Junior Disc Golf World Championships Heats Up in Emporia, Kansas
Date Published
The sun was shining brightly as the young disc golfers took to the courses in Emporia, Kansas for the start of the 2025 PDGA Junior Disc Golf World Championships. With temperatures reaching a scorching 95F, the energy on the course was electric.
In the MJ18 division, the opening round set a high bar for the rest of the field. Zeb Kaylor, one of the top-rated players in the division, shot a respectable -5 round, but it wasn't enough to catch Owen Masse, who soared to a -7 score. Caleb Tucker and Gabriel Von Aschen tied for second place with scores of 6-under, while Drake Sauls took home the lower PDGA number contest.
The excitement continued on the course as Owen Smith made history by throwing in the first ace of the tournament on hole 11 at Champions Landing. The crowd was on their feet as he celebrated his impressive feat.
In the FJ18 division, Virginia Polkinghorne dominated the competition with a stunning 9-under score at Peter Pan. She took an early lead by four strokes, leaving Shelby Cowen in second place with a -5 score. Ann Deputy and Chloe Caviness rounded out the lead card for round two, both shooting respectable scores.
In the MJ15 division, Finn Etter from Vermont stole the show with an impressive -9 score at Jones East. Nikolai Wotan Heel of Austria shot a 7-under, while Colton Lawless and Josiah Barlow tied for third place with scores of 6-under.
The FJ15 division saw Alison Tweedie from New Zealand take the lead with a bogey-free 10-under score at Peter Pan. Hailey Huber followed closely behind in second place with an 8-under score, while Irene Cisneros and Eden Fletcher shared third place with scores of 6-under.
In the MJ12 division, Jaxton Taylor and Elijah Kresge tied for the lead with impressive 8-under scores at Peter Pan. Nathan Brewer sat solo in third place just one stroke back, while Isaac Crawford and Arlington Kaiser tied for fourth.
Eva Lutsenko from Kazakhstan continued her dominance in the FJ12 division, shooting a 5-under score at Jones West. She is looking to defend her world title, having won the FJ12 division in 2024 in Tulsa. Hayden Harper shot a 4-under, while Genevieve Davis rounded out the lead card with a -1 score.
In the MJ10 division, Hudson Kasper from Kansas took an early lead with a 5-under score at Jones West. Preston Hunt and Arian Jenkins tied for third place, both shooting respectable scores.
The FJ10 division saw Sarah Wadsworth from New Zealand take the lead with a bogey-free 3-under score at Jones West. She holds the record as the highest rated FJ10 of all time at 876. Hailey Fitzgerald shot a 3-over score, while Keely Bain sat five throws back from Hailey.
In the MJ08 division, James Read took an early lead with a 2-under score at Jones West. Marky LaValley and James Alldritt tied for third place, both shooting respectable scores.
The FJ08 division was led by Nora De Jong of Florida, who dominated the competition. Ellie Lohmeyer from Oklahoma shot a 5-over score, while Evelyn Tabor and Harper Sieniarecki rounded out the division with respectable scores.
As the tournament continues, fans can follow along on PDGA Live for updates on the latest scores and highlights.
This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/news/junior-worlds-starts-hot