Shiru Liu and Paul Krans lead their fields at 2022 PDGA Am Worlds. Photo: PDGA Media /  Conrad Meyer & Danny Voss

FA1: A New Leader Emerges

Shiru Liu knows flying disc.

The former University of Texas Ultimate star has a reputation for sending a disc exactly where she wants it and leaving her competitors in awe. Round three at the 2022 PDGA Amateur World Championships was no different as Liu scorched the course with a 951-rated five-under at the Princeton Country Club disc golf course.

Shiru Lue - PDGA#158461 executes a jump put during round two. Photo: PDGA Media / Conrad Meyer

Coming into round three, Liu was facing a six-throw deficit to the Lynds twins, Morgan and Jordan. But thanks in part to a quick start with birdies on the first three holes, Liu quickly made her presence known and didn’t let off the gas. She now stands alone atop the FA1 field at eight under par for the tournament.

The Lynds sisters are close behind, only one throw back from Liu after a difficult round on the Princeton Country Club grounds. The twins traded birdies and bogies as they made their way through the course, both finishing a two-over for the round.

Sisters Morgan and Jordan Lynds currently share second place. Photo: PDGA Media / Conrad Meyer & Matt Rothstein 

The trio above will be joined on the lead card by María Eldey Kristínardóttir from Reykjavík, Iceland. Kristínardóttir vaulted herself from chase card to lead card with a one-under effort during round three. 

Iceland's María Eldey Kristínardóttir winding up for a big drive. Photo: PDGA Media / Conrad Meyer

Hot round honors belonged to Chantel Kolander from Fort Apache, AZ, USA with her six-under 960-rated third round, eclipsing her player rating by nearly 100 points. The hot round effort lifts Kolander from tied for fifteenth to solo seventh place.

The FA1 field will be cut to the top 25% – and ties – after Friday’s round at Haubstadt.

Follow the round four live scores here >>

MA1: Krans’ Consistency Leads the Way

Patient. Methodical. Calculating.

Loose. Relaxed. Comfortable.

The first series of words describes MA1 leader Paul Krans.

The second series of words describes MA1 leader Paul Krans.

Paul Krans sends a drive at Prides Creek Park during round three. Photo: PDGA Media / Conrad Meyer

Through 54 holes across three courses – most recently Prides Creek Park – Krans has separated himself from the field by eight throws by taking advantage of an array of short par-4s and technical par-3s. He has also carded just one bogey thus far in the championship and sits at 30-under-par.

Tomorrow the “A” pool returns to Mesker Park, where holes through thick woods are short, with sharp doglegs and steep grades. Making up ground on Krans will be a tall order.

Mathew Helms sits in second place through three rounds. Photo: PDGA Media / Conrad Meyer

Mathew Helms leads the rest of the pack. 

Helms began round three in second place, just two strokes off the lead. He finished round three in second place, but lost half-a-dozen strokes to Krans. Helms will likely need to improve on his 9-under par round carded at Mesker Park on day two. He says the woods are similar to courses in his home state of Maryland and play to his strengths.

U.S. Amateur Champion Ilkin Groh has quietly played his way back onto the lead card after a disappointing opening round. 

Ilkin Groh surgest to lead card for round four. Photo: PDGA Media / Conrad Meyer

Strong second and third rounds position Groh at 21-under-par for the tournament and nine throws behind the leader. Groh’s distance advantage will be negated somewhat by the layout at Mesker Park, but Groh’s putting – especially from distance – may be an equalizer.

Austen Bates will keep his lead-card status for another day.

On multiple occasions in round three, Bates “drew metal” from distance, and came up on the bad side of a few 50/50 putts. His 9-under-par round could have been several strokes lower and that knowledge should give Bates confidence heading into the fourth round.

The MA1 field will be cut to the top 20% – and ties – after Friday’s round at Mesker Park.

Follow the round four live scores here >>

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Grant Zellner contributed to this article.