Winds of Change Shake Up Leaderboard at Dynamic Discs Open

The inaugural round of the 2022 Disc Golf Pro Tour – Dynamic Discs Open at Jones Park in Emporia, Kansas, threw down a gauntlet of challenges that only a handful of players were able to conquer. The Supreme 18 course lived up to its reputation as a stern test of skill and endurance, with gusty winds and treacherous obstacles combining to create an unforgiving environment.

For Christine Jennings, the 2019 PDGA Rookie of the Year, it was business as usual. She played a masterful round, relying on precision drives and solid putting to card a tidy score of 2-under par. Jennings' performance earned her a share of the lead in the FPO division, where she is now tied with Paige Pierce.

In the men's field, Thomas Gilbert set the bar high, emerging as one of just two players without a bogey on his card. His impressive 6-under par score gave him a slim one-stroke advantage over the rest of the MPO pack. A six-way tie for second place and five-way tie for eighth at 4-under kept the competition tight, with four players locked in third spot just four strokes off the lead.

Gilbert himself credited the course's unique demands for his success: "This course, when it's playing this windy, is all about giving yourself opportunities. It's fun." His sentiments were echoed by Brodie Smith, who is part of the logjam in a tie for second place: "It forces you to throw really good shots."

Pierce took advantage of the back nine to surge into contention, while Jessica Weese and Cynthia Ricciotti each carded respectable rounds that earned them spots on Friday's lead card. Meanwhile, newcomers Nolan Ramser and Elijah Bickel will tee off last in MPO after their solid performances.

On a course where bogies were plentiful, James Conrad managed to overcome a late double bogey with a clutch birdie on 17 to finish at 5-under. The statistics tell the story of the challenging conditions: 12 holes averaged over par in MPO, and just four players escaped without an out-of-bounds stroke.

As the competition shifts into high gear for round two, fans can expect even more thrilling action. Live coverage of the Dynamic Discs Open will be broadcast on the Disc Golf Network starting at 9 a.m. CT for FPO and 2:30 p.m. CT for MPO.

This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/news/supreme-18-shows-its-teeth