Paige Pierce Leads the Way at PDGA World Championships

The competition for the title of women's disc golf world champion has begun at the International Disc Golf Center's W.R. Jackson course, and Paige Pierce is setting the pace with a stellar 2-under par 65 in the first round of the PDGA World Championships. The dominant performance puts Pierce out front by a margin of 20 points above her current rating, but she will face stiff competition from a talented chasing pack as the tournament enters its second round.

Pierce's impressive play was evident from the very start, where she birdied the opening hole with an easy tee shot and approach. She went on to collect seven more birdies throughout the round, with only four bogeys and one double bogey to spoil her scorecard. The consistent play has left Pierce in a strong position heading into the second round, but she has so far declined interview requests during the tournament.

Meanwhile, Elaine King and Valarie Jenkins are tied for second place after posting matching 1-over par 68s. Both players employed different strategies to navigate the challenging course, with King relying on her mental toughness and decision-making skills to overcome the obstacles presented by the long, tree-lined fairways. Jenkins, on the other hand, emphasized the importance of focusing on each individual shot and sticking to her game plan.

Lisa Fajkus rounds out the top four after a solid 2-over par 69, while Katka Bodová and Sarah Lamberson are tied for fifth with 3-over par 70s. Bodová, who is competing in her second ever Worlds, is confident that she will be able to take advantage of the scoring opportunities presented by the new track at Fort Gordon, where the second round will take place.

As the tournament progresses, it remains to be seen how the players will adapt to the changing conditions and courses. Elaine King is optimistic about remaining at the top of the field, but Valarie Jenkins is focused on the bigger picture, eyeing her fifth world title and aware that nothing can be taken for granted until the final putt.

The Open Women's lead card tees off at 9:40 a.m. Eastern, with Paige Pierce, Elaine King, Valarie Jenkins, and Lisa Fajkus vying for top honors. Follow along for live updates on Ultiworld Disc Golf's Twitter account and real-time scoring at PDGA Live.

This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/2017proworlds/pierce-starts-strong-leads-worlds-3