Teenage Disc Golf Phenoms Take Centre Stage at USADGC

The United States Amateur Disc Golf Championship (USADGC) has witnessed something truly remarkable over its first two rounds. A group of incredibly talented teenagers has stormed to the forefront of the competition, leaving spectators in awe of their skills. At just 19 years old, Marc Burnett is already being touted as one of the future stars of the sport, alongside 17-year-old Matthew Kashima and his teammates Anthony Barela (15) and Izak McDonald (14).

These young players have been performing at an elite level, crushing drives, fairway shots, and approaches with ease. They're hitting putts from all angles, both inside and outside the circle, showcasing a mastery of technique that's reminiscent of seasoned professionals competing in major tournaments. The average age of this remarkable group is just 16.25 years old.

But don't let their youth fool you – these players are not novices or "baggers" (a term used to describe amateur golfers with high player ratings). According to the PDGA, an Amateur has no relation to their skill level or talent, but rather someone who engages in a pursuit on an unpaid basis. These young athletes have earned their stripes through dedication and hard work.

Yesterday's record-breaking rounds were followed by near-perfect conditions today, which failed to yield any new course records. DJ Baldwin (15) turned in an impressive seven-under-par 55, four throws shy of Kashima's record-breaking round from the previous day. Baldwin's performance was all the more remarkable considering he started on the ninth card this morning and will now start on the third card for tomorrow's final round.

Anthony Barela emerged as the overall leader after gaining three strokes on Kashima to take a one-throw cushion into the final round. His experience under the guidance of long-time world number one Paul McBeth is evident in his form, but it's his mental game that truly sets him apart. Barela never seems to lose confidence or let emotions get the better of him.

Interestingly, many players struggled with carding a better score for Round 2 than Round 1, with only six out of 32 competitors on the top eight cards managing to do so. This could be due to nerves or fatigue from trekking up and down the Toboggan course. The field remains incredibly close, with Burnett and Tyson Bunce (18) tied for fourth place alongside Kashima.

As we head into the final round tomorrow morning, anything can happen on this unpredictable course. With afternoon thunderstorms forecasted, the players will need to be prepared for whatever comes their way. Tee times have been adjusted to 7:00 am, and live scoring/tweeting on pdgalive.com will begin at approximately 12:00 pm EDT.

This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/barela-leads-usadgc-one-round-go