Paige Pierce Dominates at Fort Gordon to Extend Lead
Date Published
Paige Pierce continued to defy expectations with an incredible display of golfing prowess at the 2017 PDGA Professional World Championships. On day two, she carded a blistering 6-under par 60 on the Fort Gordon Marine/Navy Course, extending her lead over defending champion Valarie Jenkins and rising star Lisa Fajkus.
Pierce's round was far from smooth sailing, however. The five-time PDGA Women's Champion stumbled out of the gates with an early double bogey on hole one, but she quickly regained momentum with a series of precision shots and clutch putts. She birdied six of the next eight holes, including a spectacular eagle attempt on the 1060-foot par 5 on hole nine.
Jenkins, meanwhile, posted a solid 3-under par 63 to move into second place behind Pierce. The Texas native's highlights came courtesy of her impressive tee shots, which allowed her to seize momentum and grab key birdies down the stretch.
Fajkus was also in the mix with a 2-under par 64, but it wasn't all smooth sailing for the young player. She made headlines with an incredible up-and-down on hole five, where she saved a stroke by staying in bounds despite her ball careening off a tree. Her putter stayed hot throughout the round, allowing her to grab several crucial birdies and stay within striking distance of Pierce.
As the competition heads into day three at the International Disc Golf Center's W.R. Jackson Memorial Course, it's clear that only one thing is certain: Paige Pierce will be a force to be reckoned with. With six strokes separating her from Jenkins and Fajkus, she'll need to maintain her focus and composure if she wants to take home the title.
Five-time PDGA World Champion Elaine King struggled on the lead card at Fort Gordon, posting a 5-over par 71 that sent her tumbling out of second place. She's currently tied for seventh with Ragna Bygde Lewis and Melody Waibel after both players turned in solid performances with 2-under par 64s.
As Pierce and company tee off for round three at 1:10 p.m. Eastern, all eyes will be on the leader as she looks to extend her dominance over the field. With live updates available via Ultiworld Disc Golf's Twitter feed, fans can follow along every step of the way as these talented players battle it out for the championship title.
This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/2017proworlds/pierce-rebounds-tough-start-extend-her-margin-worlds