Blaine Kinkel is in the drivers seat at the 2009 US Amateur Disc Golf Championship

Round two of the 2009 United States Amateur Disc Golf Championship teed off today under slightly overcast skies at Kensington Metro Park in Milford, Michigan. The unique tournament format had the competitors tee times determined by their player rating for the first two rounds with the higher rated players teeing off in the afternoon today after teeing in the morning yesterday. Following today’s round, players will be grouped by score with the leaders teeing off last in the final round on Sunday.

Blaine Kinkel of Charleston, South Carolina entered the round with a slim one throw lead and he continued his stellar play by posting a tournament low 55 (-7) to extend his lead by three throws over Taylor Cimala of Chicago, IL, who also shot 55 (-7) to take over second place. James Mosier of South Lyon, MI matched Kinkel and Cimala with his own 55 (-7) to move into third. The top three players rounds today were rated at 1019. Tony Mitchell of nearby Ann Arbor, MI carded the second lowest score of the day with a 58 (-4) to put him in a three way tie for fourth place. His round was rated at 993, which is 76 points above his player rating of 917 and good enough to put him on the lead card for the finals due to his second round being the lowest of the three players.

Unless something totally unexpected happens, it looks like the finals will be a two man race between Blaine Kinkel (-12) and Taylor Cimala (-9), who have distanced themselves from the rest of the field and both proven that they are capable of posting very low numbers. Kinkel credits the Charleston, SC disc golf club with running a tournament to help his raise the money needed to attend the event. Only 27 of the 141 players left in the field have a score of par or better after the first two rounds. The Toboggan course has certainly lived up to its great reputation and is proving to be the perfect venue to determine the amateur national champion.

Blaine Kinkel has the low round in the first two rounds of the USADGC

Tournament Director Philip Shelton and his hard working staff, along with presenting sponsor Discraft, are running a top notch event worthy of its national championship status. The competitors have been treated to breakfast and lunch at the course each day in addition to fresh fruit and cold beverages provided by the event. The players package alone is valued near $200 which is huge considering the very affordable $75 entry fee for the event.

Tee times for Sunday’s final round will begin an hour earlier at 7:00am with the leaders expected to tee off at approximately 1:00pm. The weather forecast calls for slightly overcast skies with temperatures in the mid 70’s and a slight 20% chance of rain.

Log onto PDGA.com for live scoring of the final round on Sunday to find out who will be crowned the new amateur national disc golf champion and win the coveted crystal trophy.

Links:

PDGA Scoreboard - http://www.pdga.com/tournament-results?TournID=8399

USADGC Photo Galleries

USADGC Website - http://amnationals.com/