Record Field Sets Stage for Thrilling Competition at 2023 PDGA Tim Selinske U.S. Masters Championships

The 2023 PDGA Tim Selinske U.S. Masters Championships presented by Innova kicked off in style on Thursday at Dexter State Park in Eugene, Oregon, as a record-breaking field of 420 players from across the country took to the course. The event, which is being held for the first time since 2014 in the Pacific Northwest, has drawn an impressive array of talent from far and wide.

Eleven out of the 21 divisions are separated by just two or three strokes, setting the stage for a thrilling competition over the next four rounds. In MP40, Illinois' Allen Hermosillo set the early pace with a blistering 11-under-par round at Circle Bar Golf Club in Oakridge, Oregon. The experienced player, who boasts an impressive 78 PDGA wins to his name, was the only player to birdie the final four holes of the day and added a crucial birdie on the 11th hole.

Hermosillo's exceptional play has earned him a one-stroke lead over a host of talented competitors, including Philo Brathwaite, who matched his score later in the afternoon. Shasta Criss rounded out the top of the leaderboard with a strong finish, ensuring that he will join Hermosillo and Brathwaite at the top of the board for day two.

Meanwhile, in FP40, Jennifer Allen – fresh from her win at the Beaver State Fling – kept up the pace with an impressive 6-under-par opening round. She was closely followed by defending Selinske champion Ohn Scoggins, who sits just one stroke behind, and 2012 World Champion Sarah Hokom, who carded a respectable 4-under-par.

In MP50, reigning MP50 World Champion JohnE McCray has taken the early lead with a one-stroke advantage over Crist Garcia from Bend, Oregon, and Robert Bainbridge from California. With the A Pool divisions set to shift from Circle Bar Golf Club to the woods of Dexter State Park for day two, it promises to be an action-packed competition.

The Pacific Northwest is proving itself to be a hotbed of talent, with 31 players from Oregon and Washington holding top-three spots in their respective divisions and nine taking solo or shared leads. As things heat up in the region, one thing is clear – this year's PDGA Tim Selinske U.S. Masters Championships promises to be an event to remember.

ORIGINAL ARTICLE:

Jen Allen tees off during Day 1 of the 2023 PDGA Tim Selinske U.S. Masters Championships. Photo: Justin Anderson / PDGA

This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/news/and-running-oregon