Finnish Duo Leads Fiery First Round at 2025 USWDGC – Strong Start for European Players

The opening round of the 2025 PDGA United States Women's Disc Golf Championships served up elite-level performances, dramatic moments, and a powerful statement from Europe's top players — particularly Finland.

Image: Disc Golf Pro Tour

At the top of the leaderboard is Eveliina Salonen, who delivered a scorching 8-under round at Rollin' Ridge, punctuated by a spectacular ace. Just one stroke behind sits Henna Blomroos, making it a Finnish 1–2 heading into Round 2. Salonen’s 1010-rated performance not only sets the pace but highlights the strength of European disc golf at the highest level.

Tied for third at 5-under are Americans Ohn Scoggins and Hailey King, joined by Norway’s Lykke Lorentzen — securing another European presence on the lead card.

The European presence extends well into the upper half of the leaderboard:

• Kristin Lätt (Estonia) is tied for 11th at -1, well within striking range.

• Silva Saarinen (Finland) also posted -1 and shares 11th place.

• Anneli Tõugjas-Männiste (Estonia) and Maria Liivamägi (Estonia) are sitting at +1 and +2 respectively.

• Jenni Karppinen and Taija Lehtinen (both Finland) are further back but still in the mix.

In total, five European players are inside the top 15, and ten are in the top 40 — a remarkable showing in the highly competitive 78-player FPO division.

Weather Disrupts Round 2 Start

Due to a storm system moving into the Manitowoc area, all Friday tee times were delayed by over two hours. FPO players began Round 2 at 8:24 a.m. at Rollin' Ridge, with tee times adjusted accordingly. The PDGA has advised players and fans to follow their website and social media for continued updates.

European Presence by the Numbers

The 2025 USWDGC FPO field features 13 European players, which accounts for 16.7% of the total 78-player division. Yet their performance far exceeds their proportion:

• 3 of the top 6 players after Round 1 are European (Salonen, Blomroos, Lorentzen).

• 5 of the top 15 are from Europe (adding Lätt and Saarinen).

While small in numbers, Europe's elite have made their presence impossible to ignore in Manitowoc.