Twenty-three years ago, Tim Selinske created the U.S. Masters Championships to celebrate sportsmanship and community.
On Sunday in Eugene, Oregon, those two elements were on display.
Championship Sunday of the 2023 PDGA Tim Selinske U.S. Masters Championships presented by Innova featured a little bit of everything — playoff wins, comeback wins, come-from-behind wins and blowout wins. But after those wins, and even the losses, the community aspect was on full display in a record gathering of 422 players.
The cut has been made in Eugene, Oregon and seven of the 21 divisions are separated by less than three strokes with 18 holes to go in Eugene, Oregon.
In MP40, Philo Brathwaite made a moving day charge with a course-record round at Circle Bar Golf Club to take a two-stroke lead in Championship Sunday. Brathwaite's 12-under round — rated 1060 — propelled him to the top of the leaderboard, two strokes clear of Matthew Blakely, who kept his spot on the lead card with a 9-under round on Saturday.
No one told them that Saturday was moving day at the PDGA Major.
New Leaders
Dutch Napier leads a brand-new MP40 lead card heading into Saturday's third round after finishing with the second-hottest rounds of the day at Dexter Park. The defending FP40 champion, Ohn Scoggins, blistered the woods of Dexter to build a seven-stroke lead with two rounds to go.
The pace for the four-round PDGA Major was set early and, if the opening day on Thursday was any indication, the final three rounds will be action packed.
Eleven of the 21 division are separated by less than three strokes, including one-stroke leads for Allen Hermosillo (MP40), Jennifer Allen (FP40), JohnE McCray (MP50) and Jeffrey Wright (MA50).
The 422-player Major features strong MP40 and FP40 fields and players with PDGA numbers in the double digits — all competing in a beautiful PNW setting.
Silas Schultz dropped a course record performance on Friday on W.R. Jackson. Photo: Justin Anderson / PDGA
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.
