Women's Disc Golf Championship Heats Up in Madison, Wisconsin
Date Published
The sun-kissed city of Madison, Wisconsin, played host to the 24th edition of the United States Women's Disc Golf Championship (USWDGC), boasting an impressive record of 318 participants. As the competition reached its second day, the energy was palpable at both Elver Park and Token Creek courses.
In the Advanced division, Virginia Polkinghorne proved herself to be a force to be reckoned with, leading the pack by one stroke after a stellar performance on her home turf. The 13-year-old disc golf enthusiast has been honing her skills for nine years, showcasing impressive straight shots off the tee and expert anhyzer play.
Polkinghorne's mom, Debbie Polkinghorne, is not far behind in the FA50 division, currently holding fourth place after a solid first round. Her daughter's growth as a player was particularly evident when comparing her current performance to that of six years ago at PDGA Junior Worlds.
Not far behind Virginia Polkinghorne are three other talented players vying for top honors: Alexis Kerman, Ashley Pickett, and Emily Yale, all within one stroke of the leader. The remaining competitors in the Advanced division are similarly closely matched, with four players just four strokes off the pace.
Meanwhile, at Token Creek, Finnish pro Eveliina Salonen asserted her dominance, carding a bogey-free, 1003-rated round amidst swirling winds and high pressure to birdie. Her slim lead is sure to spark an intense battle for supremacy among the top contenders in the FPO field.
Salonen's main challengers are Ohn Scoggins, Maria Oliva, and Hailey King, all within one stroke of the Finnish pro's lead. Emily Beach, Missy Gannon, and Aria Castruita follow closely behind, with Catrina Allen rounding out the chase card at 6-under par.
The field is equally competitive in the other professional divisions. Erin Fitzpatrick, a three-time USWDGC participant from Florida, leads FA50 by three strokes after an impressive opening round. Her sights are set on the PDGA Masters World Championships in Peoria, Illinois, just two weeks away.
As for the recreational and novice divisions, Idaho's Clarisa Bingham and Kerby Walden emerged as top contenders in Recreational and Novice, respectively, while Kayla Hess and Therese Cuevas shared the lead in the Junior <15 field.
This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/news/laughes-nerves-and-plenty-disc-golf-uswdgc