Nate Sexton Takes Lead at USDGC After Action-Packed Third Round

The third round of the United States Disc Golf Championship (USDGC) concluded on Friday, with a dramatic finish that left fans and players alike on the edge of their seats. The hot and sunny conditions at Winthrop Gold course in South Carolina brought out the best in many competitors, as they battled for a spot among the top contenders.

Nate Sexton's game was in high gear from the start, with a tricky straddle putt on hole 4 setting him up for a string of birdies. By the time he reached the treacherous island hole 17, Sexton had amassed an impressive -29 score. However, his hopes of taking the lead were derailed by a double bogey 5 on the challenging 17th.

Undeterred, Sexton opted to play safe on the final hole, resulting in a tied hot round with Ricky Wysocki from the second card. This earned him a three-stroke advantage going into the final day of competition. Leading after three rounds is not an unfamiliar situation for Sexton, who held the lead during moving day in 2015.

Meanwhile, Jeremy Koling and Gregg Barsby played respectable rounds, but couldn't quite match Sexton's pace. Koling will remain on the lead card tomorrow as the fourth-place contender with a total of -19, while Barsby drops off to the chase card with his -18 score.

Wysocki, a two-time World Champion, seemed determined to get back into contention. He produced 11 birdies, one eagle, and three bogeys throughout the round, ultimately securing a tied hot round with Sexton. His efforts earned him second place, just three strokes behind the leader.

Monday Qualifier Max Nichols continued his impressive run, shooting a bogey-free -9 score to move into sixth place. This marks the best finish by a Monday Qualifier since 2012's Josh Anthon finished third. Nichols remains optimistic about breaking this record and continuing his ascent up the leaderboard.

Philo Brathwaite made significant strides, jumping from sixth place to third after a smooth round with only one bogey on the final hole. He will make his lead card debut on Saturday, sitting six strokes behind Sexton.

Paige Pierce finally found her footing after two sluggish rounds, producing an under-par score of -5 with a 62. This performance brings back memories of her dominant victory in the USDGC Performance Flight in 2014. It remains to be seen whether she can maintain this momentum and move further up the leaderboard.

Seppo Paju, the highest-placed European competitor, played solid golf on the chase card, snagging birdies where possible and keeping his discs in bounds. His bogey-free round of -6 could have been even better without minor issues with his drives towards the end.

The USDGC has provided plenty of excitement so far, and Saturday promises to be just as thrilling as competitors battle it out for the coveted title.

This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/2017usdgc/round-3-recap