Catrina Allen smiles after finishing a three-shot victory at Winthrop. Photo: Justin Anderson / PDGA Media

Cat the Closer

The scenario was a familiar one – Catrina Allen trying to hold off a World Champion, protecting a lead and playing safe golf, waiting for her charging opponent to be a little too aggressive and make a mistake.

But this was not a classic Cat-Paige battle. This time, the World Champion in question was Kristin Tattar, who – like the 5x World Champion has done in the past – has utterly dominated the Pro Tour this year.

Tattar started round 3 of the 2022 Throw Pink Women's Disc Golf Championship with a 13-stroke deficit. She cut that to 7 strokes to begin the final round.

The Estonian got another shot back right out of the gate, hitting a birdie putt from circle’s edge.

By hole 11 she had cut the lead to just three. But that’s as close as she would get – at least until hole 18, when it was already too late.

Tattar found the hazard off the tee on hole 12, and Allen capitalized by making birdie for a two-stroke swing.

The final pivotal moment came on hole 17, when Tattar landed safe on the island, putting pressure on Allen, whose forehand tee shot clipped the branches and came up short of the haybales.

But Allen would find the island on her first attempt from the dropzone, and proceeded to connect on a clutch circle’s edge putt to preserve a two-shot lead heading into the final hole.

When Tattar’s 2nd shot on 18 found the hazard, Allen’s victory was all but assured and she was able to enjoy a celebratory walk up the fairway to the applause of the gallery.

While technically only an A-Tier – the official U.S. women’s title is awarded each year at the United States Women’s Disc Golf Championship – Throw Pink has taken on significant prestige due in part to the large payout and high-profile coverage on DGN.

It was a significant victory, even for as decorated a player as Catrina Allen, who has been out of the winner’s circle since she won the DGPT Elite Series event at Idlewild in July.

“I’m just trying to take it all in. It feels amazing. It’s been a minute since I’ve had a big win, so it feels great.”