Disc Golf’s Rising Stars
The 2024 College Disc Golf National Championship showcased the top rising talent in our sport. From wire-to-wire wins to multi-hole playoffs, every division had exciting storylines well worth watching.
It was a weekend of firsts for College Disc Golf. This was the first time the event was hosted in Rock Hill, South Carolina, home of the United States Disc Golf Championship and the first time the athletes played at the famed Winthrop University. It is the first time the event was held across five separate courses and the first time over 750 athletes and 200 teams competed.
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Team Results
The Team format in college disc golf adds a community-building element to an otherwise individual sport. Last week, over 200 teams competed across all divisions.
In the Men’s D1 finals, UNC Charlotte got off to a brutal start. They burned through a four stroke lead to find themselves down two to the returning champs, Cincinnati. On hole 18, UNC’s Glenn Fister had one last chance to tie things up, a 50+ foot putt for Eagle. In the most memorable moment of the week, Fister drilled center chains to force the playoff. UNC ultimately took it down after three playoff holes.
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For the women, Liberty University led wire-to-wire. In the final round, Clemson pulled within two strokes of the lead, but Liberty never looked phased. They won by two strokes, contributing to an overall exceptional weekend for team Liberty U.
The Men’s D2 Team finals wrapped up at the Westminster east course. UNC Team A shot -14 with an ace in the final round to force the playoff against the University of Dayton. UNC cleaned up the win with a birdie on the first playoff hole.
The Men’s D3 Team event had one of the most dominant performances of the week. Liberty University took home the win by an 11 stroke margin.
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Singles Results
In the Men’s D1 Singles, Team Innova’s Benjamin Zorn played a smoking hot final nine, to jump all the way from third card into the number 1 spot! Benji shot -3 through nine holes of ripping wind to win his division by a single stroke. Watching Benji’s team cheer him on as he accepted his trophy was one of the most touching moments of the tournament.
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North Carolina’s Kelly White won the Women’s D1 singles title after a back-and-forth final nine against NC State’s Genesis Beck. Kelly shot a bogey free, -1, in those nine holes to earn the victory by a single stroke.
In the Men’s D2 final, Liberty University’s Greyson Lifto took home the win with four players finishing within 2 strokes of his final score.
In the Men’s D3 final, UNC Charlotte’s Will Hewit shot 76 points above his player rating to narrowly beat out Liberty University’s Graham Clawson.
The Next Generation of Pros
College disc golf is one of the biggest opportunities to grow the sport and one of the best avenues to help young, aspiring disc golfers reach new heights. Last week in Rock Hill, the world got a glimpse at athletes who will define the next generation of top professionals.
