PORTERSVILLE, Pa. – EMU Disc Golf began their 2026-27 campaign last weekend, heading north for the annual Mid-Atlantic Collegiate Championship, co-hosted this year at Moraine Lake State Park in Portersville, Pa., and SIippery Rock University in Slippery Rock, Pa. The event featured elite competition vying for three bids to the College Disc Golf National Championships, taking place in April in Rock Hill, S.C.
The Royals sent their Men's "A" team of
Jesse Longenecker,
Theo Andreas,
Isaac Hochstedler and
Willem Hedrick to compete in the tournament. The foursome acquitted themselves against a deep field to finish fourth overall as a squad with a cumulative score of 15-under-par. Longenecker and Andreas stood out individually, with Longenecker finishing third in the singles round at four-under-par, while Andreas was part of a tie for fourth at three-under-par.
The "A" team from Liberty University won the championship with a score of 29-under-par. Ryan Mulder claimed the singles title for the Flames with a low round of 8-under-par 58.
Saturday Highlights (Singles Round + First Team Round)
Men's "A" Singles (Moraine Lake State Park Disc Golf Course)
- Starting on hole 7, Longenecker, a junior from Lancaster, Pa., began his round with five straight pars before a birdie on the par-4 12th. He then went on another streak of six consecutive pars before finishing strong with three birdies over his final six holes to turn in a scorecard of four-under-par 62.
- Andreas, a junior from Bluffton, Ohio, got his round off to a hot start, scoring birdies on four of his first five holes. He registered four additional birdies, eventually ending the round at three-under-par 63.
- Hochstedler, a first-year from Waynesboro, Va, made his collegiate debut with the Royals on Saturday. Beginning on hole 6, Hochstedler put forth a steady round, going no worse than bogey on all 18 holes. The highlight of his singles round was bridie on the par-4 second hole, ending with a score of 7-over-par 73.
- Hedrick, a senior from Ontario, Canada, completed the Royals' singles rounds with a score of eight-over-par 74.
- With the singles round scores averaged out, Liberty led the field at four-under-par, while EMU was in a tie with Ohio University for third at two-over-par.
Men's "A" First Team Round (Slippery Rock University Disc Golf Links)
- The Royals collectively shot the second-best score of the second round, going 11-under-par 55 on the Slippery Rock course. Beginning at hole 3, EMU rattled of birdies on the four of the first six holes and carried that momentum through the rest of the round, registering 11 birdies and seven pars.
- Going into Sunday's final round, the Royals were alone in third place, boasting a score of nine-under-par. Liberty continued to pull away from the field with an impressive 19-under-par, followed by the University of Cincinnati in second at 11-under-par.
Sunday Men's "A" Final Team Round (Moraine Lake State Park Disc Golf Course)
- Back at Moraine Lake State Park, EMU began the final round of hole 2, posting four straight birdies right out of the gate. However, the Royals only registered two more birdies the rest of the way for a round score of six-under-par 60. This opened the door for Ohio University to surpass EMU into third place with the hot round of the day of 11-under-par 55.
What's Next
EMU Disc Golf will play the role of hosts for their annual EMU Royals Fall Classic, taking place on Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 7-8. This year's home tournament will take place at the Swover Creek Farms Brewery Disc Golf Course in Edinburg, Va. Action is scheduled to begin at 9:15 a.m. on Saturday and 9:30 a.m. on Sunday.
To keep up to date with everything surrounding the EMU disc golf program this year, follow EMU on Twitter and Instagram, like EMU Athletics on Facebook or visit our website.
