Treacherous greens are a signature component at PCS Sula Open. Photo: PDGA Media 

A day of firsts

The ET#8 - PCS Sula Open 2022 - Presented by Innova kicked off on Wednesday in Langevåg, Norway.

The eighth PDGA Euro Tour stop is also the first Disc Golf Pro Tour event held outside of the US. It is also the first live Disc Golf Network broadcast outside of the US. The partnership between the PDGA and DGPT continues to enable both organizations to drive the sport’s highest level of competition further.

Wet conditions challenged competitors in Norway. Photo: DGPT

Uniquely Norwegian

The ET#8 - PCS Sula Open 2022 - Presented by Innova gives players and spectators a taste of what the Scandinavian nations have to offer, from scenic views to challenging courses and unique opportunities to take in the culture. On the opening day of the event, the players meeting took place on a boat cruising the Norwegian fjords. Distinct features quickly became the theme for the event in the opening days.

MPO competition - Day 1

Denmark's Hjalte Jensen was 6-under through five holes and picked up eight birdies on the front nine. For some perspective, par on the Langevåg Frisbeegolfarena course was rated 1024 in the first round. The hot start would end up paying off for Jensen as he finished as co-leader after day one.

Finland's Väinö Mäkelä shot a 1037-rated opening round. Photo: DGPT

17-year-old Latvian, Rainers Balodis, who is relatively unknown even to European audiences, finished tied for eighth after the first round, despite a lackluster back nine. Balodis won the MPO division at Euro Tour #5 - 9Hill Open in Latvia; disc golf fans should take notice of the up-and-coming MPO player.

James Conrad arrived in Norway after finishing ninth at the LWS Open at Idlewild just a couple days prior. Conrad played the course blind for his opening round. However, the 2021 PDGA Professional World Champion persevered and finished the first round with a share of the lead.

Photo: DGPT / Facebook

See live and hole-by-hole scores here >>

FPO competition - Day 1

Anniken Steen lunges her put forward during round one. Photo: DGPT

The FPO field features a solid European lineup. Winner of the ET#3 - Kokkedal Open powered by Prodigy Disc earlier this year, Anniken Steen, is leading by five throws over Ingvild Hellem from Norway after day one. The two will push each other again on the Langevåg Frisbeegolfarena course again in round two.

Norway's Ingvild Hellem sends a drive during round one. Photo: DGPT

The highest rated player in the FPO field, Rachel Turton from St Andrews / Fife, United Kingdom, will look to improve on her opening round effort and catch up to Steen and Hellem.

UK's Rachel Turton is the highest-rated FPO player and looks to move up after round one. Photo: DGPT

MPO competition - Day 1

Spectators look on as players make their way through Langevåg Frisbeegolfarena. Photo: DGPT

Movement at the top in MPO

After day one, the MPO leader card featured:

• T1 - James Conrad (-6)
• T1 - Hjalte Jensen (-6)
• 3 - Thomas Gilbert (-4)
• T4 - Gregg Barsby (-3)

After day two, the MPO leader card will feature:

• 1 - Eric Oakley (-8)
• T2 - Jakub Semerád (-7)
• T2 - Chandler Kramer (-7)
• T2 - Kristian Kuoksa (-7)

The complete swap of lead card players at high-level event is rare, but the challenging Langevåg Frisbeegolfarena created some shake ups at the top of the field.

Risky putts against the edge of the water are common around Langevåg Frisbeegolfarena. Photo: DGPT

American’s make a charge

The most notable change at the top of the MPO field comes from Eric Oakley. The American from Pensacola, FL made big moves in the second round, following up his opening round even par with a 1074-rated 8-under in the second round. The performance vaults Oakley from tied for fourteenth to solo lead going into round three.

Kevin Jones sits at ninth place after two rounds. Photo: DGPT

Chandler Kramer, who joined Oakley on the fourth card for round two, also jumped up the leaderboard; thirteen spots from tied at fourteenth to tied for second by virtue of his 1068-rated 7-under second round.

Thomas Gilbert, Calvin Heimburg, Gregg Barsby, James Conrad, and Kevin Jones are the other North American players making it to the top-ten going into round three.

The MPO and FPO fields move to Øverås Diskgolfpark for Friday’s round three.

See live and hole-by-hole scores here >>

FPO takes to the course for round two. Photo: DGPT

FPO competition - Day 2

Consistency at the top in FPO

Anniken Steen extended her lead in Norway, shooting back-to-back hot rounds on Wednesday and Thursday. Hole 12 was the highlight of round two for the event’s leader. In round one, an errant tee shot hyzered into the water, never crossing in bounds. During round two, Steen studied the strong wind and made the adjustment. “I just thought to myself ‘Trust your disc. Throw it hard and let the disc do the work,'” Steen said to the PDGA’s Euro Tour Director, Matěj Verl. The troublesome tee shot landed in the putting circle, giving Steen and opportunity for birdie.

Steen continued, saying “This is a great place. The crew here is super nice and the course is the best in Norway, beautiful and challenging. The hardest part of the game here is the mental side as you throw a lot of shots over water.”

Disc Golf Network cameras capture Anniken Steen's dominance through two rounds. Photo: DGPT

While the chase for first is Steen’s to lose, the remaining podium spots are still hotly contested. Rachel Turton, Ingvild Hellem, and Katarina Staalesen will vie for the remaining podium spots. 

Turton and Hellem flip-flopped positions, with Turton shooting a 931-rated 5-over against Hellem’s 887-rated 11-over. 

Katarina Staalesen sends a drive at PCS Sula Open. Photo: DGPT

See live and hole-by-hole scores here >>