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History Coming at Winthrop

History Coming at Winthrop

2022 USDGC — Round 3 Recap

Sunday, October 9, 2022 - 10:25

Paul McBeth is looking for his fourth USDGC title and 18th PDGA Major. Photo: Justin Anderson / PDGA Media

At a tournament full of history, no matter how Championship Sunday concludes at the 24th running of the United States Disc Golf Championship, there will be a new chapter added.

Four players, all with their own potential to make history, enter the final round at the Winthrop Arena looking to leave their mark and cement, or further solidify, their legacy.

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Niklas Anttila can become the first European player to win the USDGC. Photo: Justin Anderson / PDGA Media

The leader, 20-year-old Finnish superstar Niklas Anttila, has been nothing short of solid this week and enters the final round with a one-stroke lead as he looks to become the first European player to win in Rock Hill, South Carolina.

“I know that, and I don’t want to think about it too much,” Anttila told Terry Miller just a few moments after wrapping up an 8-under round on Saturday. “I just want to come out here, play disc golf, and have fun.”

If the pressure is too much for Anttila, he hasn’t shown it this week in his USDGC debut. He’s 23-under for the tournament and has checked all of the necessary boxes to excel at Winthrop — strong off the tee, minimal OBs and clutch putting. He’s the lone holdover from Saturday’s lead card.

“I think I’m different because I like it,” Anttila said of the pressure. “It’s an amazing feeling and makes me better and more focused. It makes me play better disc golf.

“There are some big names behind me, and I know whoever wins is going to play a great round and it’s not going to come easy. I need to be ready and play my best round ever.”

Behind him certainly are some big names.

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Calvin Heimburg is in the hunt for his first Major title. Photo: Justin Anderson / PDGA Media

Calvin Heimburg was one off the hot round on Saturday with an 11-under round to jump him four spots into solo second place at 21-under par, one stroke back. A win on Sunday would give Heimburg his first PDGA Major title.

“In contention within a handful of stokes, that was the plan,” Heimburg said. “I played a good round today; a lot of people did. This is definitely the closest I’ve been going into the final round and first time on the lead card here.

“It would be amazing. I haven’t taken down a Major title yet so that’s obviously the goal. It would be amazing. Let’s see if we can do it.”

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McBeth is two strokes off of the lead entering Sunday. Photo: Kevin Huver / DGN

Paul McBeth is looking for a fun day, and to further etch his name into the record books.

The reigning champions looks to become the first player to defend his title at the USDGC and a win would tie him with Ken Climo for the most PDGA Major titles in history at 18.

“It goes beyond just winning the tournament,” McBeth said. “I’m one behind that Major record so to tie that up here at USDGC would be super cool.

“It’s got a lot riding on it and I’m just excited for (Sunday). It should be fun.”

McBeth clawed his way from the chase card with a 9-under round and enters his 14th Championship Sunday at Winthrop looking for his fourth win.

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Gannon Buhr can become the youngest USDGC winner in history. Photo: Justin Anderson / PDGA Media

Gannon Buhr remembers watching Will Schusterick, who would later become his mentor in the game, take down the 2014 USDGC in a playoff. A year later, Buhr begged his mother to make the drive from Iowa to South Carolina to watch the Major in person.

Now, Buhr, just two strokes back, has the opportunity to pass Schusterick as the youngest winner in USDGC history.

“To be here in this position is amazing,” Buhr said.

Buhr went 8-under through seven holes after an early double bogey to finish 9-under and joined McBeth and Heimburg to make the leap from the chase card into contention.

Once again, it all comes down to Championship Sunday at the Winthrop Arena and history will be waiting on the 18th.

Live coverage of the USDGC begins at 2:30 p.m. ET on DiscGolfNetwork.com.