Windy Conditions Test World's Best in First Round of OTB Open

The 2022 DGPT - OTB Open got off to a thrilling start as the world's top disc golfers faced down windy conditions on the reimagined 18-hole layout at Swenson Park. Course designer Leonard Muise, known for his innovative layouts, had intentionally created a challenging course that would test even the most skilled players.

The winds proved to be a major obstacle, with gusts reaching up to 25mph and swirling unpredictably throughout the day. This made it difficult for players to gauge distances and trajectories, requiring them to adapt and improvise on every shot.

Paige Pierce, defending champion in the women's field, emerged as the only player under par after round one. She carded eight pars and a birdie on the front nine before struggling with the wind on the back nine, ultimately finishing at 1-under-par. Despite some near-misses, including an approach shot that narrowly missed the target, Pierce remained optimistic about her chances.

"It was really windy out here," Pierce said after her round. "You had to adapt and make adjustments on every shot. It's what makes disc golf so exciting - you never know what's going to happen."

The leaderboard is tightly packed in both the men's and women's fields, with Natalie Ryan at even par, Valerie and Alexis Mandujano, Holyn Handley, and Matt Orum all sitting just one stroke back.

In MPO, Cody Kirkland took a two-throw lead after round one. The hometown hero demonstrated exceptional skill and composure throughout the day, finishing first in strokes gained tee to green and second in putting. His standout performance included a dramatic 318-foot throw-in on hole 17 and a clutch birdie on the final hole.

"I was pretty nervous on the drive on 18," Kirkland admitted after his round. "But I managed to get my line right, and it turned out okay. I'm just trying to stay focused and play solid golf for the rest of the tournament."

Other notable performances included Ricky Wysocki's heroic effort, which saw him push through pain and swelling in his left knee to finish at four-under-par.

The live coverage of round two will kick off on Saturday at 9:30 a.m. on Discgolfnetwork.com, as players face another day of challenging conditions at Swenson Park.

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