1) Gannon Buhr Breaks Through in Finland

Gannon Buhr closed out the European swing exactly how he started it: with another victory. The world No. 1 captured the 2026 Heinola Open title, earning his sixth Tour victory of the season and his 25th career Tour win. That milestone moves him into a tie with David Feldberg for fourth all-time in career Tour victories, trailing only Ken Climo, Ricky Wysocki, and Paul McBeth. The victory also adds another accomplishment to Buhr’s already historic resume, as he secured his first DGPT Elite Series win on European soil after previously collecting PDGA Pro Major victories overseas.

The win was also a strong response after his worst finish of the season, a 10th place result at last week’s Ale Open. Entering Championship Sunday two strokes behind the leader, Buhr delivered when it mattered most, firing a flawless 12-under final round to erase the deficit and claim a three-stroke victory. He was nearly untouchable throughout the weekend, finishing the entire tournament without a single bogey while posting a perfect 18-for-18 C1 putting performance in the final round and a 100% scramble rate, showcasing his ability to capitalize from every position. By the end of the weekend, he led the field with a 61% birdie rate and 19.05 strokes gained from tee-to-green.

With another victory added to his remarkable 2026 campaign, Buhr continues to separate himself at the top of the DGPT Powerball World Standings. He is also now within striking distance of one of the most impressive records in professional disc golf, the all-time highest PDGA player rating of 1062, jointly held by Paul McBeth set in 2020. As the next ratings update approaches, Buhr’s pursuit of another piece of disc golf history will be one of the biggest storylines to watch.

2) Anniken Steen Returns to the Winner’s Circle

Anniken Kristiansen Steen returned to the top of the leaderboard in Finland, capturing the FPO title at the 2026 Heinola Open and earning a valuable momentum boost as the season enters its second half. While the event did not count toward DGPT Powerball World Standings points, the victory adds important EuroTour points and gives the one-time Tour event winner another confidence-building result as she continues to build toward the biggest events of the year.

Steen set the tone immediately, opening the tournament with the hot round of the weekend at 6-under before carrying that momentum into Championship Sunday. Entering the final round two strokes behind Julia Fors, Steen stayed composed when it mattered most, firing a 4-under final round to overtake the lead and secure the victory. By the end of the event, she led the FPO field in birdie percentage at 33% and finished with a tournament total of 10-under par.

The win adds another highlight to an already solid 2026 campaign. Through eight Tour events this season, Steen has averaged a 13th-place finish while collecting four top-10 results, including a third-place podium finish at the Queen City Classic. With her next registered Tour event currently expected to be the 2026 PDGA Professional Disc Golf World Championships in Detroit, Michigan, Steen will now have time to rest, reset, and prepare for the opportunity to turn this victory into even more momentum on the biggest stage.

3) Honorable Mentions from Heinola

While Gannon Buhr ultimately claimed the Heinola Open title, several other MPO players delivered standout performances and added important moments to their 2026 campaigns. Calvin Heimburg continued his remarkable stretch of consistency, finishing runner-up for the third consecutive Tour event after a fifth-place finish at the European Open. Although he did not capture a victory during the EuroTour swing, Heimburg once again proved why he remains one of the most reliable players on Tour, consistently putting himself in position to win while continuing to close the gap on Ricky Wysocki in the DGPT Powerball World Standings. His next appearance will come at Ledgestone, where he enters as the second-highest rated player in the field behind Buhr.

Anthony Barela also provided one of the biggest highlights of Championship Sunday, closing out the tournament with the hot round of the weekend at 14-under (a 1098 rated round). Despite finishing tied for eighth, Barela’s final-round performance featured an eagle on the 591-foot par 4 Hole 18, making him the only player in the field to card an eagle on the hole all weekend. The strong finish helped move him up one spot in the DGPT Powerball World Standings, where he now sits fifth overall as he heads back stateside.

Finnish native Daniel Davidsson also made his presence known on home soil, securing the fourth Tour podium finish of his career with a third-place result. After entering Championship Sunday with a two-stroke lead, Davidsson was unable to hold off the charging field in the final round, but his performance still marked another impressive step forward. With all four of his career podium finishes now coming since 2025, Davidsson continues to show flashes of elite potential and remains a player to watch as the season continues.

Editor’s Note: Tour events include DGPT Elite Series, DGPT+, DGPT Playoff, and PDGA Pro Major events.