Mäkelä shares sixth place after the opening day.
The 2024 professional frisbee golf season is drawing to a close, as the last major competition of the year, the US Open, started Finnish time the night before Friday in South Carolina, USA.
Väinö Mäkelä played the last ten fairways seven under par, which resulted in a round score of 58 shots (-6). With his result, the best Finn on the opening day shares sixth place.
– It was sticky at first. I felt like I couldn’t quite get the throw to go in the right direction. Fortunately, I was saved by an excellent backhand, Mäkelä summed up for STT.
If there were challenges in the openings, the putt worked for them too: Mäkelä knocked the puck into the basket with perfect accuracy from less than ten meters.
The competition is led by the United States Anthony Barela (-9) one shot behind his compatriot, the two-time defending world champion to Isaac Robinson.
The Americans dominate the top end of Thursday’s results list, with only Mäkelä and the 17-year-old Eetu Tuominen (-3) are among the 30 from abroad.
“Majestic feeling”
The US Open Championship tournament, more commonly known as the USDGC (United States Disc Golf Championship), has risen to a special position in frisbee golf.
The Winthrop University area has remained the milieu since the first year (1999). Golf’s Masters value tournament has also been copied in that the right to participate must be earned during the season and that old champions can participate directly.
A total of 11 Finns are aiming for the coveted title this year.
– When you play here, you have a majestic feeling. The USDGC is easily one of the most prestigious competitions, and I’m already looking forward to the rest of the week, Mäkelä described.
Finland Niklas Anttila became an international superstar specifically in South Carolina, when he finished second in a tight race two years ago.
Anttila has since accumulated three more major second places, but participating in the top fight this time requires him to complete three almost perfect rounds, as Thursday’s result fell short.
During the USDGC vacation, the ladies throw a lucrative invitational competition. World Champion Eveliina Salonen holds first place by two throws.