USWDGC Heats Up as Top Players Tackle Hawk Hollow

The inaugural day of the largest women's disc golf event in PDGA history, the 2019 US Women's Disc Golf Championship (USWDGC), kicked off on Friday without a hitch. A record-breaking 166 female competitors took to the tees, divided into 16 amateur and professional divisions across four courses in the Fredericksburg, Virginia area.

The Open Women's division faced the challenging Loriella Park course, featuring a mix of long, open holes and treacherous wooded obstacles that tested even the most skilled players. While several top performers shot impressive rounds, including Paige Pierce and Elaine King, it was these two disc golf superstars who emerged as the day's standouts, both recording 5-under par scores of 58.

Pierce and King boast an impressive array of accolades between them, with multiple USWDGC titles, Pro Worlds championships, and PDGA Major wins. However, their similarities end there, as King competed in the Masters Women 40+ division on the same course, mirroring Pierce's achievement.

As the competition heads into day two at Hawk Hollow, a private par 66 course located just outside town, the leaderboard is anything but clear-cut. Sarah Hokom and Kristin Tattar are hot on Pierce's heels after shooting impressive 4-under par scores of 59, while seven other players trail by just one stroke.

Michelle Frazer earned her spot at the front of the pack heading into round two, vying for a coveted top-four finish alongside the leaders. As the stakes grow higher, Hawk Hollow's reputation as a challenging course is likely to come to fruition. "There are long holes and technical par threes – it's going to show who's playing their best," Pierce observed.

Tattar, who rose to prominence in women's disc golf last year after moving from Sweden to the United States, expressed her enthusiasm for the challenge ahead: "I'm really excited to play with Sarah again, she's amazing. And I love the other course too – I'm looking forward to the round."

The final showdown will take place at Loriella Park on Sunday, with the Open Women and Masters Women 40+ divisions competing for top honors. Stay up-to-date with scores and stats throughout the weekend on udisclive.com (Open Women) and pdgalive.com (all other divisions).

This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/2019uswdgc/news/round-1-wrap-up