Hammes Seizes Early Lead at Santa Cruz Masters Cup

The picturesque DeLaveaga Disc Golf Course in Santa Cruz, California, proved to be the perfect stage for Adam Hammes to showcase his skills. With a flawless opening round of 14-under par 61, Hammes seized an early lead at the 35th Annual Santa Cruz Masters Cup presented by Innova. The event marks the third stop on the PDGA National Tour this season.

Hammes's impressive performance saw him card no bogeys throughout the round, a testament to his ability to stay focused and composed under pressure. His birdie-free round was punctuated by several standout moments, including a remarkable 50-foot putt on hole 8 that saved par and kept his momentum going.

"I started off hot – I think six through seven," Hammes reflected on his opening stretch. "I was just trying to throw smooth shots, take an extra deep breath on every teebox, and try not to find trouble." His strategic approach seemed to pay dividends as he navigated the challenging DeLaveaga course with ease.

Hammes's nearest challenger is Kevin Jones, who trails by two strokes after a solid round of his own. Jeremy Koling, Kyle Klein, and Brady Och are hot on their heels, three strokes back from the leader. Other notable players like Paul McBeth, Ricky Wysocki, and Alden Harris also put in strong performances, with Harris carding an impressive bogey-free round to set the early pace.

The Santa Cruz Masters Cup has been known to test even the most experienced players' mental toughness, and Hammes acknowledged that his own focus on the mental game had paid off. "Coming from DDO, I learned a lot about my mental game," he said. "I came out with the game plan that I wasn't going to get mad at bad breaks or shots – I was just going to play with a good attitude." This mindset seemed to give him an edge as he navigated the DeLaveaga course.

As Hammes prepares for the second round alongside Kevin Jones, Jeremy Koling, and Kyle Klein, all eyes will be on the leader board. Will Hammes continue his dominance, or can one of his challengers mount a comeback? The action continues at the Santa Cruz Masters Cup, with live coverage available on UDisc Live and PDGA Social Media channels.

This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/news/hammes-jumps-round-1-lead-delaveaga