A tie at 673 feet sent the men’s title to a playoff, while just nine feet separated the three women’s finalists at the 2026 United States Disc Golf Distance Championship.
Held October 5 at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, South Carolina, the competition brought some of the sport’s biggest arms together during championship week.
David Wiggins Jr. set the pace in men’s qualifying with a 716-foot throw—the longest recorded mark of the day. Anthony Barela followed at 696 feet, ahead of Gannon Buhr at 688 and Thomas Gilbert at 687.
The final brought a fresh battle. Wiggins and Rasmus Saukkoriipi both reached 673 feet, forcing a three-throw playoff. Saukkoriipi prevailed with 652 feet to Wiggins’ 640 to claim the championship. Barela finished third with a 664-foot finals throw.
Eliezra Midtlyng led women’s qualifying at 486 feet, then secured the title with a 480-foot throw in the final. Henna Blomroos finished just three feet behind at 477, with Eva Lutsenko reaching 471.
Thirteen-year-old Eva Lutsenko delivered another standout performance, reaching 471 feet in the final—just nine feet short of the winning mark.
Big distances, close margins, and a playoff finish made for a memorable day at Winthrop.
