European Players Shine in Opening Round of DGPT Match Play at The Preserve

The Disc Golf Pro Tour’s Match Play Championship is a season-long battle of head-to-head duels, where 32 of the top MPO and FPO athletes are divided into four groups per division. Each player faces off against the others in their group at select tour stops, earning points toward a place in the Championship bracket this November.

Image: DGPT

On Thursday, June 12, just before the Preserve Championship tees off, group D matches were held at the Black Bear course in Clearwater, Minnesota—a layout designed by Cale Leiviska and known for its combination of precision woods and open power shots.

Europeans Go 2-for-3 in Match Play Openers

It was a strong showing for Europe, with both Kristin Lätt (Estonia) and Simon Lizotte (Germany) winning their opening matches.

Lätt defeated fellow European Silva Saarinen (Finland) in a tight FPO battle, taking the match on the very first playoff hole. Lätt, currently one of the most consistent players on tour, demonstrated her trademark control and composure, matching her 2024 stats which ranked her first in birdie rate and top 10 in fairway hits.

In the MPO division, Lizotte outlasted Calvin Heimburg (USA) in another close match that was also decided on the first extra hole. Lizotte’s putting edge—he ranked 7th in C2 putting last season—was a key factor against one of the tour’s most statistically dominant Americans.

In the second FPO match of the day, Kona Montgomery took down Jessica Weese, while Matthew Orum scored a convincing win over Ricky Wysocki in the other MPO pairing.

With these victories, Kristin Lätt and Simon Lizotte both take early leads in Group D. Only the top two players from each group will advance to the Championship bracket in Charlotte later this season.

Europe Hosts the Next Match Play Stop

The next Match Play group round takes place on Thursday, July 10, at the Krokhol Open in Oslo, Norway—the only group play event held on European soil. With Lätt looking to solidify her lead and Saarinen aiming to bounce back, the stakes will be high. For European fans, it’s a rare opportunity to see the continent’s top talent battle it out at home under the Match Play spotlight.