New York Teen Wins Junior Disc Golf World Championship

A boring afternoon during the pandemic changed everything for Ethan Hadders. The Clifton Park teenager agreed to tag along with his grandfather for a casual round of disc golf, and he's been hooked ever since.

Fast forward a few years, and the Mekeel Christian Academy senior is now a junior world champion. Hadders won his first PDGA Major title at the Professional Disc Golf Association Junior World Championships in Pittsburgh earlier this month.

The sport marked Hadders' first time competing individually after growing up playing team sports. The local disc golf community quickly embraced him and pushed him to improve his game.

"They were just there for me, and they were like, 'hey, we know you're going to be good, so we're going to make sure that we can get you there,'" Hadders said. He spent countless hours on the course running practice rounds before tournaments to prepare.

This year felt different from the start. Hadders entered the championship believing he had a real shot at winning, unlike previous years when he fell out of contention after the first round.

When he sank his final shot, the reality took time to sink in. "Obviously it was real, but it didn't feel real," Hadders said.

His mother Emily watched nervously through the final round. "It wasn't until he shot the last shot on the last hole that we knew he had won; that's when the tears started pouring," she said.

Why This Inspires

Hadders proves that sometimes the best things in life start with simply saying yes to something new. What began as a way to pass time during lockdown became a passion worth pursuing, all because his grandfather invited him along one afternoon.

The championship hasn't changed who Hadders is off the course. He still plays three sports for his school and was recently named student body president for the upcoming school year.

Looking ahead, Hadders has his sights set on competing alongside professional players. His goal is simple: keep playing and keep getting better.