Dickerson Collects First Career Major at USDGC; Allen, Young Take WNC Podium Spots

Photo by Brittany Dickerson

Chris Dickerson has been on the doorstep of a big win all season long, so he went ahead and crossed the threshold at the biggest event of the year. Dickerson battled the elements and a hard-charging Calvin Heimburg to conquer the 2020 United States Disc Golf Championship for his first career Major win.

It took every bit of a lead Dickerson had worked hard to build over the first three rounds, as his 30-under par 238 total stood by just a stroke after the final day. It also took an immense amount of mettle with rain from Hurricane Delta pounding Winthrop Gold for most of the afternoon.

He had gotten off to a hot start in the previous rounds, and it looked to be more of the same on day 4 with the Tennessee pro birdieing two of the first three holes. It wouldn't be made that easy in the rain, but Dickerson found a way to bounce back time and time again.

A par-saving shot across the lake saved par on Hole 5 after his second shot tricked into the water. He then recovered from his worse hole of the tournament on 10 with a birdie on 11. 

Meanwhile, Heimburg -- a close friend of Dickerson's -- was a couple of holes ahead and on a tear. With an eagle on 10 and birdie on 11, he was 10-under through 11 holes and eventually took the lead with Dickerson's seven on hole 10.

Heimburg would find his own trouble on the treacherous 13th bogeying it and 14 back-to-back as Dickerson squared the score again with another birdie on 13 after hitting the basket for a near throw-in eagle.

Dickerson was able to execute the rest of the way to claim the rain-soaked Major title, his biggest win to date. 

Allen, Young Impress at Women's National Championship

Catrina Allen and Heather Young gave the women's layout at Winthrop all they had, too. Allen was able to take the second place spot, while Young landed her first Major podium in a tie for third.

Allen started her tournament just four strokes shy of the lead after one round, and never let herself get our of contention. Round 2 brought a tough result on Hole 5, but she responded with birdies on five of the next six holes and ended her round with a birdie on 17 and eagle on 18. 

Then in Round 3, she fought back from a double bogey on Hole 9 with an eagle and four more birdies in a row. Championship Saturday brought her last chance to make a pass at the lead, and a hot streak of an eagle and three birdies on Holes 10 through 13 gave her a shot, though she ultimately was left to settle for second in a gritty performance all week. 

In her effort, Allen topped the 1000-rated round mark twice and topped the field in Birdie Percentage, Fairway Hits and Circle 1 in Regulation. She also finished inside the top-3 in Circle 2 in Regulation and Circle 1x Putting. 

Young certainly didn't show she was competing at her first Major, nor that it was her first go 'round on the OB-laden Winthrop course. She navigated the ropes to tie for the lead in OB rate, and was on the lead card all week long. 

Young settled into third place as one of only three players to finish under par on day 1, and refused to give up that spot. For good measure, she shot the hot score on Day 3, unofficially posting a 1009-rated round.

She tied for third in Circle 1x Putting and was left with one last long look for birdie on Hole 18. She stood over the downhill lie, looking straight at water on an elevated basket and third place on the line. Young would make good on the attempt to secure her first career Major podium.

Dickerson and Allen will defend their Disc Golf Pro Tour Championship titles this weekend in Charlotte, N.C., while Young will look to make a run at another career first in a season full of them. Kevin Jones also locked down a top-25 spot at USDGC and will take his shot at the DGPT Championship, too.