Thrilling Shift in Leadership as Throw Pink Enters Crucial Weekend

The women's field at the 2023 Throw Pink Women's Disc Golf Championship was ablaze with record-breaking performances on Friday. In Round 2 of the event held at Winthrop Arena, a staggering 223 birdies were recorded, surpassing the previous day's tally by 21 under-par scores and boasting an impressive average score of +0.53.

At the forefront of this surge in excellence were Finland's Eveliina Salonen (-14) and Henna Blomroos (-12), who maintained their top two positions on the leaderboard heading into the weekend. However, a new dynamic emerged as the round progressed. Ella Hansen, an American player, shot an incredible 10-under par to catapult herself onto the lead card, just one stroke shy of Salonen's own record-breaking 11-under performance set the day prior.

Hansen attributed her remarkable turn-around in form to adjustments made after reflecting on her previous day's performance. "Yesterday, I didn't shoot that great on the front nine," she said, "but it didn't feel like big mistakes; just small errors. I made some changes and they paid off."

One of Hansen's most notable moments came at hole 18, where she seized a crucial opportunity to make a last-minute birdie from a 27-foot distance. When asked about her decision to take the risk, Hansen revealed that she was driven by her desire to achieve double digits on tour for the first time.

This achievement marked a milestone in Hansen's career, eclipsing her previous best score of 9-under at the Las Vegas Challenge in both 2022 and 2023. According to StatMando data, this feat represented Hansen's inaugural tour performance of double digits.

Holyn Handley, another player who made significant strides up the leaderboard on Saturday, displayed exceptional form by securing a bogey-free 6-under score. This achievement places her among an elite group – she is now one of just five players to have achieved a bogey-free round at Winthrop during the TPWDGC.

As Moving Day dawns, Eveliina Salonen holds a slender two-stroke lead over Henna Blomroos at 14-under. Ella Hansen and Holyn Handley occupy positions on the lead card alongside them, with Hansen sitting comfortably at 11-under and Handley close behind at 10-under. With multiple double-digit rounds already scored and a closely contested leaderboard, anything is possible as the competition enters its final stages.

For fans looking to witness the thrilling conclusion of this event, live coverage begins at 8:30 a.m. ET on the Disc Golf Network. Existing PDGA members can secure a 50% discount on their DGN subscription, allowing them to stay up-to-date with all the action unfolding at Winthrop Arena.

This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/news/double-digit-derby