Paige Bjerkaas Regains Control in Pro Worlds After Early Struggles

Paige Bjerkaas' day didn't exactly go as planned on Saturday in Vermont, where temperatures plummeted during the 9:30 am tee time for the Open Women's lead card at Smugglers' Notch Disc Golf Center. Despite her initial struggles, the 21-year-old Kansan from the United States managed to regain control of the tournament with a solid finish.

The early going was tough for Bjerkaas, who quickly lost her five-stroke lead in just three holes on Fox Run Meadows. A double bogey, followed by a par and then a triple bogey, marked the beginning of a rocky stretch for the young player. However, she got a much-needed break on the 4th hole when her long drive allowed her to take a breather from both the course and her own mind.

With renewed focus and determination, Bjerkaas turned things around on Fox Run's basin stretch, where she kept it together with several par saves. Her performance took a significant turn for the better after a crucial par on hole 7, which proved to be a turning point in the round. Meanwhile, rival Paige Pierce fired off a scorching hot round with a 1010-rated 2-under-par score, catapulting herself into second place.

Pierce's impressive showing came despite missing four putts from inside circle 1 and carding five out-of-bounds strokes. The four-time PDGA World Champion was driven by her desire to secure birdies, acknowledging that taking pars wouldn't be enough to win the title. Sarah Hokom slipped to third with a 14-over-par score, while Rebecca Cox battled through shoulder pain but eventually fell to fourth place.

Bjerkaas cited nerves and bad luck as contributing factors to her early struggles, emphasizing that she had to sit back, assess the situation, and approach each hole individually. The young player's goal is now focused on achieving an even-par score in tomorrow's final round against Pierce.

The pressure-cooker atmosphere at the PDGA Professional Disc Golf World Championships has proven to be a challenge for some players, with Hokom's quadruple-bogey 9 serving as a prime example. Bjerkaas acknowledged that Pierce might have an advantage due to her experience and success in high-pressure situations, but she remains confident in her abilities.

"I think a lot of people handle pressure differently," Pierce said during the post-round interview. "Paige hasn't necessarily felt a whole lot of that yet... This is the highest stage we play on." The four-time champion expressed her commitment to shooting her best and staying focused for tomorrow's final showdown.

The Open Women's final is set to begin at 8:50 am ET, with live streaming coverage provided by SmashboxxTV. Will Bjerkaas' momentum carry over into the next round, or will Pierce mount a formidable comeback? The outcome remains uncertain until Sunday's final face-off.

This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/2018proworlds/news/bjerkaas-scuffles-recovers-take-lead-pro-worlds-final