Catrina Allen Leads at Santa Cruz Masters Cup After Strong Round

Catrina Allen's experience on the DeLaveaga Disc Golf Course paid off as she took the lead after the first round of the Santa Cruz Masters Cup. The three-time champion from the course didn't let a double bogey on the second hole rattle her, instead choosing to focus on each shot individually.

"It's just a battle," Allen said after her round. "You can shoot 4, you can shoot 2, or you can shoot 5 on almost every hole. I feel like forgetting is the key - just going to the next tee pad and resetting."

Allen's mental approach proved effective as she carded a 1-over par 74, mixing in some impressive shots throughout her round. She was one of only four players to birdie the challenging 13th hole, known as "I-5," with a precise tee shot and backhand skip approach.

The Northern California native also found success on the greens, landing 90 percent of her circle 1 attempts. This confidence has carried over into other aspects of her game, allowing her to feel less pressure when approaching shots.

"It kinda takes that pressure off of not having to put it five feet on your upshots," Allen said. "That's one less thing in your head."

Allen shares the lead with Sarah Hokom and Camille Skweir, who finished at 2-over par. Skweir, a 28-year-old from Northern California's Redwood Curtain region, struggled to hit fairways but scrambled effectively, relying on her near-perfect putting performance to keep her score in check.

Paige Bjerkaas rounded out the lead card with a 3-over par performance, which exceeded her expectations. "This course is hard!" she succinctly put it. Bjerkaas's goal was to shoot between 4- and 8-over par, and she achieved that.

Other notable players include five-time PDGA World Champion Elaine King in fifth place at 4-over par, while three players - including defending Masters Cup champ Paige Pierce - tied for sixth with 6-over par scores.

This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/news/its-just-battle-allen-rebounds-masters-cup-lead