des Moines Challenge as Leaders Emerge

The first round of the 2024 Disc Golf Pro Tour Trubank Des Moines Challenge Presented by DGA has come to an end, and it's clear that this competition is shaping up to be a thrilling contest. With a mix of open and technical shots on offer at Pickard Park, the field has been pushed to its limits, and only two players have emerged with bogey-free rounds.

At the top of the leaderboard in the MPO division, Matthew Orum has set the pace with a stunning 9-under par round, thanks in part to an impressive upshot on the daunting 18th hole. This earned him a birdie and a one-stroke lead over his closest rivals. Raven Newsom and Braeden Sides are hot on his heels, just a single stroke behind at 8-under par.

The competition is equally fierce in the FPO division, where Haily King has taken an early advantage with a 6-under par round. Her birdie on the final hole was one of only five recorded by players across both divisions, and she now holds a one-stroke lead over Ohn Scoggins. A closely-packed group of players is just three strokes back of King, including Alexis Mandujano and Natalie Ryan at 3-under par.

While many names have appeared near the top of the leaderboard throughout the opening round, it's clear that holes 17 and 18 will play a crucial role in determining the outcome of this competition. These two notoriously challenging holes proved to be a true test of skill for even the top players, and only time will tell who will emerge victorious on Sunday.

The stage is now set for an exciting second round, which can be streamed live on the Disc Golf Network.

This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/news/pickin-apart-pickard