Masters Division Leader Emerge as Twists Loom at US Masters

The sun began to set on the first day of the 2017 Tim Selinske US Masters in Des Moines, Iowa, bringing an end to a thrilling round of competition for over 300 professional and amateur players. The challenging courses scattered throughout the greater Des Moines area left no room for complacency as athletes vied for top spots.

In the Masters division, Barry Schultz emerged as the clear leader after posting an impressive score of 12 under par at Pickard Park. His remarkable round included a streak of seven consecutive birdies that sealed his position atop the leaderboard. Just one stroke behind, Dave Feldberg and George Smith found themselves tied for second place, both having navigated the course with ease, boasting an incredible 11 birdies and no bogeys to show for it.

Another notable name in the Masters division is Jason Duden, a hometown favorite from Des Moines. He secured a spot on the lead card by virtue of his PDGA ranking, despite a slightly lower score than some of his competitors. His outstanding round included an astonishing eight birdies in succession on the front nine holes, setting a new benchmark for the field.

In the Women's Masters division, Des Reading dominated the competition with two solid rounds. She began her day at Ewing Park with a respectable score, followed by a one-under-par performance at Grandview Park to finish even par and seven strokes clear of the nearest challenger. Cory Hill and Melinda Ring trailed closely behind, each producing identical scores in the afternoon round.

Meanwhile, the battle for top honors in the Grandmasters division is far from over. Duane Steiner and Jim Oates hold a comfortable lead, tied at 15 under par after two rounds. However, their advantage is not insurmountable, with Brad Hammock and Ron Convers lurking closely behind at 13 and 12 under par respectively.

As Saturday's competition unfolds, the Masters Women will tee off last at Pickard Park at 2:00pm CDT, their names on everyone's lips after an electrifying first day. The Grandmasters division will take to the same course just a few hours earlier, with Brad Hammock and Ron Convers looking to make significant gains in their pursuit of Duane Steiner and Jim Oates.

The shuffling of the Masters and Advanced Masters divisions has added a new layer of excitement to the competition, ensuring that every participant remains in contention. As the weekend wears on, fans can expect plenty more twists and turns at the 2017 Tim Selinske US Masters Championships, which are being live-streamed on pdgalive.com for all to follow under clear Iowa skies.

This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/schultz-narrowly-leads-after-us-masters-opening-day