Windy Conditions Shake Up Leaderboard at USDGC with Kyle Klein in Command

The third round of the 2023 United States Disc Golf Championship (USDGC) saw some dramatic changes on the leaderboard as players battled against strong winds at Winthrop Arena. The course's notoriously tricky fairways proved to be a challenge for all competitors, with even the best players struggling to maintain their game plans.

Ricky Wysocki had the standout round of the day, shooting 10-under par and earning the top spot among those not in contention. Meanwhile, Kyle Klein's solid 4-under performance propelled him into first place at 22 strokes under par. Despite feeling that his score could have been better, Klein expressed satisfaction with his adjustment to the windy conditions.

"It was a lot more than I think any of us expected," Klein said, "so it was kind of an adjustment throughout the whole round."

Klein's 84% fairway hits and 89% C1X putting were key factors in his success. He made a crucial move into first place with four birdies and an eagle on holes 6 through 11, building a five-stroke cushion that ultimately dropped to three strokes by the end of the round.

When asked about his confidence heading into the final round, Klein replied, "I feel confident in my abilities and I'll hold onto that tomorrow."

Bradley Williams had a notable performance as well, shooting 4-under par and moving into second place with a smooth and technical style. Despite facing challenges from the wind, including three consecutive holes where he went out of bounds (OB), Williams successfully saved par on hole 13 with an impressive 60-foot putt.

"That's when putting's fun," Williams said, describing the thrill of watching his disc sail through the wind and into the chains.

For Williams, this is a career-best situation going into the final round of a Major tournament. He has made significant progress at the USDGC over the years, climbing from 15th place in 2022 to second place this year.

"It's a progression of my story in disc golf," Williams said, "and I feel like it's a career best situation going into the last day of this Major tournament."

The lead card for the final round will feature Joel Freeman and Sullivan Tipton, who are tied for third place after slower rounds due to the challenging conditions. This marks a first in USDGC history: none of the players on the final round's lead or chase cards have any MPO Major titles.

As the competition enters its final stages, all eyes will be on Kyle Klein and Bradley Williams as they vie for their first DGA Major victory at the 2023 United States Disc Golf Championship.

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