Winthrop University Hosts College Disc Golf National Championship for Third Consecutive Year

ROCK HILL, S.C. — Winthrop University served as the host site for the 2026 College Disc Golf National Championship for the third time, welcoming more than 300 schools and 700 athletes to Rock Hill for the four-day PDGA-sanctioned XMajor event held April 8 through 11.

The Winthrop Eagles represented their home course well, finishing third in the MC3 division with a combined score of 31 under par. Kyle Krieckhaus, Jack Weaverling, Alexander Tamai, and Taylor Plummer-Fox closed out the final round with a blistering 15 under par on Winthrop Meadows, tying for third place alongside UC Davis and two NC State squads. Liberty University Light Blue claimed the MC3 title at 35 under, followed by UGA B at 32 under.

Across all divisions, the championship featured standout performances from programs across the country. In the top men’s division, MC1, Milligan A captured the national title at 27 under par, edging Emporia State by a single stroke. NC State A finished third. In the women’s FC1 division, Milligan Lady Buffs also claimed the crown at 27 under, with Liberty University Flames runner-up at 26 under. In MC2, Emporia State took the title at 15 under, narrowly ahead of NC State B.

MC1 (Men’s Division 1)

1. Milligan A, 27 under
2. Emporia State, 26 under
3. NC State A, 25 under
4. University of Minnesota Duluth, 23 under
5. Mississippi State A, 21 under
6. University of Cincinnati A, 20 under
7. Auburn University, 18 under
8. Redeemer University, 17 under (tie)
9. UNCC A, 17 under (tie)
10. Texas A&M A, 17 under (tie)
11. UNC A, 17 under (tie)

FC1 (Women’s Division 1)

1. Milligan Lady Buffs, 27 under
2. Liberty University Flames, 26 under
3. Western Michigan University, 12 under (tie)
4. Emporia State Black, 12 under (tie)
5. Emporia State Gold, 8 under
6. Eastern Mennonite University A, 1 over
7. Louisiana State University, 4 over (tie)
8. Trinity Western University, 4 over (tie)
9. Redeemer University A, 7 over
10. Hesston College, 8 over

MC2 (Men’s Division 2)

1. Emporia State, 15 under
2. NC State B, 14 under
3. Liberty University White, 11 under (tie)
4. Ferris State University B, 11 under (tie)
5. The Ohio State University, 11 under (tie)
6. Trinity Western Black, 8 under
7. University of Cincinnati B, 7 under (tie)
8. University of Tennessee, 7 under (tie)
9. Mississippi State B, 6 under (tie)
10. Mo Science and Technology A, 6 under (tie)
11. Milligan B, 6 under (tie)

MC3 (Men’s Division 3)

1. Liberty University Light Blue, 35 under
2. UGA B, 32 under
3. Winthrop University, 31 under (tie)
4. UC Davis, 31 under (tie)
5. NC State C, 31 under (tie)
6. NC State D, 31 under (tie)
7. Calvin University, 29 under
8. University of Cincinnati C, 28 under
9. Liberty University Blue, 27 under (tie)
10. Grand Valley State University, 27 under (tie)

The event was presented by Innova Disc and played across Winthrop Lake, Winthrop Meadows, and Canaan Riverbend.

Winthrop Athletics Director Chuck Rey credited the university’s broader commitment to club sports as the foundation for the program’s rise. “We are proud that our Disc Golf program is rising to this elite level and grateful to the partnership with Innova and College Disc Golf to again host the National Championships,” Rey said. “This event along with the USDGC elevates our Eagles brand like no other school in the country.” Winthrop’s club sports program has previously captured national titles in esports and cornhole.