2026 Discmania Challenge | FPO R2F9 | Mertsch, Hansen, Mandujano, Laine | Jomez Disc Golf
Round two of the 2026 Discmania Challenge presented by True Bank unfolds at the scenic Pickard Park in Indianola, Iowa. Hosts Madison Walker and Eureka Finch Comb guide viewers through the action on this challenging layout, noting the local hot air balloon activity while focusing on the intense competition among top-tier professional players. The leaderboard features Cat Mertsch, who previously shredded the course with a bogey-free front nine, and Ella Hansen, who maintains a six-under par lead with exceptional fairway accuracy. They are joined on the lead card by Valerie Mandujano and Hailey Laine, both chasing from four-under par. The broadcast highlights the strategic complexity of the course, particularly hole one, a demanding 760-foot par five. The commentary analyzes the tight out-of-bounds markers and low ceiling, explaining why players typically choose a layup strategy rather than attempting a heroic drive to the narrow green. Viewers can watch Mertsch, a sponsored athlete for Innova, and Hansen, representing Discmania, as they navigate the hazards and execute their game plans. This episode captures the high-level precision and mental toughness required in professional disc golf, offering fans an immersive look at the players’ techniques, shot selection, and reactions in real time at one of the sport’s premier events.
Watch the ultimate showdown between top pros! Mertsch, Hansen, Mandujano & Laine battle it out in the Discmania Challenge.
Watch on YouTubeVideo Transcript
[music] [music] >> Hello and welcome to round two of the 2026 Dismania Challenge presented by True Bank. We are at Pickard Park in Indianola, Iowa, home of many hot air balloons today. I'm Madison Walker. >> I'm Eureka Finch Comb. We're the two hot geese. >> It was sweet. They were just out there all morning. >> Uh they're racing. They're like dropping low and doing little tasks. Like they're dropping stuff on little targets. And anyway, it's disc golf time. Uh Cat Merch shredding yesterday, bogey-free nine down. Ella Hansen uh six down with only a single bogey. Valerie Mandujano and Hailey Lanee join the lead card [music] with a four down chase card right behind. This will be fun. >> Mhm. >> Hole one is a scorable par five, 760 ft. Got to make this double mandatory. The right side is the one you're really thinking about. Uh the ceiling is low enough and the OB is tight enough where it's doesn't feel safe to totally open up. Then you lay up generally on your second shot. I don't think we've ever seen anyone go for it. Um it's feasible, I suppose, if someone goes huge off the tee. Uh then you got to cross over the hazard and get onto the green, which is the narrowest part of the OB. >> from Rose Bud Arkansas, sponsored by Innova and Idia Idio Shoes. Give it up for CAT MERCH. >> [cheering] [applause] >> I GOT TO WATCH CAT MERCH IN PERSON YESTERDAY on her card, so now I'll just gaze from afar. >> Really? I had a dream last night that she was going to show up today wearing a sweet bandana. >> Mhm. >> I'm sad that's not true. >> Me, too. Devastated. Oh, man, first throw OB. It's okay. >> And next to the tee, from Seattle, Washington, sponsored by Discmania, give it up for Ella Hansen. >> [cheering] >> We got to watch Ella on feature card yesterday. She was really heating up on the front nine, had one spit out that I feel like took some of her momentum away, but she did finish strong. 90% fairway hits, just throwing the disc perfect, and this is making Oh, there's a little bubble right there. >> Yeah. >> I was going to say this is >> Good miss. >> This is making [laughter] up...
