Paige Bjerkaas takes a moment to collect herself after winning the Las Vegas Challenge in a sudden death playoff. Photo: Alyssa Van Lanen
HENDERSON, Nev. – For someone who admitted to lacking confidence earlier in the week, you never would have known it by watching Paige Bjerkaas during Sunday’s final round of the Las Vegas Challenge.
Precise drives. Chain rattling jump putts. A four-shot deficit chased down in the first seven holes. A three-stroke advantage gained by hole 10.
Catrina Allen kept a level head and added to her lead at the Las Vegas Challenge. Photo: Alyssa Van Lanen
HENDERSON, Nev. – On paper, Catrina Allen’s Las Vegas Challenge performance thus far has resembled a weekend vacation at the local amusement park.
The Minnesota native’s fairway hit rates have undulated: 78 percent in round one, 61 percent in round two, 84 percent in Saturday’s third round; circle 2 in regulation (67 percent, 39 percent, 83 percent) has been a loop-de-loop; circle 1x putting (0 percent in round three) a death-defying drop ride.
Catrina Allen's 994-rated hot round catapulted her into first place at the Las Vegas Challenge's halfway mark. Photo: Alyssa Van Lanen
HENDERSON, Nev. – Frigid conditions here this week have found Catrina Allen sporting a Queen of the North-style look, a red down vest with a fur-lined hood that has combined fashion and function. It’s so fashionable, in fact, that as she stood on hole 13’s tee yesterday at Wildhorse Golf Club’s Innova Course, she started to reminisce – and quiz her cardmates – about watching America’s Next Top Model.
Paige Bjerkaas jumps for joy after tapping in her PDGA World Championship-winning putt Sunday afternoon at Sumgglers' Notch Resort Disc Golf Center. Photo: Alyssa Van Lanen
JEFFERSONVILLE, Vt. – Paige Pierce said it. Sarah Hokom echoed the same sentiment. Even the new world champion’s father felt that she would eventually win a major tournament.
Everyone always knew it was coming. They just didn’t expect it to happen so soon.
Paige Bjerkaas quickly lost her lead during Saturday's fourth round of Pro Worlds, but she regained control to head into Sunday's final with a five-shot advantage. Photo: Alyssa Van Lanen
JEFFERSONVILLE, Vt. – Paige Bjerkaas’ day didn’t exactly go as planned.
As temperatures plummeted here at Smugglers’ Notch Disc Golf Center for the Open Women’s lead card’s 9:30 a.m. tee time Saturday, the 21-year-old Kansan’s game matched the conditions. Simply put, it was cold.
Double bogey. Par. Triple bogey. A five-stroke lead, evaporated in a mere three holes at Fox Run Meadows.
JEFFERSONVILLE, Vt. – A five-round tournament is bound to yield a difficult performance for any player, even one who has been playing as hot as Paige Bjerkaas. At some point, the event becomes a battle of attrition and survival mode kicks in.
Paige Bjerkaas was all smiles after firing off a career-best round Thursday afternoon during the PDGA Professional Disc Golf World Championships in Jeffersonville, Vermont. Photo: Alyssa Van Lanen
JEFFERSONVILLE, Vt. – Paige Bjerkaas has just walked off Fox Run Meadows after a 5-under par gem and is waiting for her close-up. As she stands on the stage just outside the Smugglers’ Notch Disc Golf Center pro shop, onsite camera crews adjust their lenses as a boom mic hovers near her feet, waiting to capture the perfect soundbite. And they’re about to get it.
Sarah Hokom finished off a strong performance at the Great Lakes Open for her seventh victory of 2018. Photo: Alyssa Van Lanen / DGPT
Sarah Hokom carded an eagle-birdie-birdie streak for the second straight day at Kensington Metropark’s Toboggan course, and that flurry of scoring was all she needed to pull away for a resounding win at the Great Lakes Open.
