Texas Twin Power: Mandujano Sisters Crush Competition at AWD Championships
Date Published
The Lone Star State is once again proving its mettle in the world of disc golf. At this year's Amateur World Doubles Championships (AWD), five out of seven divisions were won by Texas-based teams. The Mandujano sisters, Valerie and Alexis, made a stunning display of their skills in the Advanced Women's division, while Ricky Ovaitt and Adam Case put up an incredible fight in the Advanced division.
The Mandujanos' journey to the top was nothing short of remarkable. With their mentorship from four-time world champion Paul McBeth influencing their game plan, they dominated from the start. They took a seven-stroke lead into Round 2, which only grew to 11 strokes by its conclusion. However, the sisters were not satisfied with just a comfortable cushion – they went on to record an astonishing bogey-free round in Round 3, doubling their advantage and leaving the competition stunned.
The final full round saw Valerie and Alexis continue their unbeaten streak, achieving an incredible 16 birdies and an eagle without dropping a single stroke. Even if they had shot even par for every other round, they would still have emerged as division leaders. With only the Final 9 holes remaining and a 31-stroke lead, the trophy was all but theirs.
The Advanced division witnessed an intense battle between several top teams, with Bates Hopkins and Luke Humphries sharing the lead until the final round. Ricky Ovaitt and Adam Case mounted a thrilling comeback after gaining strokes on their competitors in the Worst Shot Doubles segment. The duo's ability to avoid bogies in this format paid off as they tied up with Hopkins and Humphries before the Best Shot Doubles phase.
The nail-biting conclusion saw Ovaitt and Case emerge victorious, securing the championship with a par on the 81st hole while their opponents were forced to tap in for a bogey. This heart-stopping finale capped an incredible four-day competition at Selah Ranch and Trey Texas Ranch.
As we celebrate the winners of this year's AWD Championships, it is clear that these talented teams will be forces to reckon with in future competitions.
This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/ovaittcase-mandujano-sisters-earn-amateur-world-doubles-titles-home-state-texas