Mandujano Wins First Elite Series Title at Waco Charity Open

Valerie Mandujano has etched her name into disc golf history by claiming the 2022 Waco Annual Charity Open championship. This significant achievement marks her first Elite Series victory, and it was not without its challenges.

Throughout her journey to this milestone, Mandujano drew inspiration from her late grandfather, a role model for her family who instilled in her the importance of perseverance. "He would always tell us to keep fighting and that it's a new day," she recalls. This mindset proved invaluable on Sunday as she battled through a tough competition at Brazos East Park.

Mandujano's confidence in her training, combined with her fiancé Mason Ford's guidance, paid dividends as she mastered the new bag from her sponsor. Her trust in her discs and choices was evident on the 53rd hole when she made a crucial throw to seal the win. "It was a little bit of everything working today – driving and putting," Mandujano explained.

The road to victory was not without its obstacles. Entering the final round, Mandujano found herself four strokes behind Eveliina Salonen but quickly regained momentum with four consecutive birdies on the front nine. As she continued to play her game and stick to her strategy, she built a one-stroke lead over Kristin Tattar through 16 holes.

The final two holes were all that stood between Mandujano and her first Elite Series title. With her trust in herself and her abilities shining through, she conquered the treacherous dogleg on the 17th hole, securing the win. This momentous occasion marked a significant turning point for Mandujano, who had previously struggled with letting wins slip away.

"It just showed me personally what I am capable of doing," Mandujano said in reflection. "I felt like for the longest time that I was close to winning or I was right there in the mix and then I would have a bad round and it would go away." This win has given her a newfound sense of confidence, allowing her to hold onto the feeling of victory whenever she finds herself in a similar situation.

The top three finishers at the Waco Annual Charity Open were Mandujano, followed by Tattar (four strokes back), and Catrina Allen, who made an impressive 14-spot leap on the leaderboard with an 8-under-par round. The Disc Golf Pro Tour will resume on March 25-27 in Tyler, Texas, at the Texas State Disc Golf Championship.

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This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/news/keep-fighting