Toboggan DGC Proves a Fearsome Test for Top Disc Golfers

The highly anticipated 2020 Discraft Great Lakes Open got underway on Friday at the notorious Toboggan DGC in Milford, Michigan. While many predicted a score-filled day due to the course's reputation for being player-friendly, the thick Midwestern undergrowth proved to be a formidable foe for even the world's top players.

Among those who struggled with the course was Brodie Smith, a newcomer to the PDGA Tour. Despite battling alongside his teammate and disc golf mentor, five-time PDGA World Champion Paul McBeth, on the opening day MPO feature card, Smith found himself in a battle for survival. He managed to stay in contention for 13 holes but ultimately fell short of expectations due to a series of unforced errors.

"It's frustrating – it could have been a really good round," Smith admitted after his round. "I felt that there were about six strokes that I just gave away." Despite the setback, Smith remained optimistic and vowed to learn from his mistakes for the remainder of the tournament.

McBeth, on the other hand, appeared somewhat frustrated as he struggled to find his rhythm throughout much of the opening round. He eventually settled into a groove, carding five consecutive birdies before faltering on the 18th hole with his only bogey of the day. McBeth's 1033-rated seven-under par score left him tied for 15th place heading into the second day.

Meanwhile, Calvin Heimburg cruised to the top of the leaderboard with a dominating 1082-rated 13-under par performance. "I feel good," Heimburg said confidently. "If I can keep the tee shots in the fairways like I did today, I have no doubt that I'll score well." His commanding lead sets him up for what promises to be an exciting showdown with the rest of the field.

Kevin Jones, last year's runner-up, found himself hot on Heimburg's heels after a blistering round that included three Circle 2 conversions. "I feel like I'm in a great position," Jones exclaimed. "If I can continue playing at this level, I'll be a serious contender for the title."

Eagle McMahon and Ricky Wysocki rounded out the MPO lead card, each sitting two strokes behind Heimburg's impressive score. Wysocki narrowly missed an opportunity to seal his round with a birdie on the 18th hole but remained upbeat about his chances heading into day two.

On the Women's side, five-time PDGA World Champion Paige Pierce continued her dominance of the field, finishing with a 985-rated 5-under par score and a two-stroke cushion heading into the second day. Despite an uncharacteristic bogey on the final hole, Pierce expressed determination to improve her game for the remainder of the tournament.

Catrina Allen, another former PDGA World Champion, had a solid but not spectacular day, struggling with putting woes that have been plaguing her in recent tournaments. However, she managed to stay near the top of the leaderboard thanks to an impressive scramble rate and a few crucial Circle 2 conversions.

Rounding out the FPO lead card will be Kona Panis and Jessica Weese, who edged out Hailey King and Missy Gannon for a spot on the top billing. The five players all finished with a 968-rated 3-under par score for round one.

The action continues today at 2pm ET live on the Disc Golf Network, where fans can catch all the drama and excitement as the world's best disc golfers battle it out on the challenging Toboggan DGC course. For more information on how to watch, and for scores and updates, visit our 2020 DGLO Event Page.

This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/news/toboggan-shows-it-teeth-players-take-course-milford