Lizotte Takes One-Stroke Lead into OTB Open Finale

The stage is set for an exciting conclusion to the 2022 OTB Open as Simon Lizotte takes a one-throw lead into the final round. For Lizotte, this is a welcome opportunity to break his drought of over four years without an Elite Series win. His last victory came in 2018 at the DGPT Memorial Championships.

Lizotte's recent struggles have been well-documented, but he has worked tirelessly to regain his form. In fact, he claims that his off-season training has paid dividends, and he feels more confident on the putting green than ever before. "I've done a lot of work in the off-season," he said. "Everything feels slower and more controlled now. I think being more controlled is going to be dangerous for me in the future."

Lizotte's momentum was evident throughout round two, where he carded an impressive eight-under 58. He started strong, birdieing seven of the first nine holes, including a thrilling circle 2 putt on the first hole and a "Simon line" on the sixth that left his playing partner Cody Kirkland stunned.

However, Lizotte's back nine was less impressive, with only one birdie on the tenth hole. He acknowledged that this was a rookie mistake, saying, "I know I haven't been in this position in a while, but I've learned from experience. Tomorrow, I need to go attack mode and not play defensively."

Lizotte will face stiff competition as he chases his first Elite Series win in over 1,500 days. Anthony Barela is hot on his heels, just one stroke behind with an 11-under total. Calvin Heimburg and Aaron Gossage are also in contention at 10-under, while Drew Gibson rounds out the top four.

In contrast to the MPO field, where a dozen players are within five throws of the lead, Paige Pierce dominates the FPO leaderboard. She has never lost an Elite Series or Major event when leading by at least five and enters the final round with a commanding nine-stroke advantage.

Pierce's performance in round two was nothing short of spectacular, as she carded a bogey-free 10-under 58. Her drives were precise, and her putting was impeccable, earning her a single out-of-bounds on one of the par 3s.

The rest of the FPO field is closely bunched, with Natalie Ryan (-2), Jennifer Allen (-1), and Missy Gannon (E) all vying for second place. While it's possible that one of these players could make a late charge, it's likely that Pierce will wrap up her first win of the season.

"I'm trying to shoot the hot round and pretend it's the final round of a Major Championship or the World Championship," Pierce said, emphasizing her focus on the task at hand. "My mindset is to pretend I'm down and that I need to shoot the hot round."

This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/news/lizotte-little-pierce-lot-heading-championship-sunday