Kinkel Sets the Pace at 2009 US Amateur Disc Golf Championship
Date Published
The 2009 United States Amateur Disc Golf Championship got underway in style this morning at the Toboggan Course in Milford, Michigan. Blaine Kinkel, from Charleston, South Carolina, made an early statement by posting an impressive score of 57 (-5) under perfect weather conditions. This put him one throw ahead of Todd Grisen's 58 (-4), and two throws clear of Adam Kann and Bryan Johnson, who both shot 59 (-3). A total of 15 players managed to shoot sub-par rounds on the par 62 layout, which is a testament to the course's difficulty and challenge.
The Toboggan Course, designed by Jim Kenner, proved to be a formidable obstacle for many competitors. Only 9.5% of the field of 142 players were able to post scores under par, with another 13 players managing even par rounds. The vast majority of the field is still trying to find their footing on this demanding course.
The format for the first round saw players with higher ratings tee off earlier in the morning, allowing Kinkel to get an early lead and sit back while watching the rest of the field try to catch up throughout the day. Todd Grisen's impressive 58 (-4) was a notable performance, considering his player rating is significantly lower than Kinkel's.
The second round will take place on Saturday morning at 8:00am, with tee times resuming in the afternoon for higher rated players and the final grouping by total score taking place on Sunday. A total of 26 states are represented at this year's event, which has more stringent qualifying standards than the Amateur World Championship.
Competitors had to qualify through one of several methods, including finishing near the top at select qualifying events across the country, having a top 5 player rating in their home state, or earning a last-minute spot in a qualifying round at Toboggan. The weather is expected to remain perfect throughout the weekend, with temperatures forecasted to be in the mid-70s.
For up-to-the-minute scoring and daily stories, stay tuned to PDGA.com. Additionally, visit the 2009 USADGC Photo Galleries by PDGA Media for behind-the-scenes action and images from the event.
This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/usadgc-r1