Junior Disc Golf Champs Battle Back from Trouble at World Championships

The second day of competition at the 2021 PDGA Junior Disc Golf World Championships was filled with thrilling moments and dramatic comebacks. Among those who proved their mettle were Uriyah Kelley, Peter Calabrese, and Melody Castruita – each of whom demonstrated remarkable resilience in overcoming early setbacks to take a strong lead in their divisions.

For Kelley, the 12-year-old from Rochester, New Hampshire, the day got off to a rocky start. On Hole 1 of the Peter Pan course, he found himself forced to pitch up from an awkward position after his tee shot sailed over the fairway's right boundary. However, instead of letting frustration get the better of him, Kelley took a deep breath and focused on making adjustments to his game plan.

It proved to be a wise decision, as Kelley went on to shoot the hot round of the day with an impressive 11 birdies in the next 17 holes – including seven consecutive ones from Hole 10 to 16. This remarkable turn of events not only earned him a spot among the leaders but also brought him within one shot of division leader Wyatt Mahoney.

Kelley's father, who accompanies him to up to 20 tournaments each year, was visibly proud of his son's determination and sportsmanship. "I really enjoy and appreciate my dad bringing me to all these tournaments," Kelley said. "For some kids this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and I'm grateful that I'm here for the third time."

Meanwhile, Peter Calabrese, competing in the Junior ≤18 division, faced his own challenge when he incurred a double bogey during a five-hole stretch on the Emporia Country Club course. However, like Kelley, he refused to give up and instead drew upon his inner reserves of confidence to stage an impressive comeback.

"I just told myself to stick to the game plan and try to keep getting birdies," Calabrese said. "I ended up putting myself in position and making the putts." His efforts paid off with a six-shot lead over second-place Micah Groth heading into the third day of competition.

In the Junior Girls' ≤18 division, Melody Castruita is vying for her second consecutive title – having won it in 2019. Despite some self-admitted mistakes that allowed Stacie Hass to close the gap, Castruita remains confident about her chances. "I'm still pretty comfortable and confident," she said after the round.

Her younger sister Aria, on the other hand, has taken a commanding lead in the Junior Girls ≤15 division with an impressive hot round of 946-rated play. If she succeeds in winning, it will be the culmination of two years' worth of hard work and determination – as well as her second world title following her finish in second place at the 2019 Championships.

As the competition enters its final day, all eyes are on these young champions who have proven their mettle with remarkable comebacks. Will they continue to defy expectations and emerge victorious? Only time will tell.

This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/news/resilience-display-calabrese-and-kelley-bounce-back