Missy Gannon smiles at the Throw Pink Women's Disc Golf Championship. Photo: Kevin Huver / PDGA
In a year that includes her first PDGA Elite Series win and a constant presence near the top of the leaderboard, Missy Gannon is gaining confidence.
Fast.
With an even keel approach and her trademark putting, Gannon used that confidence in full force this week on one of disc golf’s most hallowed grounds to take down the title in a loaded field at the Throw Pink Women’s Disc Golf Championship in Rock Hill, South Carolina.
In the end, Missy Gannon emerged from the chaos with a one-stroke lead over Hailey King and Valerie Mandujano, the lone player left on the lead card from Friday, heading to Championship Saturday.
Pierce had a five-stroke lead after the first 18. On Thursday, it shrank to two strokes, grew to nine and settled right back at five stokes heading into moving day.
That could be a scary thing for the rest of the field at the Winthrop Arena.
“Not only no OBs and no hazards either – there wasn’t a time where I had to take an OB stroke,” Pierce said. “It felt great. My drives felt like I was in control today.
“I’ve been talking with a sports psychologist and one of the things he told me is that the things I can control, I need to be thinking about those things.”
2019 USDGC Champion James Conrad will be on Wednesday's feature card on the Disc Golf Network.
It takes every shot — hyzers, straight shots, turnovers, you name it — to navigate the Winthrop Arena.
But it doesn't just demand a complete repertoire, it demands precision.
"Winthrop, more than any other course, challenges you to stay in bounds, to throw accurate shots," 2020 USDGC Champion Chris Dickerson said. "All of those shots need to be in bounds."
It also adds an added amount of pressure as one the longest-running and prestigious stops on the disc golf tour as the final PDGA Major of the year.
Chris Dickerson is the defending United States Disc Golf Champion. Photo: Alyssa Van Lanen / PDGA
This season has proven that — week-in and week-out — anything can happen on the PDGA Elite Series.
That sets up for what promises to be a thrilling week at one of disc golf's most revered locations.
The final PDGA Major of the year, arguably one of the most prestigious and anticipated events outside of a World Championship, the United States Disc Golf Championship kicks off on Wednesday. The inaugural Throw Pink Women's Disc Golf Championship, like its counterpart, will test the best in the sport on the hallowed grounds of Winthrop University in Rock Hill, South Carolina.
