Photo of David Wiggins Jr. during the Long Drive competition courtesy of Dynamic Discs

Only in Emporia, Kansas would you show up at a middle school and see a permanent 18-hole course built around the property, and not be surprised at all to see it. This town thrives on disc golf, and Emporia Middle School was the perfect host for the 2016 Pro Worlds Field Events this afternoon.

Long Drive

*The Long Drive competition is not a true distance competition that is eligible for any World Records as it is not a WFDF sanctioned event.

There are some technical ins and outs, but the essentials for the Long Drive competition are as follows:

• Each competitor gets five attempts.
• The disc must land in a designated area to count as eligible, typically between 50-75 yards wide.
• Distance is recorded using a digital rangefinder.

In the earlier part of the morning and afternoon, the wind was swirling as they often do here in the Midwest. Ideal wind conditions for maximum distance (for right hand backhand throwers) typically means a tailwind that is coming over the left shoulder, a slight right-to-left pattern that helps keep the disc from turning over too far to the right.

The big arms that were taking the challenge seriously were waiting around, constantly checking weather apps and websites on their phones in hopes for that perfect wind. David Wiggins Jr. knows all about this as the World Record holder, and when he finally made his way over for his attempts, the wind was right where he wanted it.

By the time Wiggins was actually throwing, the wind had died down to a speed that essentially wasn’t making much a difference either way. Watching him throw is incredible, and somewhat frighteneing at the same time. He has perfected the 360 drive, but it is such a violent and powerful motion that it seems like he is going to snap his body in half on the release.

Luckily for us and for everyone else watching, he doesn’t, and it is beyond fun to watch. His longest throw was 621 feet. “I haven't practiced long drives once since I set the record," said Wiggins Jr. The five month break didn’t seem to matter much, as his next closest competitor was Avery Jenkins at 579 feet.

View full Long Drive results »

David Wiggins throws so hard it is just frightening. He now leads with 621 feet. Flat ground. Minimal wind. Unreal. pic.twitter.com/tFaXBmsEDg

— PDGA (@PDGA) August 7, 2016

David Wiggins Jr. crushed several drivers to over 600 feet. He has perfected the 360 run-up form.

Putting

This year's Putting competition was built to challenge the players. Obstacles and elevation were aplenty, meaning even the comeback putt could roll away or be stopped well short. The rules and scoring for the Putting competition are as follows:

• Nine baskets are set up, each with three putts of varying length and difficulty.
• The most difficult putt (and typically the longest) is worth three points when made on the first attempt. The second most difficult is worth two points, and the least difficult is worth one point
• Missing the putt allows for one attempt to hole out, referred to as a "comeback putt".
  • Making the comeback putt results in a score of 0.
  • Missing the comeback putt results in a score of -1. .

View full Putting competition results »

The Putting competition was packed with obstacles, making for some very difficult putts.

SkillShot™ Challenge presented by EDGE

The throws required in the EDGE SkillShot™ Challenge come from a standard repertoire that most disc golfers use. Stations are set up with varying distances and difficulty in which specific throwing techniques are required that include but are not limited to backhand, forehand, throwing from a knee, throwing around obstacles, throwing overhand, throwing rollers, etc. Just like in golf, the lowest score wins, and the scores are totaled using the following rules.

1. At each station, make the throw described on the sign.
2. Only one attempt per skill!
3. Use the supplied tape measure to measure the distance your disc lies from the center point of the basket.
   1. If your disc is less than 12 inches from the center point of the basket, mark a 0 in the Score column.
   2. If your disc is more than 12 inches from the center point of the basket, your score is equal to the amount of feet away the disc is, rounding down (e.g. 14 feet 8 inches earns a score of 14).
   3. If you are beyond 25 feet, enter 30 in the Score column. This is the maximum number you can earn per skill.
4. If you “ace” the throw, enter -5 in the Score column.
5. When you have finished all of the skills, add up your Score column and record the Total.
6. Sign your card, have it witnessed, and turn it in. The lower the score the better! 

View full SkillShot™ Challenge results »

Winners in the EDGE SkillShot™ competition often come down to inches.

Mini Golf

Mini Golf requires no special instructions. It follows the same rules as disc golf, except mini discs (or marker discs) are used in place of full size discs and mini baskets are subbed in for full size baskets. If you've ever played a mini course, you already know just how difficult it can be. Every aspect of the game is much more challenging.

View full Mini Golf results »

The 4000+ foot mini golf course designed by Dick Parker #20250 and Doug Bjerkaas #14902 was incredible. They even went as far as putting sleeves in the ground for the mini baskets!

Field Events Winners

Congratulations to all of the competitors listed below for their victories in the 2016 Pro Worlds Field Events!

View full Field Events results »