Panis and Rathbun Take Early Lead in Waco Charity Open

The inaugural round of the Disc Golf Pro Tour - Waco Annual Charity Open presented by Prodigy was marked by gusty winds that proved to be a significant challenge for all competitors. The strong breeze, with sustained speeds of 20 mph, made precision driving and accuracy crucial to success on the course.

Gavin Rathbun, a highly rated player from Illinois, set the tone early in the round with an impressive bogey-free performance. He took advantage of a remarkable streak of five consecutive birdies on holes 10-14, propelling him to an exceptional score of 11-under-par, 52. His accuracy and consistency earned him top spot in the men's division.

Rathbun was closely matched by Gannon Buhr from Iowa, who also carded an impressive 11 birdies. However, a pair of bogeys on holes 12 and 15 ultimately left him two strokes behind Rathbun at 9-under-par.

Other notable performances in the men's division included Nikko Locastro and Bradley Williams, both of whom secured a spot on the lead card going into round two. They managed to navigate the challenging conditions with scores of 9-under-par each. Locastro excelled through his precise driving and exceptional putting from Circle 2, while Williams' short game played a significant role in his success.

In the women's division, Kona Panis took an early lead with an outstanding score of 6-under-par, 61. Her accuracy off the tee was instrumental in her success, earning her a substantial advantage from Tee to Green. A solitary bogey on hole 14 and seven birdies showcased her skill and control throughout the round.

Panis now leads Paige Pierce and Valarie Mandujano by three strokes, with Catrina Allen trailing further back at four strokes. Pierce's big mistake came on the challenging 279-foot hole 11, where she carded a double-bogey. Despite eight birdies, her score was ultimately marred by three additional bogeys.

Mandujano rebounded nicely from a slow start to finish the day tied for second place with a solid 3-under-par score. Allen rounds out the lead card after shooting a respectable 2-under-par, 62. The competition will continue tomorrow in round two, as players aim to improve their positions on the leaderboard.

Scores and statistics are available through UDisc Live, while live coverage of the event can be streamed on the Disc Golf Network at 12:30 pm CT.

This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/news/panis-rathbun-top-after-one-waco