Paris teen finishes second at Junior Disc Golf World Championships

Casandra Turnbull

Managing Editor

A young athlete from Paris, Ont., is making waves on the world disc golf stage.

Brooklyn O’Krafka, 14, proudly represented Canada at the 2025 PDGA Junior Disc Golf World Championships held last week in Emporia, Kansas, where she placed second overall in the girls’ 15-and-under division.

O’Krafka was the lone Canadian to reach the finals, advancing to the championship round on Saturday after four rounds of play that ran from Tuesday to Friday. The tournament hosted 406 athletes from 13 countries, including 19 competitors in her division.

She also had the honour of carrying the Canadian flag during the opening ceremonies.

O’Krafka made an early impression by winning the tournament’s longest drive competition with a 353-foot throw. Her performance remained strong throughout the week—tying for fifth after round one, climbing to second after round two, slipping slightly to third in round three, and finishing round four in fourth position to secure a place in the finals.

In Saturday’s final, O’Krafka started strong, throwing an ace on the very first hole. After 18 baskets, she was tied for first with Allison Tweedie of New Zealand, forcing a sudden-death playoff to determine the winner. Both players parred the first hole, but O’Krafka fell behind on the next, ultimately finishing second overall after an intense and competitive finish.

This year marked her third appearance at the world championships. She finished 12th in 2024 and placed sixth in the longest drive competition. So far this season, she has won two tournaments and placed third in another while competing in the female professional division.

Ranked seventh in her division with a PDGA rating of 863, O’Krafka has established herself as one of the sport’s top youth competitors. She trains regularly at her home course, Greenlane in Paris, and works with coach Colleen McInnes.

O’Krafka is sponsored by Latitude 64, a disc golf company based in Sweden, and raised funds locally to support her journey to the world championships.

With a dramatic ace, a sudden-death playoff, and a second place finish, O’Krafka continues to prove she is a rising star and a proud ambassador for Canadian disc golf.