DGPT Tourney Rundown: 2023 Las Vegas Challenge by Innova

 

A pair of late-ranked, top 60 Disc Golf Pro Tour players have battled unsatisfactory golf conditions to lead the first day of the Las Vegas Challenge presented by Innova at Henderson, Nevada.

No. 41-ranked pro James Proctor of California, and New York’s Scott Withers - ranked 59th - tied Anthony Barela (15th) at minus-8 to jump in front of a tight field. Weather conditions on Thursday were cold and windy, with a forecast of snow tickling the region through the week. The added challenge led to a knot of 13 players sitting at minus-6 to minus-8.

While Proctor and Withers threw solid rounds with few mistakes, Barela bounced back after opening the day with a par and a bogey. He went on to throw nine birdies through the final 16 holes.

Simon Lizotte, Kevin Jones and Luke Humphries are one stroke behind, with Lizotte hanging in with confident scramble play in his first tournament as an Team MVP member.

Paul McBeth, Emerson Keith, Adam Hammes, Gannon Buhr, Cole Redalen and Kyle Klein rounded out the top three lowest scores at minus-6. Buhr’s play was especially notable considering ongoing litigation regarding his professional sponsorship. He threw six down on the back nine, but took two bogies alongside his 8 birds through 18.

Meanwhile, McBeth played bogey-free and Keith was up and down, but closed Round 1 with four birdies in a row.

FPO: Allen by one over Cox

Catrina Allen recovered from a bogey on Hole 3 with four birds to lead the Women’s Division through Round 1 on Thursday. Cincinnati, OH’s Rebecca Cox was minus-two through five before giving up two bogeys and fighting back to claim the second seed.

Much of the rest of the field sat Even to plus-two. Holly Finley, Henna Blomroos and Caroline Henderson broke even, while Ohn Scoggins, Missy Gannon closed the day at plus-one. Jennifer Allen, Sarah Hokom, Erica Stinchcomb, Hanna Huynh, Stacie Rawnsley and Holyn Handley nip their heels one stroke back of the third-spot duo.

The FPO division returns to the course Friday at 11 a.m. CST, with the MPO division following at 3:30 p.m. Temperatures remain cold at eight degrees Celsius, with a brisk wind; basically a repeat of Thursday.

Other Notes

Calvin Heimberg struggled to open the tournament despite finishing just five strokes back of the lead. Missed birdie putts, a pair of out-of-bounds penalties and a tree bounce frustrated Heimberg through the back nine.

Nevertheless, Heimberg is known for late tournament charges and can be expected to drop a low score or three through the final three days.

Although he eagled No. 2 and finished the front nine at minus-5, Eagle McMahan slid through the final five holes with four bogeys and a par. He also sits minus-3, closing the round by tearing open a Whale sack and dumping it in the grass. Not classy.

Finally, Brodie Smith is in the mix at minus-5. He was down four through nine holes, then went birdie-birdie, bogey-bogey, birdie-birdie, bogey, par through the final eight holes.

- Mangy Coyote Media

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