Illinois State's Thompson Leads Charge at College Disc Golf Championship

The winds howled and the discs flew as the 216-player field took to the Boulders course at North Cove Disc Golf Club on Thursday for the first round of the Men's Division I singles event at the 2022 College Disc Golf National Championship. Among them was Collin Thompson, a standout player from Illinois State, who would go on to lead the pack with an impressive 8-under par performance.

Thompson's success can be attributed in part to his ability to adapt to the challenging course conditions. "There was a ton of wind, so I played it safe and capitalized when I could," he explained after his round. With one of only three bogey-free rounds on the 7,027-foot, Par 60 track, Thompson demonstrated his skill and strategy in navigating the course's tight gaps, elevation changes, and signature boulders.

For Illinois State, this season marks a new era as a competitive disc golf club. The team, which came together just last week after discovering an Instagram post for a qualifier event, has been hitting the road to Peoria, Illinois and Jonesboro, Arkansas for qualifying tournaments. Despite being in its inaugural season, Thompson expressed confidence in his teammates' chemistry and commitment: "We're really close... We put the club together this year so we have that energy like it's our first time out here, let's see what we can do."

Thompson's individual success has also contributed to Illinois State's strong team performance. With Thursday's singles rounds factoring into the overall team standings, the team currently sits in a respectable position alongside Northern Arizona, Appalachian State, Texas, and Ferris State at the top of the leaderboard. Iowa State made a notable jump up the rankings with an average singles score of 57.

The competition will heat up on Friday morning as the second round of the Division I team event gets underway. The Division I singles finals are scheduled for later that afternoon, offering fans one final chance to catch Thompson and his teammates in action.

This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/news/lets-see-what-we-can-do