Women's Teams Blaze Trail at CDGNC as Men's Division Heats Up
Date Published
The College Disc Golf National Championship has kicked off in high gear at the North Cove Disc Golf Club in Marion, North Carolina. Over 500 competitors from across the country gathered for an energetic opening ceremony, which included a motivational message from veteran Paul Ulibarri. The action quickly shifted to the three-course complex, where teams and individuals took to the greens with enthusiasm.
In the women's team division, Missouri's Alexis Kerman and Renae Beasley set the pace with an impressive 8-under round on the River Run track, securing a seven-stroke lead over Brigham Young's Devri Tanner and Hannah Hunter. The Utah-based duo finished second in the standings at 4-under, just one stroke ahead of Missouri A&T's Emily Craig and Megan Kerr.
The men's division saw some intense competition in the team round, with several teams vying for the top spot. Ferris State and Northern Arizona emerged as early leaders after completing a 10-under round on the Gorge Course, which proved to be a challenging layout. The duo of Caleb Mergener and his teammates received a significant boost when Mergener aced the Par 3 on Hole 16, featuring a unique basket placement over a flowing creek.
The finish at the Gorge was indeed grueling, with the final two holes serving as particularly daunting challenges. However, Ferris State's strong performance earned them a one-stroke lead over Georgia, Illinois, and Illinois State, who are all tied for second place. Eight teams, including No. 2 Texas, trail by just one stroke in the team standings.
The action shifts to singles competition on Thursday, where the men will compete in Division I and the women will conclude their round on River Run before advancing to the finals on Friday afternoon. In other news from Thursday's singles rounds:
* North Carolina State's Brandon Bauguess led the pack with an 8-under score in the Division II field.
* Auburn's Tyler Gainer, Grand Canyon's Harley Kendall, and Triston Harrison from Northern Colorado followed closely behind with 6- and 5-under scores, respectively.
* In the Men's Division III competition, Liberty dominated both the C and D teams, with the C team leading by one stroke at 18-under.
As the College Disc Golf National Championship continues to unfold, fans can expect even more thrilling action from the talented competitors. With top-notch performances from both men and women's teams, it will be exciting to see who emerges victorious in each division.
This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/news/plenty-action-college-national-championship