Originally published at: https://discgolf.ultiworld.com/2021/03/27/texas-states-koling-and-white-navigate-dogwood-to-10-under-par-openers/
Jeremey Koling. Photo: PDGA
The PDGA National Tour is back in Texas, y’all, and the Texas State Championships in Tyler, TX is testing players on the infamous Dogwood Course. This heavily wooded and technical course has such challenging lines they stick a warning sign right at the entrance to tell you.
- Jeremy Koling shares the top spot after round 1 with Casey White. The 10-under par rounds clock-in at 1073-rated. The bread and butter of Koling’s round was on the greens where he shot 100% on the day. He went 4/4 in Circle 1X paired with 2/2 from C2. This precision accompanied by a 39% park percentage explains why he was at the top. These Texas woods are probably reminding him of his North Carolina upbringing.
- White’s round mirrored Koling’s in most aspects. White saw a hot start to his day from C2 where he cashed in three from downtown through the first five holes. His C1X putting was an impressive 100% which aided in his bogey-free round. He’s seventh or better in every major statistical category with the exception of C2 in regulation, where he is currently 13th. Saturday will be White’s first appearance on an NT lead card.
- It’s hard to go to a tournament without mentioning Paul McBeth. Although he sits 6-under par and tied for 10th, he delivered a highlight moment on the day. After flirting with OB on hole 2, McBeth was able to stay in bounds and bury a 66-foot birdie putt that ricocheted off the band. His putter stayed hot with a C1X percentage of 89% but he’s not been able to find the fairways consistently. Emerson Keith, Thomas Gilbert, Garrett Gurthie are also tied with McBeth.
- Ricky Wysocki joined Kevin Jones as the only players to birdie hole one. His bird came off of a 49-foot C2 putt to start off his 10-birdie round. Wysocki’s putter continued to land for him in shooting 100% from C1X. He finished the day tied for 6th at 7-under par with James Conrad, Matt Orum, and Calvin Heimburg.
- The “shot of the day” award has to go to Kevin Kiefer. The Valrico native caught the lone ace, out of the 140 players, on hole 2. His 6-under par ties him for 10th entering day two.
- Chris Dickerson and Joel Freeman are tied in third at 9-under par and will round out the lead card. Matt Bell is solo fifth at 8-under par, and added four C2 connections in round 1.
Statline
Matt Bell proved why he deserved the statline during day one with his C2 putting. On holes 4 and 14 he made 60-foot putts with 49-footers on holes six and 18. These four putts put him in first amongst the field in C2 putting and C2 strokes gained.
Highlights