Iowa natives Gannon Buhr and Gavin Babcock are tied for the lead after the primary spherical in Des Moines. Picture: Kevin Huver / DGPT
The FPO and MPO fields hit the bottom working within the opening spherical of the 2023 TruBank Des Moines Challenge Presented by Discraft. After their first day at Pickard Park, each fields ended up with ties for the lead and two MPO gamers managed to tie the course document.
Emily Seashore was stellar off the tee in spherical one of many Des Moines Problem. Picture: Kevin Huver / DGPT
Making Her Personal Strains
As soon as once more, the FPO discipline is tied on the prime after the opening spherical of the 2023 Des Moines Problem. Emily Seashore and Kristin Tattar set the tempo in Spherical 1 after they each scored seven-under at Pickard Park.
Seashore had a scorching begin to her spherical, going six-down by way of the entrance 9. On the finish of a slower again 9, Seashore took her solely bogey of the spherical on Gap 18 (which averaged as essentially the most troublesome gap in Spherical 1). Whereas Seashore had a strong day on the placing inexperienced, it was her efficiency off the tee that really set her aside with 80% fairway hits and 4.81 photographs gained tee to inexperienced, in accordance with UDisc.
“My recreation feels strong. Final 12 months I discovered myself shedding my drives lots and laying up much more photographs,” Seashore mentioned after taking pictures the new spherical,” Throughout apply [this year], I noticed I can truly get to a few of these and I ought to make the most of my distance.”
Seashore’s distance off the tee typically places her in place to go for sure birdies the place different gamers may select to put up and take a par. In addition to her distance, Seashore is considerably distinctive as a left-handed participant in a discipline that’s principally right-hand dominant. Brian Earhart, a commentator and fellow lefty, spoke on the problem this presents throughout Match Central after the spherical.
“You’ve simply obtained to present the lefty a shoutout as a result of there’s actually no traces you’ll be able to take from anyone out right here. Your gameplan is totally individualized in comparison with the remainder of the gamers,” Earhart mentioned of her singular method to the course, “She has to domesticate one thing fully new and genuine for herself each week, particularly being one of many solely left-handed gamers on the market within the FPO division.”
Seashore has made it to the highest of the leaderboard loads of instances, even taking third place on the OTB Open earlier this season. If she will maintain onto the lead for 2 extra rounds, Seashore might take down her first Elite Collection win.
Defending champion Kristin Tattar is correct again on prime of the leaderboard. Picture: Kevin Huver / DGPT
Tattar took 9 birdies on the day, together with the one birdie on Gap 13 within the FPO discipline, however misplaced a few strokes to bogeys on Holes 5 and 16.
When requested if she might rating even decrease in Spherical 2, Tattar mentioned, “I believe there are much more birdies on the market. If the wind picks up or there’s any rain, it’s going to be powerful to birdie so I believe it’s extra necessary to simply maintain it in bounds and attempt to make all of the putts in case you have a glance.”
Paige Pierce and Macie Velediaz, who completed at six-under and five-under, respectively, will be a part of Seashore and Tattar for the Spherical 2 lead card of the 2023 Des Moines Problem.
Gavin Babcock traces up a shot at Pickard Park. Picture: Kevin Huver / DGPT
Iowa Boys on the High
The MPO discipline attacked the course in Spherical 1 of the 2023 Des Moines Problem, averaging over three strokes below par with virtually each gap averaging below par. As we’ve seen all through the season, the highest of the leaderboard is an absolute logjam. Seven gamers are tied for third place and being simply three strokes again of the lead places you in a tie for tenth place. As soon as the mud settled, two Iowa natives got here out on prime with a tie for the lead.
Each Gavin Babcock and Gannon Buhr completed Spherical 1 at 13 strokes below par, tying the course document. Buhr and Babcock led the sphere in parked proportion at 39% in accordance with UDisc, persistently executing their tee photographs and approaches to go away them stress-free putts for birdie.
Babcock was in a position to keep away from taking a single bogey within the opening spherical, taking solely two pars from Holes 5 by way of 18. Babcock proved his skill to carry out below strain with a fifth place end on the 2022 PDGA Champions Cup, however his highest end at an Elite Collection or Main in 2023 have been his thirty fifth place finishes on the OTB Open and Dynamic Discs Open.
When requested if he feels nervous with an viewers watching him on the Spherical 2 lead card, Babcock mentioned, “I feed off that, so I’m trying to stick with it and simply maintain loving this house crowd as a result of they’re loving it and it feels good to be house.”
Gannon Buhr had 14 birdies on Friday in his house state of Iowa. Picture: Kevin Huver / DGPT
Buhr’s spherical had a gradual begin with a bogey on Gap 1 and a missed putt contained in the circle on Gap 2. In a post-round interview, the reigning USDGC Champion talked about being in a droop for the previous month and feeling doubts by way of the opening holes of Spherical 1.
“After Gap 1 and Gap 2, lacking the circle 2 putt for birdie, I sort of simply felt hopeless once more, it felt like I simply didn’t belong,” Buhr mentioned about his tough begin in Spherical 1, “Out of nowhere I simply strung collectively 5, six, seven was eight birdies in a row.”
After his drive on Gap 3 hit the koozie on the underside of the basket, Buhr went on to birdie eight holes in a row and shoot 14 whole birdies on the day. With a efficiency like this, it appears protected to say his droop is over. Buhr believes he performs higher when he’s main the event, and with an Elite Collection and Silver Collection win to date this season, he’s obtained the observe document to show it.
Going into Spherical 2, Babcock and Buhr will solely have a one-stroke lead over the seven gamers tied for third place, which incorporates final 12 months’s DMC winner, Simon Lizotte. With such little rating separation and two rounds to go, something can occur. Nonetheless, Buhr appears content material to share the lead with a fellow native.
“We grew up proper right here and it’s so wonderful to see two Iowa boys on the prime.”
