Strong at the Top
Strong at the Top
2023 PDGA Champions Cup Round 2 MPO Recap
They’re going to run it back.
On a day of big moves, Friday’s lead card — Isaac Robinson, Silas Schultz, Niklas Anttila and James Conrad — is staying put.
Robinson kept his spot at the top, Schultz dropped a course record performance and Anttila and Conrad are right on their heels as the 2023 PDGA Champions Cup presented by Bushnell hit the midway point.
Three of the eight double-digit rounds came from the lead card, paced by Schutz’s blistering 12-under, 54 as he jumped to 21-under for the event, just one stroke off Robinson, who followed with an 11-under.
Anttila bounced back from an opening bogey and took off from there for a 10-under round. He sits tied with Conrad (-9 on Friday) in third.
Right behind them is Eagle McMahon, who had a clean sheet and is one stroke back in solo fifth place, four off of Robinson’s pace.
Two new additions to the chase card are Simon Lizotte and Anthony Barela. Both fired off 11-under round to jump 19 spots into a tie for seventh with Robert Burridge, up 11 spots with a 10-under day, and Paul Oman.
That logjam in seventh place at 16-under make nine players within six strokes of the lead with 36 holes to go in regulation at the International Disc Golf Center.
But, this far, that lead has belonged to the Georgia native in Robinson, who leads the first PDGA Pro Major of the year in strokes gained tee-to-green (14.20), parked (31%) and Circle 1 in regulation (64%).
Schultz put together a strong day off the tee as well and is among the top three in all of the major driving statistics through two rounds. His 12-under course record under the new configuration of W.R. Jackson included an early bogey on three. He then rattled off seven-straight birdies, highlighted by a 60-foot connect on hole 9.
The pressure continues to grow as the crowning of a PDGA Major champion inches closer but 36 holes remain before that moment.
For Saturday at least, the top four will get one more chance to stay exactly where they are.