World Champion Leads the Pack at Delaware Disc Golf Challenge
Date Published
The sun-kissed fields of Iron Hill Disc Golf Course in Newark, Delaware, are once again witnessing a battle for disc golf supremacy. The site of the 1777 Revolutionary War engagement between American and British soldiers now plays host to the top players from around the world competing in the PDGA National Tour's fifth event of the season.
Paige Bjerkaas, still basking in the glory of her recent win at the Pro Worlds Open Women's Championship, has taken an early lead with a 3-under par 69. The current world champion is not one to rest on her laurels, and she arrived in Delaware just two days after the final round of Pro Worlds, eager to tackle one of the most challenging courses on the circuit.
Bjerkaas' motivation for competing in this event goes beyond just maintaining her top spot on the leaderboard. She has a score to settle with Iron Hill Disc Golf Course, having struggled here back in 2014. "I played this tournament before and I was terrible," she admits with a smile. "So, I wanted revenge."
Sarah Hokom sits comfortably in second place, with Estonian Kristin Tattar just a few strokes behind in third. The top players will continue to battle it out on the treacherous Iron Hill course, which has been described as one of the most difficult tracks in the country.
Like many of her competitors, Bjerkaas had limited practice time before the event, but she seems to have adapted quickly to the demanding conditions at Iron Hill. "I'm not letting my performance at Pro Worlds affect my game here," she says confidently. "But I am surprised by how well I've done so far."
The Open Women's lead card will tee off bright and early on Saturday, with a slightly drier course and warmer weather expected to greet the competitors. Fans can follow the live scores and stats at UDisc Live and stay tuned for coverage videos from The Disc Golf Guy on YouTube.
This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/news/bjerkaas-avoids-worlds-hangover