Des Reading started strong on Thursday at the 2023 USWDGC. Photo: Justin Anderson / PDGA

Things are off to a fast and furious start at the 2023 United States Women’s Disc Golf Championships in Burlington, North Carolina.

And the race is on as fifteen of the 21 divisions are separated at the top by less than three strokes after the first of four rounds at the PDGA Major, which features a record-breaking 340 competitors.

Follow the Action on PDGA Live »

There’s a three-way tie in the 91-player field in FPO, which broke in a new course — the Regulator — at Cedarock Park on Thursday. Jennifer Allen jumped to a big lead on that same course.

In FP50, Des Reading dropped a 995-rated 12-under round on the Wellspring track in the three-course Alamance County Park, which plays host to the entire tournament. Reading leads by five strokes.

Shelby Birdy Cowen. Photo: Conrad Meyer / PDGA

All three Junior divisions are separated by less than three strokes with a tie in FJ12 between MJ Gager and Peyton Kohut. Shelby Birdy Cowen shot 95 points above her rating in FJ15 for a three-stroke lead. Hayden Harper has that same lead in FJ10.

Every division expect for FPO and FP40 will change courses on Friday.

Here’s a look around the 2023 USWDGC at some of the closest battles heading into Round 2:

• Amy Cooper has a two-stroke lead over Donna Barr in FP55.
• Donna Griest finished with three birdies in the final five holes to take a three-stroke lead over Michele Marini in FP65.
• In one of the tightest divisions, Alecia Trauscht is the Round 1 leader by one stroke over Brook Johnson. Five players are within three strokes of the lead in FA1. (Post-production coverage coming via Central Coast Disc Golf on the PDGA YouTube channel)
• The entire lead card in FA40 is separated by less than three strokes. Jaima Cartwright leads the way at 6-under over Brandi Buckalew (-5).
• Allie Lawler opened with a bogey but that was it in a 4-under opening round for a 2-stroke lead over Debbie Polkinghorne and Amanda Wing in FA50.
• Angie Jones finished strong with birdies on 17 and 18 for a two-stroke lead over Deona Werth in FA55.
• Janet Cranshaw had an eagle and was clean down the stretch on the scorecard for a two-stroke lead over Janice Jones in FA60.
• It was a back-and-forth battle all day in FA70 with Patricia Neprud-Mehls and Patti Adams tied at the top. Denise Gentry is one stroke back.
• Samantha Landers closed out Round 1 with an eagle for a one-stroke lead in the 33-player FA2 field. Linda Khang is one stroke back.
• Abigail MacDonald had two eagles and Corrina Coon limited the damage to just two bogies as the duo lead the FA3 field by one stroke over Anna Nelson, Jacquelyn Rieser and Sabrina Delk.
• Ciara Adams closed with two birdies and is the only player under par in FA4 with a three-stroke lead over Dominque Preudhomme Martin.