Thrilling Start to US Masters Championship as Favorites Emerge

The first round of the prestigious Tim Selinske US Masters Championship is complete, but the real competition is only just heating up. Spanning three challenging courses in the greater Worcester, Massachusetts region, this year's event boasts an impressive 208 competitors across various divisions. The next two days will be crucial as the remaining rounds unfold in rapid succession.

One of the most striking features of the championship is its diverse course selection. The top professional divisions kicked off their journey at 501 Disc Golf in Warren, MA - a venue that echoes the intimidating landscape of Iron Hill in Newark, Delaware, renowned for being one of the country's most difficult courses. Like Iron Hill, 501 boasts narrow fairways lined with boulders and towering trees, but it is the extreme elevation changes that set it apart.

Hole 10 at 501 is a case in point: teeing off from 40 feet above the fairway, players must navigate down steep stairs to reach the basket a staggering 520 feet away. Michael Johansen, known as "The Master of the Woods," and reigning Pro Masters World Champion Dave Feldberg both rose to this challenge, posting identical scores of 4-under par 54 to take joint lead in the Masters 40+ division.

Hot on their heels is Alan Hermosillo, who finished one stroke behind with an impressive performance. Mike Moser and Barry Schultz are tied for fourth place, just two strokes shy of the leaders. Moser's reputation as "The Delaware Deucer" precedes him, having recently surpassed Schultz in the career wins category. In contrast, Schultz has six Tim Selinske US Masters titles to his name and will be looking to add a seventh to this impressive collection.

"I think seven out of nine would be pretty good," Schultz quipped during practice at 501, demonstrating his lighthearted approach to competition. As a close friend of the event's namesake, Tim Selinske, Schultz brings a personal touch to the championship. With only one absence in the past and an impressive record on challenging courses like Maple Hill, he is certainly a force to be reckoned with.

In the Masters Women 40+ division, Elaine King - holder of the PDGA record for most wins at an astonishing 274 - has already asserted her dominance, finishing five strokes ahead of the competition. Saturday's back-to-back shotgun-start rounds will see players competing on Newton Hill and Maple Hill, with live scores available on pdgalive.com.

For those looking to stay up-to-date with the action, Gatekeeper Media on YouTube is set to provide comprehensive coverage of the Masters 40+ division's third and fourth rounds at Maple Hill.

This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/news/feldberg-johansen-tied-top-after-us-masters-opening-round