Stormy Saturday Shifts Beaver State Fling Lead

The Beaver State Fling took a dramatic turn on Saturday as torrential rain and thunderstorms swept through Milo McIver State Park, sending shockwaves through the standings. Simon Lizotte emerged from the chaos as the new leader after a blistering 9-under par round that left him with a slim margin over Drew Gibson and Eagle McMahon.

Lizotte's day began on a high note with an impressive front nine performance, where he parked five shots en route to seven birdies. However, his momentum stalled on the back nine as the rain intensified, causing him to cool down with the air temperature. Despite checking scores on his phone, which he admitted got in his head, Lizotte struggled to connect from beyond the arc and was left frustrated by missed putts.

Gibson, who shot a 4-under par 57 earlier in the tournament, also faltered on Saturday as he lost his hot putter. After hitting long-range birdies during his day one performance, Gibson couldn't replicate this success when he needed it most. He admitted that the weather and split tee times got to him, but mostly, he was down on a second half of the round that featured zero birdies and one bogey.

McMahon, however, took a more positive approach, even in the face of unpredictable conditions. His 7-under par, bogey-free performance allowed him to maintain his spot on moving day, which will see him take on Lizotte, Gibson, and Garrett Gurthie in Sunday's final round.

Gurthie's impressive display earned him a share of fourth place alongside Chandler Fry and Paul Ulibarri. The Floridian was thrilled to experience the beauty of Milo McIver State Park and praised its manicured landscape for the sport of disc golf. His highest-rated round of the tournament so far, a 1074 rating, undoubtedly contributed to his enthusiasm.

The rain will return on Sunday, but it won't be the only thing falling from the sky. With four strong contenders vying for the top spot, there's potential for some thunder and lightning on the course as well. As McMahon quipped, "That's the farthest throwing card ever."

Ulibarri, who skipped the San Francisco Open to work on his timing issues, is now confident in his form and will be looking to capitalize on his good standing. He emphasized that he hasn't been in position to make a run in a big tournament for a long time and plans to go for it on Sunday.

With only one round left to play, the Beaver State Fling is shaping up to be an electrifying conclusion to the competition.

This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/news/lizotte-headlines-final-round-air-show-beaver-state-fling