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Disc Golf Collegiate Nationals
Flames sophomore Kal Essenmacher shot a hole-in-one on No. 15 in Sunday's Round 4 to help his D3 Blue team move into ninth place. (Photo by Ethan Smith)
D3 men’s disc golf team ‘three-peats’ as CDG national champions
4/12/2026 12:51:00 AM | Disc Golf
The Lady Flames’ No. 1 Division 1 women’s duo came up one shot short of claiming its third consecutive crown.
Liberty University's top Division 3 men's disc golf team defended its College Disc Golf National Championship title with a completely different lineup from last season while the Lady Flames' top Division 1 women's tandem of graduates Cami Burdick and Grace Wilson narrowly missed repeating as champions after Saturday's final rounds in Rock Hill, S.C.
Freshmen Eston Garcia and Thomas Job and sophomores Jay Norton and Collin Spiegel finished with a 12-under-par 35 on Round 4 for a 35-under total of 201 to separate themselves from runner-up Georgia (32-under 204) as well as host Winthrop University, the University of California-Davis, and North Carolina State's C and D teams that wound up in a four-way tie for third place (31-under 205).
It was the Flames' third consecutive D3 national crown and fourth in the past five seasons.
"It was the biggest field they've had for D3 in a long time, with a lot of good talent across the board," Liberty Head Coach Steve Bowman said. "Both of our teams in there played really steady, and did what it takes to win it, all the way away around."
Liberty's D3 Blue lineup of sophomores Benjamin Mathews and Kal Essenmacher, senior Mitchell Lange, and freshman Caleb Muleta surged into a tie for ninth place out of 67 teams at 27-under 209, highlighted by a hole-in-one by Essenmacher on No. 15.
"There are not too many of those that happen in a round like that," Bowman said. "That team made a big push at the end to make that happen."
In the women's D1 bracket, Burdick and Wilson led Milligan (Tenn.) University's tandem of Grace Sanderson and Ari Timm by four shots going into the fourth and final round before losing the final three with a double bogey on No. 16 while Sanderson and Timm fired a birdie to forge a tie.
The Buffaloes pulled in front with a birdie on No. 17 as the Lady Flames salvaged par.
"We thought we could outdrive them, but they made a great upshot to get a birdie to get the lead and we parred it, and gave up five strokes over two holes," Bowman said.
Both tandems birdied No. 18, Milligan in dramatic fashion.
"Our ladies were about to go to a playoff, but their girl made a 55-putt on the final hole to win it," Bowman said. "They were nipping at our heels all weekend, and they scrambled a little more on that hole and did what they had to do to win. It was a heartbreaker, but our girls played well in trying to defend their title."
Both players earned All-American status with their singles play, with Burdick finishing in second place overall.
The Flames' Division 2 Red team of graduate John Weathersby, freshmen Casey Stoope and John Wakimura, and junior William Hathaway finished in a three-way tie with Ohio State and Ferris State (Mich.) University for third out of 48 teams at 11-under 229. Liberty fell just four shots back of team champion Emporia State (Kansas) University (15-under 225) and three behind NC State's B squad (14-under 226).
"It was a good weekend of competition, with a lot of good rivalries," Bowman said. "Those programs that often prevail stayed at the top with new programs trying to bust into the front. There were more schools, which was good, but not as many players overall."
Liberty's DI men's squad of graduate Jonah Burdick, senior Kyle Sennett, sophomore Addison Sells, and freshman Tyler Peterson slipped into a tie for 12th out of 48 teams at 16-under 224.
"It was a tough day for the D1 guys, who had an off day through the woods, and a slow start, and didn't have enough to catch the pace," Bowman said. "Coming off two strong regional championships, things didn't go their way, unfortunately. But even in defeat, they were joyful in the moment, cheering on the other teams. That's a testament to who we are and how we lead. Disc golf doesn't define us. It's a platform for us to glorify God in."
Complete results are available online.
By Ted Allen/Staff Writer
Freshmen Eston Garcia and Thomas Job and sophomores Jay Norton and Collin Spiegel finished with a 12-under-par 35 on Round 4 for a 35-under total of 201 to separate themselves from runner-up Georgia (32-under 204) as well as host Winthrop University, the University of California-Davis, and North Carolina State's C and D teams that wound up in a four-way tie for third place (31-under 205).
It was the Flames' third consecutive D3 national crown and fourth in the past five seasons.
"It was the biggest field they've had for D3 in a long time, with a lot of good talent across the board," Liberty Head Coach Steve Bowman said. "Both of our teams in there played really steady, and did what it takes to win it, all the way away around."
Liberty's D3 Blue lineup of sophomores Benjamin Mathews and Kal Essenmacher, senior Mitchell Lange, and freshman Caleb Muleta surged into a tie for ninth place out of 67 teams at 27-under 209, highlighted by a hole-in-one by Essenmacher on No. 15.
"There are not too many of those that happen in a round like that," Bowman said. "That team made a big push at the end to make that happen."
In the women's D1 bracket, Burdick and Wilson led Milligan (Tenn.) University's tandem of Grace Sanderson and Ari Timm by four shots going into the fourth and final round before losing the final three with a double bogey on No. 16 while Sanderson and Timm fired a birdie to forge a tie.
The Buffaloes pulled in front with a birdie on No. 17 as the Lady Flames salvaged par.
"We thought we could outdrive them, but they made a great upshot to get a birdie to get the lead and we parred it, and gave up five strokes over two holes," Bowman said.
Both tandems birdied No. 18, Milligan in dramatic fashion.
"Our ladies were about to go to a playoff, but their girl made a 55-putt on the final hole to win it," Bowman said. "They were nipping at our heels all weekend, and they scrambled a little more on that hole and did what they had to do to win. It was a heartbreaker, but our girls played well in trying to defend their title."
Both players earned All-American status with their singles play, with Burdick finishing in second place overall.
The Flames' Division 2 Red team of graduate John Weathersby, freshmen Casey Stoope and John Wakimura, and junior William Hathaway finished in a three-way tie with Ohio State and Ferris State (Mich.) University for third out of 48 teams at 11-under 229. Liberty fell just four shots back of team champion Emporia State (Kansas) University (15-under 225) and three behind NC State's B squad (14-under 226).
"It was a good weekend of competition, with a lot of good rivalries," Bowman said. "Those programs that often prevail stayed at the top with new programs trying to bust into the front. There were more schools, which was good, but not as many players overall."
Liberty's DI men's squad of graduate Jonah Burdick, senior Kyle Sennett, sophomore Addison Sells, and freshman Tyler Peterson slipped into a tie for 12th out of 48 teams at 16-under 224.
"It was a tough day for the D1 guys, who had an off day through the woods, and a slow start, and didn't have enough to catch the pace," Bowman said. "Coming off two strong regional championships, things didn't go their way, unfortunately. But even in defeat, they were joyful in the moment, cheering on the other teams. That's a testament to who we are and how we lead. Disc golf doesn't define us. It's a platform for us to glorify God in."
Complete results are available online.
By Ted Allen/Staff Writer
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