Paige Pierce and Emerson Keith took down the 2023 OTB Open Open. Picture: Kevin Huver / DGPT
The highest professionals returned to Swenson Park in Stockton, California for the ultimate spherical of the 2023 OTB Open presented by MVP Disc Sports. Whereas the FPO discipline ended with a repeat winner, a brand new champion was topped for the MPO discipline.
Pierce faucets in for her third OTB Open win. Picture: Kevin Huver / DGPT
Solely the Pierce
Paige Pierce went wire-to-wire within the 2023 OTB Open, sustaining her lead all through the ultimate spherical to win the occasion a 3rd consecutive time.
Pierce shared the recent spherical with three different FPO gamers in Spherical 1, then shot a 12-under scorching spherical in Spherical 2 to provide her a four-stroke lead going into Championship Sunday. Though Pierce didn’t rating the recent spherical once more within the closing spherical, she scored effectively sufficient to maintain her four-stroke lead and end the match at 25 strokes below par.
“I’m simply relieved, right now wasn’t actually an important day trip for me on the course. It wasn’t unhealthy, nevertheless it wasn’t nice and so I’m simply relieved to be off the course,” Pierce stated after the ultimate spherical, “My placing was nice the final two days however right now it may have used some enchancment.”
Pierce constructed a giant lead after the second spherical and cruised to the title. Picture: Kevin Huver / DGPT
Pierce was solely 50% from Circle 1 on Sunday, in comparison with 89% and 100% within the first two rounds. Nonetheless, Pierce had a scorching begin to the spherical, scoring six birdies on the entrance 9 to maintain her four-stroke lead over her closest competitor, Ella Hansen.
“I be ok with my gameplan out right here. I believed I may take a deep breath after I bought previous Gap 10,” Pierce stated afterwards, “If I nonetheless have three to 4 strokes after that gap, I really feel very assured. I used to be completely happy to play a clear entrance and get myself to that time with that quantity I had in thoughts.”
Pierce would go on to attain even par on the again 9 whereas Hansen went five-over on the final 5 holes, leaving room for Ohn Scoggins to cost into 2nd place. Scoggins performed a really constant match, scoring 7-under every spherical to complete 4 strokes behind Pierce on the finish of the ultimate spherical. Irrespective of the spherical, Scoggins is thought for her relentless constructive angle and powerful psychological sport that has saved her a prime competitor for years.
Ohn Scoggins added one other podium end on the Elite Collection. Picture: Kevin Huver / DGPT
When requested about coping with nerves after taking part in at such a excessive stage for such a very long time, Scoggins stated, “I would like some pump-up. I really feel nerves however I additionally really feel excited on the identical time.”
Together with her 2nd place end on the 2023 OTB Open, Scoggins now has three podium finishes at an Elite Collection or Main this season (5 together with Silver Collection).
Three-time OTB Open Champion, Paige Pierce. Picture: Kevin Huver / DGPT
Together with her win this weekend, Pierce will stay the one FPO participant to win the OTB Open since its begin in 2021. In keeping with StatMando, Pierce is the one FPO participant to win the identical DGPT Elite Collection occasion three years in a row after profitable the OTB Open in 2021-2023, the Jonesboro Open in 2017-2020, and the LWS Open at Idlewild in 2017-2019.
“I’m two for 4 so I really feel fairly good,” Pierce stated of her two Elite Collection wins to date in 2023, “I do know my different finishes weren’t as much as my requirements however I really feel proud of that.”
Emerson Keith tees off at Swenson Park in Stockton, California. Picture: Kevin Huver / DGPT
Keith Will get the Job Finished
Whereas the FPO discipline noticed the identical leaders every spherical, the MPO discipline’s leaderboard saved shuffling round within the 2023 OTB Open.
Isaac Robinson led after Spherical 1, Aaron Gossage had the lead after Spherical 2, however Emerson Keith would emerge victorious ultimately and provides the OTB Open its third distinctive MPO winner.
Keith jumped up 21 locations on day 2 after his record-setting 12-under spherical and located himself on the lead card on Championship Sunday. Keith had been near taking down his first Elite Collection win many occasions earlier than and was now trailing by only one stroke behind Gossage with the chance in sight. Scoring effectively from a chase card on Shifting Day definitely takes ability, however discovering your self inside a number of photographs of the lead within the closing spherical comes with an immense quantity of stress.
Keith had a course-record spherical throughout spherical two to leap the lead card. Picture: Kevin Huver / DGPT
“I form of simply blocked the whole lot out throughout that spherical and simply informed myself, ‘Fake I’m the one one standing on the course proper now,’” Keith stated of his psychological strategy whereas chasing down the chief, “Simply execute like there’s nobody right here.”
Keith saved tempo with Gossage and was solely two strokes again going into Gap 13. After Gossage took a double bogey, Keith scored a birdie and eventually discovered himself within the lead with solely 5 holes left to play. Gossage by no means regained his momentum, taking one other double bogey on 17 and successfully falling out of the race for the win. Even along with his closest competitor out of the image, Keith nonetheless had one shock left as Gannon Buhr made a push from the fifth card.
Gannon Buhr surged from the fifth card to a solo second-place end. Picture: Kevin Huver / DGPT
Buhr began the ultimate spherical 7 strokes again from the lead and a gradual begin satisfied him that chasing down a win wouldn’t be potential. Nevertheless, Buhr would go on to birdie holes 9-17 and discover himself inside a pair strokes of the lead.
“Because the spherical went on, I simply saved birdieing. I assume I threw the whole lot good. It felt like the whole lot was actually going my manner,” Buhr stated in a post-round interview.
Buhr has expertise profitable from the chase card, having gained each The Open at Austin and the Innova Blue Ridge Championship from the chase card earlier this season. Buhr made a formidable push, however took a bogey on the ultimate gap to finish his match at 21 strokes below par.
By the point Keith bought to Gap 18, he was sitting at 23-under. Keith had a cushty lead on his card mates, however wanted to execute one final drive to be able to keep forward of Buhr. The hole on Gap 18’s tee shot is daunting, however Keith hit it completely. One strong strategy later, Keith was capable of lay up for the par and faucet within the profitable putt of the 2023 OTB Open.
Keith celebrates his first Elite Collection win. Picture: Kevin Huver / DGPT
When requested about the way it felt to win his first Elite Collection occasion, Keith stated, “It actually simply seems like ‘Lastly.’
“I’ve been shut quite a bit, however I at all times fall somewhat bit quick and I used to be lastly capable of pull by way of and get the job achieved.”
The West Coast swing will proceed with two Silver Occasions over the following two weekends, the Beaver State Fling and the Cascade Problem.
