Locastro Prevails For Gutsy Preserve Victory | Professional Disc Golf Association

Nikko Locastro emerged victorious at the Preserve Championship in Clearwater, Minnesota, bringing an end to his nine-year drought without a PDGA Elite Series win. The Missouri native's 41-under par 153 performance earned him the coveted trophy and $4,200 prize.

Locastro's victory was far from straightforward, with a series of twists and turns that kept the crowd on the edge of their seats. Despite struggling with self-doubt throughout his 15-year pro career, Locastro managed to block out the noise and focus on executing each shot to its best potential.

A pivotal moment came when he deliberately switched discs on the 17th hole, opting for a spin-putt layup instead of trying to make the more challenging death putt. This decision allowed him to salvage birdie and keep pace with Simon Lizotte and Calvin Heimburg, who were tied with him at that point.

Locastro's eagle on the final hole sealed his win, as he celebrated by punching the air in relief before being informed of his victory. "For the love of god, I didn't see the scores," Locastro exclaimed. "Are you sure? Did I win that?"

In contrast to Locastro's thrilling finish, Paige Pierce dominated the Open Women's division with a 29-under par 166 performance. Starting the round with an eight-shot lead over Missy Gannon, Pierce opened with six consecutive birdies and led the field in seven of nine UDisc statistical measures.

Pierce's average margin of victory this season stands at just over 10 strokes, making her a formidable force in disc golf competitions. The five-time PDGA World Champion expressed her satisfaction with the win, stating that it feels "amazing" to have a good putting weekend and feel confident on the green.

Meanwhile, Catrina Allen rebounded from recent struggles by finishing second in the Open Women's division with a 16-under par score. Paige Shue rounded out the top five with an impressive -8 performance.

The Disc Golf Pro Tour will continue next week at the Silver Cup in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, before resuming its schedule on July 24 at the Great Lakes Open in Milford, Michigan.

This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/news/locastro-prevails-gutsy-preserve-victory