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2021 Amateur Worlds

2021 Amateur Worlds

Serenity Madison putts during the 2021 PDGA Amateur Disc Golf World Championship. Photo: Conrad Meyer / PDGA

It’s a week-long test of physical and mental endurance where you can’t really get too comfortable or let the foot off the gas.

Several newly crowned PDGA World Champions experienced every aspect of that this week at the 2021 PDGA Amateur Disc Golf World Championships in Orlando, Florida.

Evan Scott (MA1) and Ali Smith (FA1) are 2021 PDGA World Champions. Photos: PDGA Media

Six years ago, at 10 years old, Evan Scott learned the sport of disc golf from watching YouTube.

Ten months ago, Ali Smith entered her first PDGA sanctioned tournament — which she won — after feeling the desire to throw a disc again after retiring from ultimate.

Now, they’re both PDGA Amateur World Champions.

"I'm Running It"

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Ali Smith leads FA1 by two strokes heading into Championship Saturday at Am Worlds. Photo: Conrad Meyer / PDGA

It’s time for an all-out battle to the finish in Orlando, Florida.

And Championship Saturday at the 2021 PDGA Amateur Disc Golf World Championships is set to deliver.

“I feel a little nervous — it’s the last couple of rounds and the nerves start kicking in a little bit,” Sam Dodd said. “The first few rounds, you’re just trying to stay steady.

“And then it kicks up a little bit.”

Robert Burridge lines up a shot on Thursday in Orlando. Photo: Conrad Meyer / PDGA

Two PDGA World Champions will be crowned on Friday and as for the rest of the world titles, there's still plenty to be settled on moving day at the 2021 PDGA Amateur Disc Golf World Championships.

Champions will be crowned in FA65 and FA70, while the remaining 12 divisions head into the home stretch on Friday before the cut to the semifinals.

And what a race to the finish line it will be in Orlando.

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Chantel Budinksy tees off during Day 2 of Am Worlds. Photo: Mark Ashman / PDGA

Chantel Budinsky kept it clean during the third round of the 2021 PDGA Amateur Disc Golf World Championships on Wednesday in Orlando, Florida.

As a result, the Canadian finds herself atop the Advanced Women’s leaderboard.

Complete coverage of Am Worlds »

Budinsky fired off the hot round of the afternoon – a bogey-free, 5-under par at The Woods at Turkey Lake – to claim a one-shot lead over Melody Castruita.

Evan Scott putts during the first of the 2021 PDGA Amateur Disc Golf World Championships. Photo: Conrad Meyer / PDGA

After all the practice and preparation, there’s nothing that can quite simulate stepping up to the first tee of a world championship.

For Justin Long, that first shot of the 2021 PDGA Amateur Disc Golf Championships couldn’t have gone any better as he watched his disc fly straight into the basket on the first hole of the day for a Worlds ace.

Here are the payouts for the ancillary events — mixed doubles and field events — for the 2021 PDGA Amateur Disc Golf World Championships. Payout will be available at the Am Worlds Pro Shop beginning Tuesday, August 17.

Also a list of the Aces hit at Am Worlds - these will be paid out by the PDGA Office after the conclusion of 2021 Am Worlds. 

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  • Date: 17-Aug to 21-Aug-2021
  • Location: Orlando, Florida, United States
  • Tournament Director: Mark Janssen
  • Asst. Tournament Director: Bill Burbage

The 2021 PDGA Amateur Disc Golf World Championships begin Tuesday in Orlando, Florida. Photo: Mark Ashman / PDGA

The time for practice and preparation – two years in the making – has passed for the 751 players who are set to compete for a PDGA World Championship this week in Florida.

Now, it’s go time.

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751 players are set to compete this week in Florida. Photo: Mark Ashman / PDGA

Out of an abundance of caution due to a rise in COVID-19 and Variant numbers in the Orlando, Florida, area, the in-person players meeting for the 2021 PDGA Amateur Disc Golf World Championships scheduled for Monday, August 16 has been canceled.

A virtual players meeting will be streamed live on the official Facebook page as well as recorded and uploaded to the PDGA event info page.

Player safety and concern remains a top priority for the PDGA and the local organizing committee.

The 2021 PDGA Amateur World Championship Invite List is now available. This list combines players who qualified for 2021 AM Worlds as well as those who qualified for the cancelled 2020 AM Worlds championship.

A new Amateur Worlds Registration Schedule has also been posted which splits the US invitees for the FA1, MA1, and MA40 divisions out to their own separate registration dates to avoid congestion.