Wysocki Takes Early Lead at Santa Cruz Masters Cup
Date Published
The Santa Cruz Masters Cup kicked off on Friday afternoon at DeLaveaga Disc Golf Course in California, with defending champion Ricky Wysocki making a strong statement by closing out his 24-hole round with three consecutive birdies. The hot round performance gave him an early jump on his title defense, as he finished the day with a 1081-rated score of 14-under par 59.
Wysocki's impressive display was not just about his putting skills; he focused on controlling his speed and landing flat on the notoriously tricky hillside terrain. "I was making sure I was controlling my speed and landing flat coming into the greens and giving myself a lot of looks inside 40 feet," he explained. "I feel like that's when I play my best."
Wysocki is currently two strokes ahead of a three-player group tied for second place at 12-under par, which includes four-time Masters Cup winner Paul McBeth, Eagle McMahon, and Matt Bell. The competition will continue on Saturday with more inclement weather in the forecast, but Wysocki seems prepared to handle the challenges.
"Raincoat Ricky" has earned his reputation for quick and strong play during poor weather conditions, and he's ready to take on whatever comes next. "I'm definitely prepared for it," he said with a laugh. "And the raincoat's ready."
The leaderboard is shaping up to be an exciting one, with several top players struggling to find their rhythm. McBeth admitted that he faltered when it came time to finish each hole, despite handling the fairways well. Bell, on the other hand, was locked in with his putter, connecting on 67 percent of his attempts from circle 2.
With precipitation expected over the next two days, the players will need to adjust their strategies quickly if they hope to stay near the top of the leaderboard. Wysocki's early lead gives him a strong foundation to build upon, but the competition is far from over.
This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/news/wysocki-pushes-late-masters-cup-lead