Brophy and Calvin Lead the Pack at Toboggan DGC

The Toboggan DGC in Michigan has proven to be a challenging venue for disc golfers at the 2018 United States Amateur Disc Golf Championship. The course underwent changes before the event, with a new layout and increased par making it tougher than ever. However, according to Tournament Director John Minicuci, the goal was not to make the course more difficult, but rather to improve the player's experience.

"We moved the tee pad back on hole 4 and changed it from a par 3 to a par 4," said Minicuci. "We looked at the data and realized that it was playing as a par four anyway, so we made some changes to create a better flow through the course."

One of the notable changes is the reshaping of hole 4 and the addition of a walking path from the green to the tee of hole 5. This has reduced congestion on the course and eliminated long backups that were common in previous years.

Ryan Brophy, a Michigan native, finished the first round with a score of 7-under par 56, putting him tied for the lead with California's Clint Calvin. However, both leaders are confident that their scores can be beaten. Brophy has experience at the Toboggan, having finished in 64th place last year without shooting under par. This time around, he was determined to do better.

"Last year I was very timid on the tee pads," said Brophy. "This year I wanted to stay relaxed and enjoy the course. My main goal this weekend was to put up one round below 60."

Calvin, on the other hand, is a newcomer to the Toboggan, but he seems unfazed by his first big event. He arrived late Wednesday night from San Diego and didn't even have time to practice before teeing off on Friday.

"I worked a lot in the field before coming out here on my approach shots," said Calvin. "I think it's a huge advantage to have this skill on this course with all the uneven footing."

The 23-year-old California native believes that he can best his score if he makes a few adjustments and cleans up his mistakes from the first round.

Young players are also making waves at the USADGC, with several junior disc golfers competing for the top spot. Zach Arlinghaus, a 14-year-old from Kentucky, is sitting just three strokes off the lead, along with Kyle Klein, a 16-year-old from Michigan. Silas Schultz, a 15-year-old from Louisiana, finished the first round with a score of 5-under par 58.

The second round will see Brophy and Calvin joined by Joel Bibble and Luke Humphries on the lead card. With several players within three strokes of the lead, anything can happen at the Toboggan DGC.

This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/news/brophy-calvin-tied-top-after-usadgcs-opening-round