Panis, Rathbun Set Pace After One in Waco | Professional Disc Golf Association

**TITLE:** "Windy Conditions Challenge Pros in Waco Annual Charity Open"

**META_TITLE:** "Disc Golf Pro Tour - Waco Charity Open Round One Update"

**META_DESCRIPTION:** "Follow the action from the Waco Annual Charity Open, where competitors faced strong winds and challenging conditions. Leaders emerge after round one, with Gavin Rathbun and Kona Panis taking top spots in their respective divisions."

**ARTICLE:**

The first round of the Disc Golf Pro Tour - Waco Annual Charity Open presented by Prodigy got off to a dramatic start in Waco, Texas, as gusty winds swept through the course. Sustained winds of 20 mph made it tough for competitors to navigate the challenging layout.

Gavin Rathbun and Gannon Buhr set the tone early on, sharing a scorecard that would be the benchmark for the rest of the field. Rathbun, a skilled player from Oswego, Illinois, with a rating of 1026, carded an impressive bogey-free round. He made five consecutive birdies on holes 10-14 to shoot an 11-under-par 52.

Buhr, a talented golfer from Urbandale, Iowa, with a rating of 1007, also had a solid day, posting 11 birdies as well. However, two bogeys on holes 12 and 15 cost him two strokes compared to Rathbun's score, leaving him at 9-under-par.

The strong winds continued to cause difficulties for many players throughout the day. Nikko Locastro and Bradley Williams managed to stay in contention, both shooting 9-under-par and securing a spot on the lead card heading into round two.

Locastro's combination of precise driving and long-range putting proved crucial to his success. He ranked second in Fairway Hits at 83% and led the field in strokes gained from Circle 2 at 2.85.

Williams' exceptional short game allowed him to gain a significant advantage on the field, with a Circle 1 putting percentage of 91% and a total of 4.49 strokes gained from putting.

In the women's division, Kona Panis emerged as the leader after shooting a 6-under-par 61. Her accuracy from the tee was outstanding, earning her 7.20 strokes gained from Tee -> Green, which led the entire field. A single bogey on hole 14 was her only blemish for the day, with seven birdies recorded.

Panis now holds a three-stroke advantage over Paige Pierce and Valarie Mandujano, who are tied in second place. Catrina Allen rounds out the lead card after shooting a 2-under-par 62.

The second round of competition will take place tomorrow at the bEast course, where players will look to adapt to changing conditions and make their mark on moving day. The action can be followed live on UDisc Live, with coverage beginning 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