Post Event Pulse: European Disc Golf Festival 2025
Calvin Heimburg Wins His First Major
Calvin Heimburg stepped up to hole 18 on Sunday with a one-stroke lead, threw his drive to circle two, and cashed the 42-footer for birdie to earn his first major victory. The emotion from Calvin was palpable and fit the ending for what was a sprint to the finish at the European Disc Golf Festival.
Heimburg shot -49 for the event and won by one stroke over Gannon Buhr, who finished in second at -48. Calvin put together a solid start to the major, shooting -9. He followed that up with fireworks on day two, posting a bogey-free -15 at the Rockstar. Heimburg’s putter never touched the ground in round two. He made all 17 from circle one and cashed his lone circle two putt from 52 feet on hole five. Heimburg’s -15 round propelled him 12 spots up the leaderboard into 3rd place at -24 and was one of two 1011-rated rounds on the day.
The fast scoring pace continued on day three, and Calvin kept up. He shot -12 with a lone bogey and continued his strong play on the back nine, birdieing the final six holes. Heimburg headed into Championship Sunday trailing Gannon Buhr and Isaac Robinson by a stroke.
Calvin was unwavering the final day. He shot -7 on the front nine to Gannon’s -4 and Isaac’s -3, gaining a combined 7 strokes on the leaders It was still a battle on the back nine as Gannon got within striking distance, and it all came down to the final stretch. Heimburg birdied 15 and 16 before missing a short putt on 17 that brought Buhr back within a stroke. A birdie for Calvin on hole 18 would secure the win. With Buhr sitting pretty at just 25 feet away after his tee shot on 18, Calvin put it just outside 40 ft and then drained his C2 putt for the victory.
Heimburg led in the stat categories that are vital to winning on tour. He led in birdie percentage, 72% (52/72), fairways hit 90% (65/72), scrambling 100% (5/5), and reached circle one in regulation 75% and circle two 89% of the time. Combining the above stats with a strong putting performance of 80% C1X and a great 50% C2, Calvin had all the skill and consistency needed to win his first PDGA Pro Major.
Silva Saarinen Captures Her First Major Title
Silva Saarinen made her way back to the top of the leaderboard in a Major way when it counted, besting Kristin Lätt on the final day to earn her first Major title. Silva seized her opportunity and shot -6 on Sunday to overcome a three-stroke deficit and win the tournament by two, at -18. It was a close battle through the front nine, but Silva separated herself on the back nine, picking up six birdies while Kristin struggled with a double bogey on 11 and 17. As Kristin stalled, Silva marched on, cashing three key putts on 13, 14, and 15, including a huge birdie putt from 49 feet on hole 13. Saarinen harnessed consistency this week, carding under-par rounds all four days and had a good putting performance.
Saarinen’s prowess on the greens paid off. She made 83% of her C1X putts and cashed six from circle two. Overall, she gained 9.19 strokes on the field putting, which was the third best for the tournament.
This marks Silva’s third win of the season, after back-to-back wins at the Ale Open and the Preserve Championship, and her second victory in Europe. Silva hasn’t finished outside of the top ten since WACO and has six podium finishes. Saarinen has the skills to win, and she is a favorite headed into the World Championships.
Major Moves
This tournament was as professional as it gets, according to multiple players, and they brought their A+ game on a course that lent itself to birdie or die golf. As a result, the rounds produced eye-popping scores on the MPO side and bunched the leaderboard together for the four-day sprint.
Round one saw six players shoot -12 or better, with Anthony Barela and Isaac Robinson setting the mark with a score of -13. Isaac repeated this feat in round two, besting his own hot round by two strokes. He blazed through the course and provided the highlight of the weekend with a backhand on 18 that crashed into the chains for the walk-off ace! Robinson continued his success throughout the weekend and found himself on the podium at another Major, taking third place.
Calvin wrapped up the round two fireworks, matching Isaac’s score of -15 with a clean scorecard.
Paul McBeth had a fantastic third round, shooting -16 at The Rockstar. McBeast birdied the first seven holes and ended the incredible round with eight birdies on the back nine. His clean 16 under par was 1108 rated and earned him a spot on the lead card for Sunday.
Heimburg shot -13 on Sunday to surge to victory. Jaden Rye tied the hot round at -13 and moved up four spots into 8th place for a top-ten finish.
FPO Top Five
Kristin Lätt threw the disc well enough to win this Major. She was in it down the stretch, but her putting was visibly off as she was 44% from C1X on the final day. Lätt ended the tournament in second with a score of -16. With a reported injury (broken toe) and lots of pressure (and love) from her fellow Estonians, she just couldn’t close out. Now, she looks to settle in and refocus for the first Worlds in Europe next week in Finland, held at a venue where she’s won the past two years in a row.
Ella Hansen and Valerie Mandujano both had strong finishes at the first major in Europe. Hansen finished in third at -12, and Mandujano took sixth place shooting -9.
Holyn Handley had an up-and-down tournament, but kept her top-five streak alive. She shot -6 in round three and -2 on the final day to finish in solo fifth place at -10.
Henna Blomroos pieced together an impressive tournament, placing fourth with a score of -11.
Ella Hansen’s Course Record
Ella Hansen scorched the course on Saturday, shooting -9 with two bogeys to set the new course record. Her hot round vaulted her 15 spots up the leaderboard into a tie for second going into Sunday.
Her most impressive stretch started with a birdie on hole nine. She birdied the next five holes and capped off her impressive round with a two on hole 18. Hansen hit 80% fairways, got to circle one in regulation 61% of the time (11/18), and capitalized, making 92% from C1X 12/13 and two putts from C2. In total, she gained 5.14 strokes on the field from putting in the round.
This is Ella’s second podium in as many weeks, and she is hitting her stride at a great time with Worlds up next.
