Far From Over

2024 USWDGC — Day 2 Recap

Saturday, March 23, 2024 - 01:45

The leaderboard was moving all throughout the 2024 United States Women’s Disc Golf Championships presented by Mint Discs on Friday.

Missy Gannon is in the hunt for her first PDGA Major title. Photo: Justin Anderson / PDGA

In FPO, there were several new leaders and co-leaders throughout the second day in Austin, Texas but in the end, Missy Gannon emerged on top again.

Gannon scrapped and clawed all day — a mix of strong play off the tee and recovering when Sprinkle Valley showed its teeth to go with her familiar putting prowess — for a 1-under round to grow her lead to three strokes. Gannon recovered from a rough three-hole stretch at the turn with a clean back nine, including back-to-back birdies to finish.

Eveliina Salonen had the second-hottest round of the day at 2-under to jump two spots into solo second place. Valerie Mandujano is third at 4-under and Rebecca Cox will round out the lead card heading into the weekend at the first PDGA Major of the year.

There will be a brand-new chase card led by Holyn Handley, up three spots to solo fifth, Ella Hansen and Jordan Lynds, up seven and two spots, respectively, to T6 and Ohn Scoggins, who had the hottest round of the day at 3-under to jump 19 spots, in a tie for eighth with Sia Ananda, Kristin Tattar and Natalie Ryan.

But there’s plenty of golf left to determine the first PDGA Major winner of the year with 36 holes to go at the demanding Sprinkle Valley track.

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Throughout the rest of the record-setting field in Austin Texas, some leads also grew, others tightened and new leaders emerged.

In the 42-player FA1 division, Addison Woodard grabbed the out-right lead, but it’s just one stroke thanks to a hot round — 961 rated — from Kylie Hohut, who jumped five spots. Rebecca Minnick is three strokes back in solo third and Yolanda Lolohea-Pauley rose 13 spots to round out the lead card.

FA2 leader Micah Tilford. Photo: Danny Voss / PDGA

Arkansas’ Micah Tilford is the new leader in FA2 after tying the hot round with Tawna Barnes, who is now in solo second place and two strokes back. Tilford is averaging 66 points above her rating so far this week. Kelsie Sweeten is just three strokes back and Ashton Harris rounds out the lead card only five strokes back in one of the tightest battles in the 21-division event.

FJ12 Athena Cuevas. Photo: Jennie Greathouse-Nance / PDGA

Athena Cuevas shot under par at Live Oak and is the new out-right leader in FJ12 with her 892 rated round. Her lead is five strokes over Eva Lutsenko.

Another close battle is the FJ10 division. Hayden Harper grabbed the lead on Friday with an 844-rated round. Hanniel Midtylng is just three strokes back in second.

Several other leaders stayed on top but the pressure was applied on Friday.

Stephanie Vincent closed the gap to just one stroke behind Jennifer Allen in FP40 with the only under-par round of the day in the division at Sprinkle Valley. Vincent dropped a 993-rated round, 69 points above her rating and the second highest of her career.

In FP50, Des Reading cut into Juliana Korver’s lead, which is now just four strokes.

Denise Gentry pulled to within three strokes of Patti Adams in FA70.

This PDGA Major is far from over as the pressure picks up heading into the weekend in Texas.