All roads lead to Rock Hill, South Carolina on April 3-6 and more than 800 players are expected to compete in Division I, II and III and Women's DI as the annual event shifts to the home of the United States Disc Golf Championship and the surrounding area.
Houghton's men's team had the first tee time on Wednesday morning. Oklahoma State's women's team of Masey Brannon and Markayla Clayton had a 40-foot putt on their first hole. Missouri's Noah Free had the pressure of a title defense.
Everything worked out well for the early leaders on opening day of the 2023 College Disc Golf National Championship.
Houghton's early tee time ended by setting a blistering pace in the Men's Division I team event with a 16-under opening round, a start that would not be matched the rest of the day in the 64-team field.
With over 700 players representing over 80 schools across the country, the 2023 College Disc Golf National Championship kicks off Wednesday for four days of competition at North Cove Leisure Club in Marion, North Carolina.
A few hours after the Missouri women completed a dominant win, the Tiger men followed suite with a victory of their own, catching fire down the stretch to leave Marion, North Carolina the same way they came in, No. 1, and complete the sweep.
At the conclusion of Saturday, two teams from the record-breaking field at North Cove Disc Golf Club in Marion, North Carolina will emerge as champions and take bragging rights home to the respective universities.
A week later, they officially formed a club and hit the road.
That led to Marion, North Carolina this week at the 2022 CDGNC and, after Thursday’s opening round of the Men’s Division I singles event, Thompson finds himself atop the leader board.
Over 500 competitors gathered and were introduced during an energy-filled opening ceremony, complete with a message from veteran Paul Ulibarri, and then the action at the three-course complex at North Cove Disc Golf Club in Marion, North Carolina got started in a big way.
It starts with organization and team building, literally.
Seventy-five universities from around the country will be represented this week at North Cove Disc Golf Club for the 2022 CDGNC, the first PDGA Major of the year.
Teams must not only build a competitive core of players, but must also go through the process of working with their universities to organize, grow and represent the school. This takes strong leadership on the part of the student athletes.