Disc Golf Champs Take on Kansas City's Toughest Courses

The 2018 PDGA Pro Masters World Championships kicked off on Tuesday at Bad Rock Creek in Kansas City, Missouri. The tournament promises to be a thrilling competition, with three more preliminary rounds and semifinals and finals on Saturday. Players who made it through the first day without any bogeys are certainly feeling confident about their chances.

One of those players is Mike Moser, who tied for second place after his opening round. His impressive 12-under-par 50 at Bad Rock Creek earned him a spot alongside Brian Schweberger in second place. However, it's Justin "Clue" McLuen from Iowa who sits atop the leaderboard in the Masters 40+ division.

McLuen is no stranger to success in disc golf. In just over a year, he has gone from running a masters-only PDGA Major to becoming a top contender and making the lead card at two major tournaments. He attributes his recent rise to experience and focus, drawing on lessons learned from previous competitions.

When asked about his strategy, McLuen noted that he had initially celebrated too early in his last tournament, leading him to stay focused for this competition. "I thought I'd already had a successful tournament with two rounds to go," he said. "I learned from that experience, and I know I have to stay focused. There's still a lot of golf to play."

As players move on to the legendary Waterworks Park on Wednesday, they will face one of the most challenging courses in disc golf. Patrick Brown, leader in the Masters 50+ division, acknowledged the potential for scoring spreads due to weather conditions at Waterworks.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the city, other divisions were competing at Rosedale Park, a historic course installed in 1984. A standout performance from Kimberly Giannola has put her at the top of the leaderboard in the Women's 40+ division, four strokes ahead of Courtney McCoy.

Giannola, who lives just north of Kansas City, credits her local disc golf community for helping her grow as a player. "The women in the league are amazing and a big part of the reason I got into the sport," she said.

As Giannola navigates the transition from amateur to professional, she has faced challenges, including rating and competition opportunities. Despite these obstacles, she remains committed to improving and competing against tougher opponents.

Giannola will be joined by McCoy, Andrea Eaton, and Jennifer Morgan for their second round at Heritage Park.

This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/2018mastersworlds/news/round-one-wrap-up