OTB Open Kicks Off with Thrilling Action and Major Previews
Date Published
The OTB Open got underway on Friday, providing an exciting preview of what's to come in next year's Major season. Despite the absence of world no. 1 Kristin Tattar, who will rejoin the Tour at the Portland Open, the FPO division boasted a talented field featuring Missy Gannon and three-time defending OTB champion Paige Pierce.
Holyn Handley seized control with an impressive performance, carding a 1013-rated 9-under par to lead the pack. Her strong putting was evident, as she sank 10 out of 11 putts from circle one x (C1X) according to PDGA Live Stats. The turning point came on the par-4 16th hole, where Handley drained a 44-foot birdie putt.
Handley acknowledged that making smart decisions is crucial on this course, designed by Leonard Muise. Her experience playing with power games from both forehand and backhand wings proved beneficial at Swenson Park. Ella Hansen, another player chasing her first Elite Series win, nearly kept pace with Handley, finishing one stroke behind in a tie for second place alongside Kat Mertsch.
Ohn Scoggins rounded out the lead card heading into round 2 after catching fire on the back nine, including hitting two clutch 50-foot putts. Other notable performances included Missy Gannon's five birdies over the final seven holes and Paige Pierce's best round of the season with a 973-rated 4-under.
On the MPO side, Emerson Keith returned to Swenson Park, where he earned his breakthrough Elite Series win last year. However, his day got off to a shaky start after three-putting for bogey on hole one. Keith bounced back quickly, carding six birdies in seven holes before faltering on the back nine.
Meanwhile, Paul McBeth put any concerns about his comeback to rest with a blistering round of 10-under par, sharing the lead alongside Adam Hammes. This marks McBeth's first hot round at a Major/Elite event since July 2023. Joining them on the lead card will be Gannon Buhr and Colten Montgomery, who came in one stroke behind the leaders.
The stage is set for an exciting moving day as top players continue to vie for position. Don't miss live coverage of the OTB Open on the Disc Golf Network!
This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/news/handley-hammes-and-mcbeth-out-front-early