Paige Pierce made history on Saturday becoming the first woman to win the USDGC Performance Flight after she beat her projected 74 by 2 strokes and won the flight by nine strokes.
Pierce beat her projected score for each round of the USDGC. After the round she was excited by her accomplishment, which comes on the heels of winning the US Women’s Disc Golf Championship.
“It’s awesome to be on this stage. I never thought I would be,” said Pierce when she accepted her first place award following the round.
Starting the day five strokes back of Pierce, Jonathan Ray did all he could to keep up with Pierce, but in the end it wasn’t enough.
“She played really solid. When she made mistakes she rebounded really well,” said Ray.
He ended up tied for second with Christian Olsen at (-17), who said playing Winthrop was a challenge but he was able to push through all four days.
Pierce went OB several times on the windy Saturday, but was able to keep her composure. She said OB is a fact of life at the USDGC.
“You got to know it’s going to come on this course, and be as ok about it as you can,” she said.
Watching from the sidelines, disc golfer Debbie Scott, who saw Pierce win the US Women’s Disc Golf Championship, was proud to see Pierce take home the Performance Flight title.
“She’s an amazing young player … She definitely makes it possible instead of impossible,” said Scott.
After his first USDGC experience, Ray said he wants to come back.
“It’s phenomenal. This is by far the best disc golf experience I’ve had,” said Ray.
Pierce, who tried to qualify for the Open Flight on Monday, said she’ll try to qualify again next year. Judging by the way she played this year's Performance Flight, she’s a good candidate to make it in.
