Locastro Takes Command at Skylands Classic National Tour

The Skylands Classic at Blue Mountain has reached its midpoint, and it's clear that the world's top disc golfers have found their rhythm on this challenging course. Whether due to familiarity with the unique terrain or the favorable weather conditions, players have improved significantly over Saturday's round, navigating approximately 15,000 feet of disc golf play.

Nikko Locastro continues to impress, not only with his elite skills but also with a growing maturity in his mental approach to the game. This emerging growth is evident in his consistent performances and impressive scores at the most competitive events. Locastro's confidence has been boosted by switching to a Wizard putter disc, which has led to an increased accuracy rate as the softer plastic allows for more precise throws.

The St. Louis native has leveraged this advantage into a strong lead, forging a three-throw advantage heading into Sunday's 20-hole final round. Locastro is on track to win his third consecutive event, having claimed the NT crown two weeks ago at the Vibram Open and won a playoff against Nate Doss at the Cranbury Classic last weekend in Connecticut.

However, Locastro will face stiff competition from fellow 21-year-old Paul Ulibarri, who is three throws off the pace. Like Locastro, Ulibarri has been on an incredible roll, having won last week's event on Solitude Mountain and finished as runner-up at the 2010 PDGA Worlds.

The Men's Open division is shaping up to be a battle between these two talented young players, with David Feldberg, the 2010 Woodchuck Drive for the Championship points series leader, tied for third place with Matt Orum (Mobile, Alabama) and Avery Jenkins (Santa Cruz, California).

In the Women's Open division, Des Reading leads by one throw over Valarie Jenkins in a battle that promises to be intense. These two players have combined for six individual World Championships, giving them a distinct advantage under these extreme ski mountain conditions.

Jay Reading is also making his presence known in the Masters' division, holding off reigning World Champion Brad Hammock by a slim two-throw margin. Meanwhile, Leroy Jenkins has distanced himself from Don Thoms in the Grandmasters division, leading by 15 throws.

The final round of the Skylands Classic National Tour promises to be an exciting conclusion to this event, with several players vying for top honors in their respective divisions.

This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/skylands-nt-day-2