Record-Breaking Turnout for US Women's Disc Golf Championship

The United States Women's Disc Golf Championship (USWDGC) has once again shattered its own attendance record, welcoming a staggering 169 competitors from across the country. This milestone marks not only the largest Open Women's division in Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA) history but also the single-largest women's field ever to participate in the event.

For the past few years, the USWDGC has experienced exponential growth, with some setbacks along the way. Following a significant increase in 2017, when the tournament broke through the 150-player mark for the first time, it continued to rise in subsequent years, hitting an all-time high of 156 players in 2018.

However, according to reigning champion Paige Pierce, the growth wasn't without its challenges. "It's amazing," she said. "When I looked at the registration and saw 52 Open Women, I was blown away. And then every division to follow is just as stacked, so it's really awesome to be here and see so many women out on the course, you know, vibing together and being a part of something special."

Pierce, who has already won two major tournaments this year – the European Open and the PDGA Professional Disc Golf World Championship – will have the opportunity to add another title to her collection if she emerges victorious at the USWDGC. If successful, she would become the first player to sweep the 2019 PDGA Majors.

While Pierce acknowledges that winning the championship is a motivating factor for her, she also emphasizes the significance of this event as a platform for women's disc golf and community building. "It's definitely on my mind," she said. "I've been thinking about it for a couple of weeks now, and I'm just excited about the opportunity. Even if it doesn't happen, it's still a great year for me, but the motivation of having history potentially being made this week is really exciting."

The USWDGC offers more than just competitive excitement; it also fosters camaraderie and a sense of community among its participants. 2018 USWDGC finisher Zoe Andyke describes the atmosphere as "everybody's dream" come true, with an emphasis on growing women's disc golf and introducing it to younger players.

"This is amazing," Andyke said. "The FPO field is at 53 out of a total of 170, which is incredible. I think it's a beautiful display of disc golf – the technique, the skill, the sportsmanship... it's all on full display here."

With four courses and 16 divisions spread across three days, the USWDGC promises to be an awe-inspiring experience for both spectators and competitors alike.

This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/news/2019-uswdgc-preview