Originally published at: https://discgolf.ultiworld.com/2021/04/18/jonesboro-open-allen-all-class-in-big-win/
Catrina Allen at the 2020 Jonesboro Open. Photo: DGPT
Averaging over 1000-rated golf for three rounds, Catrina Allen won her first Jonesboro Open by eight strokes with a final score of 23-under par 175. It’s her third victory of 2021, and first Elite Series win of the year.
Despite a couple of holes over par and a few two-putts, Allen, who came into the round with a 12 stroke advantage, was 2-under par on the round as she made the turn to the back 9. Allen remained sharp to finish out the round, parking holes 13 and 15 for tap-in birdies and cruising to her W. Allen was precise off the tee, leading the division in fairway hits, parked percentage, and finding both Circle 1 and Circle 2 in regulation. Her 20.87 strokes gained from tee-to-green was more than three strokes better than the next closest competitor, second place finisher Paige Pierce.
Most importantly for Allen’s game moving forward was her putting prowess. She was fourth and first in C1X and C2 putting percentage, respectively, and led the division in strokes gained on the putting green. It was Allen’s best finish putting since last October’s Women’s National Championship.
Pierce posted the hot round 7-under par on Sunday, a 1009-rated effort, and it was enough to move her past Sarah Hokom for second place at 15-under par. It’s her best finish since winning the Las Vegas Challenge and only second podium in five events this season. Pierce was top four in the division in six of UDisc’s eight major statistical categories, but was 21st out of 30 players in OB rate.
Hokom gets her second Elite Series podium of 2021 with a third place showing. Macie Walker, fourth, and Erika Stinchcomb, tied for fifth with Kona Panis, each earned their best career Elite Series finishes.