Windy Conditions Set High Bar for Open at Austin Leaders

The inaugural Open at Austin has set a high bar for its competitors, with challenging conditions making it tough for even the best players in both the FPO and MPO fields. The first round of the third stop on the 2023 Disc Golf Pro Tour season took place at the brand-new Harvey Penick Golf Course in Austin, Texas, where gusty winds proved to be a major obstacle.

The course was designed specifically for this event, and its unique layout and features were put to the test by the players. While some struggled with the windy conditions, others managed to adapt quickly and make the most of it. Paige Pierce, who is no stranger to leading a tournament, found herself in good company at the top of the leaderboard alongside Ella Hansen and Kristin Tattar.

The three FPO leaders played remarkably similar games, each scoring four birdies and two out-of-bounds strokes during their rounds. The windy conditions proved particularly challenging for the FPO field as a whole, with every player taking at least one bogey and going out of bounds at least once. In fact, the FPO average was 10.23 strokes over par, with hole 18 being the toughest challenge at 1.89 strokes over par.

According to StatMando, this is the highest average score for a single hole in any Major or Elite event since 2022. Despite these challenges, Tattar and Hansen expressed optimism about their chances of scoring better in calmer conditions during round two. "The conditions were really tough," said Tattar, "but otherwise, the course is quite straightforward."

In the MPO division, Simon Lizotte had a rollercoaster ride on the front nine but powered through to make five birdies on the back nine. He finished his round in high spirits and is now tied for the lead at five strokes under par with Paul McBeth, Väinö Mäkelä, and Gannon Buhr. Mäkelä was the first MPO player to enter the clubhouse at five-under after taking an eagle on hole 16.

As the players prepare for round two, they will be looking to take advantage of calmer weather conditions. With better scoring opportunities expected, it remains to be seen how aggressive the MPO field gets in the second round.

This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/news/all-tied-top