Mississippi State and Liberty University Dominance at National Collegiate Disc Golf Championship

The National Collegiate Disc Golf Championship (NCDGC) was dominated by two teams at the top of their game this past Saturday. Mississippi State University and Liberty University took home the top honors in the Championship Flight and Women's Flight, respectively, with impressive showings that left little to be desired from the competition.

For Mississippi State, the victory marked a triumphant return to the championship title after an eight-year drought since their 2009 win. The team put on a clinic, carding a bogey-free performance in the final round at Dunipace Dunes, including an impressive 11-birdie streak that left their opponents struggling to keep up.

"We put on a putting clinic," said freshman Jacob Henson of Mississippi State. "It was basically the same thing we had been doing all weekend. The team that teed off would put it close, or close enough, and the team putting would just drain the putts."

Mississippi State's dominance was matched by Liberty University in the Women's Flight. Despite stepping out of their comfort zone to play unconventional shots, the women's team successfully padded their lead and claimed victory with a 40-shot margin.

"It wasn't even expected," said Heather Wyatt of Liberty. "We were expecting some strokes to be lost today because of the craziness we were gonna be doing." The win was a testament to the strength of the Liberty program, with all four women on the school's A team starting to play within the last year.

North Carolina State also made an impressive showing in the lower divisions, taking home top honors in both the First and Second Flights. In the First Flight, they pulled away with a 10-under par final round to claim victory by a wide margin. Their Second Flight squad came back strong with a 9-under par performance at Hogback, edging out Ferris State by two shots.

As for Mississippi State, their triumph marked the culmination of a long-held goal set in 2016 when the team first attended the NCDGC. Team captain Steven Hillerman praised the team's dedication and perseverance throughout the season. "It's been a huge joy to accomplish that goal," he said.

For both teams, however, the conversation now turns to defending their titles next year. Mississippi State may face some challenges in terms of team dynamics, with several key players planning to take on new pursuits after graduation. Meanwhile, Liberty University will need to navigate the complexities of player scheduling and availability, particularly with Wyatt set to start graduate school.

As for Jacob Henson and his teammates, they're already thinking ahead to their next challenge. "The team next year is still a mystery," he said. "But we'll be ready."

This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/mississippi-state-liberty-comfortably-cruise-ncdgc-wins