World's Top Disc Golfers Unite for Thrilling Mixed Doubles Event

The highly anticipated 2014 PDGA Professional Disc Golf World Championships got underway on a beautiful day in Portland, Oregon, with an exciting mixed doubles format that brought together some of the sport's top talent. Twenty-four teams of two – comprising a man and a woman – took to the challenging course at Pier Park, vying for supremacy in this unique and unpredictable competition.

Pier Park is widely regarded as one of the most picturesque disc golf courses in the country, with its dense forest surroundings and well-designed holes providing a stern test for even the most skilled players. The mixed doubles format added an extra layer of complexity to the game, requiring pairs to strategize and work together in real-time.

For round one, teams employed the Best Shot format, where each player throws from the same lie and chooses which shot to count as their next throw. However, a tweak was introduced to this standard rule: if one player's tee shot was selected consecutively on two holes, their partner would be forced to take the subsequent shot – regardless of whether it counted or not.

The modifications seemed to have a positive impact, with teams actively discussing and debating strategy at each tee box. Jeremy Koling and Paige Pierce were among those who made the most of this unique situation, using it to their advantage on hole 15 after Koling had thrown two excellent drives in succession – only for his partner's drive to be required.

The morning round concluded with a six-team tie for the top spot at -10 under par, setting the stage for an intriguing second round. In the Alternate Shot format, teams were required to alternate tee shots throughout each hole, adding another layer of strategy to the game.

Will Schusterick and Ragna Bygde set the pace early on in the final round, carding crucial birdies on holes three and four. However, Ricky Wysocki and Sarah Hokom pushed hard to close the gap, as did Pierce and Koling – who ultimately finished just two strokes off the lead.

The day's proceedings took an unexpected turn when Nate Doss and Val Jenkins produced a blistering round of 49 in Alternate Shot, catapulting them into second place. Their remarkable turnaround left Pierce and Koling facing stiff competition, ultimately finishing a single stroke shy of forcing a playoff with Schusterick and Bygde.

As the event came to a close, congratulations were extended to Will Schusterick and Ragna Bygde on their well-deserved victory in the 2014 PDGA Pro Worlds Mixed Doubles Championships. With their success secured, attention now shifts to tomorrow's field events at Blue Lake Park, where the world's top disc golfers will put their skills on display in a variety of exciting competitions.

Photo credit: Craig Nielsen #42213

This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/make-it-double