Climo Reigns in Atlanta Open Lead with 50-50 Performance. Valarie Jenkins Poised for Second Straight NT Title in Women’s Division  

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By Dr. John G. Duesler, Jr. 

The weather in Roswell this morning forced the start of the 2009 Atlanta Open presented by RE/MAX into an on-again-off-again-on-again first round.  And though the skies cleared by mid-day, Ken Climo continued to dampen the ambitions of the rest of the men’s open field with a pair of 50’s in the first two rounds, giving him a two-throw advantage over a hard-charging David Feldberg at the half-way point. 

Climo, the defending Atlanta Open champion, seemed to improve with the afternoon weather, as he took his solid afternoon front nine and elevated his game into a scorching finish, birdying six straight between holes 11 and 16 to distance himself from his group.  His impressive performance came on the heels of his 41st birthday yesterday, where he bested an open division brimming with great younger talent, including the current PDGA World Champion Feldberg, as well as 18-year old Paul McBeth and regional disc golf leader Kevin McCoy. 

Georgia has been kind to Climo over the last few years.  In addition to his Atlanta Open crown last year, Climo’s latest World Championship, the 12th of his career, came just 100 miles away in Augusta in 2006. 

But to continue his winning ways, Climo will have to once again overcome his principle rival, David Feldberg, who interrupted “The Champ’s” Georgia winning streak in 2007 with a one throw victory at the Hall of Fame Classic in Augusta.  Feldberg finds himself in perfect position for the Sunday showdown with Climo, having thrown a tournament best 7-under par 49 in the afternoon round at the East Roswell course.  Feldberg has long been known for his incredible Sunday surges on the National Tour and will have the expansive “National Tour” layout at Cumming’s Central Park to take advantage of his complete set of disc golf skills. 

McBeth, McCoy and Barry Schultz will complete the leadercard five-some when play resumes on Sunday morning in the men’s open division. 

In the women’s open division, Valarie Jenkins continues to be the measuring stick of the PDGA opening up a 13-throw bulge over 2008 PDGA Rookie of the Year, Sarah Stanhope and a 15-throw spread over Senoia, Georgia’s own Courtney Peavy.  Indeed, Jenkins’s afternoon round 53 was surpassed by only four others in the 90-player field and has given her plenty of cushioning as the ladies head out to Cumming for their Sunday rounds. 

 

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Links:

Results at PDGA.com
Video Highligts of Saturday's Coverage
Atlanta Open Website