The most prestigious disc golf event, affectionately known as “Worlds,” has traversed numerous cities and been hosted by a bunch of different courses.
So, where did it all start?
In 1982, the disc golf world witnessed a groundbreaking moment as the Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA) hosted the first-ever Disc Golf World Championship in sunny Los Angeles, California.
Prior to this historic event, from 1975 to 1981, the disc golf world champion was crowned at the multifaceted World Frisbee Championship before the PDGA took it over in 1982. The first PDGA championship showcased only an MPO division, with the Open Women’s division making its debut in 1983 and continuing ever since.
In this article, we shine the spotlight on the notable winners of both the MPO and WPO divisions, from the first winner in 1982 to James Conrad’s ‘Holy Shot’!
Are you ready to nerd out on some disc golf history?
The Complete Disc Golf World Championships History
1982
- MPO Champion/Winnings: Harold Duvall, $675
- WPO Champion/Winnings: N/A
- Runners Up: Dave Dunipace, Joe Ursino
- Location: Los Angeles, California
1983
- MPO Champion/Winnings: Jeff Watson, ?
- WPO Champion/Winnings: Marie Jackson Elsner, ?
- Runners Up: Tom Monroe, Vanessa Chambers
- Location: Huntsville, Alabama
1984
- MPO Champion/Winnings: Sam Ferrans, $1000
- WPO Champion/Winnings: Marie Jackson Elsner, ?
- Runners Up: Johnny Sias, Judy Horowitz
- Location: Rochester, New York
1985
- MPO Champion/Winnings: Harold Duvall, $2000
- WPO Champion/Winnings: Ramona Hale, $500
- Runners Up: Eric Marx, Vanessa Chambers
- Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma
1986
- MPO Champion/Winnings: Johnny Sias, $1090
- WPO Champion/Winnings: Vanessa Chambers, $415
- Runners Up: Clint McClellan, Roxanne Spencer
- Location: Charlotte, North Carolina
1987
- MPO Champion/Winnings: Gregg Hosfeld, $2500
- WPO Champion/Winnings: Vanessa Chambers, $800
- Runners Up: Michael Sullivan, Chris O’Cleary
- Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
1988
- MPO Champion/Winnings: John Ahart, $3900
- WPO Champion/Winnings: Chris O’Cleary, $930
- Runners Up: Sam Ferrans, Elaine King
- Location: Cincinatti, Ohio
1989
- MPO Champion/Winnings: Steve Wisecup, $2000
- WPO Champion/Winnings: Chris O’Cleary, $450
- Runners Up: John Ahart, Amy Schiller
- Location: Cedar Falls, Iowa
1990
- MPO Champion/Winnings: Ken Climo, $2042
- WPO Champion/Winnings: Amy Schiller, $588
- Runners Up: Sam Grizzaffi, Elaine King
- Location: Scottsdale, Arizona
1991
- MPO Champion/Winnings: Ken Climo, $2700
- WPO Champion/Winnings: Elaine King, $775
- Runners Up: Eric Marx, Susanne Giendl
- Location: Dayton, Ohio
1992
- MPO Champion/Winnings: Ken Climo, $3500
- WPO Champion/Winnings: Elaine King, $750
- Runners Up: John Brooks, Amye Jerez
- Location: Detroit, Michigan
1993
- MPO Champion/Winnings: Ken Climo, $2539
- WPO Champion/Winnings: Elaine King, $751
- Runners Up: Dean Tannock, Chris O’Cleary
- Location: Huntsville, Alabama
1994
- MPO Champion/Winnings: Ken Climo, $2500
- WPO Champion/Winnings: Elaine King, $800
- Runners Up: Joe Mela, Amy Schiller
- Location: Port Arthur, Texas
1995
- MPO Champion/Winnings: Ken Climo, $2350
- WPO Champion/Winnings: Becky Powell, $650
- Runners Up: Mike Randolph, Anni Kreml
- Location: Port Arthur, Texas
1996
- MPO Champion/Winnings: Ken Climo, $3600
- WPO Champion/Winnings: Beth Tanner, $1060
- Runners Up: Geoff Lissaman, Anni Kreml
- Location: South Bend, Indiana
1997
- MPO Champion/Winnings: Ken Climo, $3000
- WPO Champion/Winnings: Elaine King, $1015
- Runners Up: Scott Stokely, Anni Kreml
- Location: Charlotte, North Carolina
1998
- MPO Champion/Winnings: Ken Climo, $3581
- WPO Champion/Winnings: Juliana Korver, $952
- Runners Up: Scott Stokely, Elaine King
- Location: Cincinatti, Ohio
1999
- MPO Champion/Winnings: Ron Russell, $4000
- WPO Champion/Winnings: Juliana Korver, $850
- Runners Up: Ken Climo, Elaine King
- Location: Rochester, New York
2000
- MPO Champion/Winnings: Ken Climo, $7303
- WPO Champion/Winnings: Juliana Korver, $1765
- Runners Up: Barry Schultz, Elaine King
- Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan
2001
- MPO Champion/Winnings: Cam Todd, $3065
- WPO Champion/Winnings: Juliana Korver, $1460
- Runners Up: Steve Rico, Lesli Todd
- Location: St. Paul, Minnesota
2002
- MPO Champion/Winnings: Ken Climo, $4500
- WPO Champion/Winnings: Des Reading, $1500
- Runners Up: Barry Schultz, Juliana Korver
- Location: Houston, Texas
2003
- MPO Champion/Winnings: Barry Schultz, $5000
- WPO Champion/Winnings: Juliana Korver, $1500
- Runners Up: Markus Källström, Des Reading
- Location: Flagstaff, Arizona
2004
- MPO Champion/Winnings: Barry Schultz, $5300
- WPO Champion/Winnings: Birgitta Lagerholm, $1400
- Runners Up: Ken Climo, Des Reading
- Location: Des Moines, Iowa
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2005
- MPO Champion/Winnings: Nate Doss, $5000
- WPO Champion/Winnings: Des Reading, $1750
- Runners Up: Matt Orum, Barry Schultz, Juliana Korver
- Location: Allentown, Pennsylvania
2006
- MPO Champion/Winnings: Ken Climo, $5500
- WPO Champion/Winnings: Des Reading, $1800
- Runners Up: Nate Doss, Courtney Peavy
- Location: Augusta, Georgia
2007
- MPO Champion/Winnings: Nate Doss, $5500
- WPO Champion/Winnings: Valarie Jenkins, $1800
- Runners Up: Markus Källström, Des Reading
- Location: Highbridge, Wisconsin
2008
- MPO Champion/Winnings: David Feldberg, $6000
- WPO Champion/Winnings: Valarie Jenkins, $1650
- Runners Up: Nate Doss, Des Reading
- Location: Kalamazoo/Battle Creek, Michigan
2009
- MPO Champion/Winnings: Avery Jenkins, $5500
- WPO Champion/Winnings: Valarie Jenkins, $1600
- Runners Up: Josh Anthon, Des Reading
- Location: Kansas City, Missouri
2010
- MPO Champion/Winnings: Eric McCabe, $5500
- WPO Champion/Winnings: Sarah Cunningham, $1450
- Runners Up: David Feldberg, Paul Ulibarri, Josh Anthon, Des Reading
- Location: Crown Point, Indiana
2011
- MPO Champion/Winnings: Nate Doss, $7000
- WPO Champion/Winnings: Paige Pierce, $2000
- Runners Up: Will Schusterick, Josh Anthon, Valarie Jenkins
- Location: Santa Cruz, California
2012
- MPO Champion/Winnings: Paul McBeth, $5500
- WPO Champion/Winnings: Sarah Hokom, $2000
- Runners Up: Ricky Wysocki, Valarie Jenkins
- Location: Charlotte, North Carolina
2013
- MPO Champion/Winnings: Paul McBeth, $5000
- WPO Champion/Winnings: Paige Pierce, $2000
- Runners Up: David Feldberg, Valarie Jenkins
- Location: Crown Point, Indiana
2014
- MPO Champion/Winnings: Paul McBeth, $5000
- WPO Champion/Winnings: Catrina Allen, $2250
- Runners Up: Ricky Wysocki, Paige Pierce
- Location: Portland, Oregon
2015
- MPO Champion/Winnings: Paul McBeth, $6000
- WPO Champion/Winnings: Paige Pierce, $2500
- Runners Up: Ricky Wysocki, Sarah Hokom
- Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Ever been curios what discs the top disc golf pros throw?
2016
- MPO Champion/Winnings: Ricky Wysocki, $10000
- WPO Champion/Winnings: Valarie Jenkins, $5000
- Runners Up: Paul McBeth, Catrina Allen
- Location: Emporia, Kansas
2017
- MPO Champion/Winnings: Ricky Wysocki, $12000
- WPO Champion/Winnings: Paige Pierce, $5500
- Runners Up: Paul McBeth, Valarie Jenkins
- Location: Augusta, Georgia
2018
- MPO Champion/Winnings: Gregg Barsby, $10000
- WPO Champion/Winnings: Paige Shue, $5000
- Runners Up: Paul McBeth, Josh Anthon, Paige Pierce
- Location: Jeffersonville, Vermont
2019
- MPO Champion/Winnings: Paul McBeth, $10000
- WPO Champion/Winnings: Paige Pierce, $5000
- Runners Up: Ricky Wysocki, Eveliina Salonen
- Location: Peoria, Illinois
2020
- MPO Champion/Winnings: Cancelled
- WPO Champion/Winnings:
- Runners Up:
- Location: N/A
2021
- MPO Champion/Winnings: James Conrad, $16500
- WPO Champion/Winnings: Catrina Allen, $10000
- Runners Up: Paul McBeth, Paige Pierce
- Location: Ogden, Utah
2022
- MPO Champion/Winnings: Paul McBeth, $20000
- WPO Champion/Winnings: Kristin Tattar, $11000
- Runners Up: Aaron Gossage, Henna Blomroos
- Location: Emporia, Kansas
Well, now you have a comprehensive look at every PDGA Worlds winner in history!
Still bored? Check out my disc golf speed ratings guide, or my in-depth explanation of disc glide!