When is the only time you will see 8 players on a card at the USDGC? The Dean’s Cup
Friday was the start of the Dean’s Cup Invitational at the United States Disc Golf Championships. For the 5th Annual Dean’s Cup, Innova and College Disc Golf have invited the top collegiate teams from across the United States to take part in the USDGC. Graciously accepting that invite were the teams from Mississippi State, Liberty, Clemson, and North Carolina State. Teeing off on the first card of the day was our first match, North Carolina State vs Liberty.
Match 1: Liberty 62, NC State 62 – Liberty won the match after a two-hole sudden death playoff.
North Carolina State and Liberty’s match was a notable battle between two of the top programs in collegiate disc golf. Liberty’s Coach, Steve Bowman, is confident in his team to do well this season, “We’ve got a solid chance this year” but with struggles early on, NC State had what seemed like a comfortable lead. That’s when Winthrop Gold started to show its teeth.
After over 10,000 feet of play and 62 throws from each team, we had a tie. Our match between Liberty and North Carolina State ended in the first tie in Dean’s Cup history. Time for a playoff! After two hard fought playoff holes, Liberty’s Jeremy Miekley nailed their 25-foot putt to send Liberty to the Dean’s Cup Final Match.
Match 2: Mississippi State 59, Clemson 68
Our defending Women’s Individual Champion and the only woman in our field, Clemson’s Alex Lambert, led her team to a respectable 68 in their first round at the Dean’s Cup. Their one over par round was defined by consistent and safe play, but a few missed opportunities and a tough time on hole 17 left the door wide open for Mississippi State.
The Bulldogs, our current National Champions, were looking to repeat their dominant performance at the 2018 National Collegiate Disc Golf Championships. The highest rated player in our field, Jacob Henson, has played this course before, “It’s a lot more fun to play for the team. I like this more than singles” he said. His upbeat attitude was infectious and after drilling a 60-foot jump putt on hole 6, MSU never relinquished their lead. The Bulldogs won their match with an impressive -8, 59.
Join us bright and early at 8:15 a.m. Saturday for our Dean’s Cup Final Match of Mississippi State vs. Liberty.
Keep up with the action on Instagram @collegediscgolf and on our Facebook page, National Collegiate Disc Golf Championships.
