Champions Landing in Emporia for Junior Worlds | Professional Disc Golf Association
Date Published
The 2025 PDGA Junior Disc Golf World Championships kicked off on Monday with a flex start, setting the stage for an exciting week of competition. Over 400 players across 10 divisions are participating in the event, representing 13 countries from around the world. This year's field boasts impressive numbers, with record-high participation in the MJ18 and FJ18 divisions, which saw 144 competitors each.
Among the talented field is a group of previous world champions who will be defending their titles. Kayla Hess, the reigning champion in the FJ18 division, will face stiff competition as she seeks to retain her title. Sarah Wadsworth, another top contender, will defend her FJ10 title and aim to continue her streak of wins. Eva Lutsenko also returns to defend her FJ12 crown.
Cody Buker and Keely Bain have moved up a division after their victories in MJ08 and FJ18 last year, respectively. Other notable competitors include Judah Koolstra, who won the MJ18 division in 2023 but finished fifth in 2024, and will look to reclaim his title this year.
The field is filled with talented young players, including Virginia Polkinghorne, who holds the record for most junior world wins (five) alongside Nicholas Duran and David Wiggins Jr. Kaidin Bell has also secured three previous wins at Junior Worlds and will be a strong contender in the competition.
Sarah Wadsworth of New Zealand is not only the current highest-rated FJ10 player but also holds the distinction of being the highest-rated FJ10 player of all time, with an impressive rating of 876. She joins an elite group of champions who have played in two or more Junior World events with a perfect win rate.
Other top-ranked competitors include Ellie Lohmeyer (FJ08), Eva Lutsenko (FJ12), Cole Kresge (MJ12), John Ryan III (MJ15), Preston Hunt (MJ08), and James Read (MJ08). With such a strong field, the 2025 PDGA Junior Disc Golf World Championships are shaping up to be an event for the record books. Stay tuned for post-produced coverage of MJ18 and FJ18 from Gatekeeper Media and Ace Run Pro.
ORIGINAL ARTICLE remains the same.
This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/news/champions-landing-emporia-junior-worlds