Paige Pierce Wins Third Consecutive OTB Open Title

Paige Pierce cemented her position as one of the greatest female disc golfers in history by claiming her third consecutive OTB Open title. The top pros descended upon Swenson Park in Stockton, California for the final round of the 2023 OTB Open presented by MVP Disc Sports, and while the FPO field saw a repeat winner, the MPO division crowned a new champion.

Pierce's victory was not without its challenges, however. Despite shooting a hot round in Round 2 to take a four-stroke lead into Championship Sunday, she didn't quite replicate that form on the final day. Instead, she relied on her experience and skill to see her through, scoring well enough to maintain her lead and finish the tournament at an impressive 25 strokes under par.

When asked about her performance, Pierce seemed relieved rather than ecstatic. "Today wasn't really a great day out for me on the course," she admitted. "It wasn't bad, but it wasn't great, and so I'm just relieved to be off the course." Despite this, Pierce's putting had been strong throughout the tournament, with her averaging an impressive 89% from Circle 1.

Pierce's closest competitor in the FPO division was Ella Hansen, who struggled on the back nine of the final round. Meanwhile, Paige Scoggins made a charge for second place, playing a consistent game to finish four strokes behind Pierce at the end of the tournament. Scoggins' relentless positive attitude and strong mental game have long been hallmarks of her disc golf career, and she is becoming increasingly familiar with podium finishes.

In the MPO division, Emerson Keith emerged as the surprise champion after a thrilling final round. Keith had been in the hunt all day, but it wasn't until he birdied Hole 18 that he secured his first Elite Series win. The victory was all the more sweet for Keith, who has long been knocking on the door of a major title.

"It really just feels like 'Finally'," Keith said when asked about his win. "I've been close a lot, but I always fall a little bit short and I was finally able to pull through and get the job done." This was not just a victory for Keith, however - it also marked the third unique MPO winner in the OTB Open's history.

Isaac Robinson had taken the lead after Round 1, only to be surpassed by Aaron Gossage on Day 2. But Keith's record-breaking round saw him shoot into contention and eventually take the top spot. Gannon Buhr made a valiant effort to catch up from the chase card, but ultimately fell just short.

The West Coast swing will continue with two Silver Events over the next two weekends - the Beaver State Fling and the Cascade Challenge.

This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/news/pierce-rolls-keith-triumphs-stockton