Generate single title from this title [Frisbeegolfmedia] A 15-year-old FPO player from Finland travels to Rock Hill for Throw Pink in 70 -100 characters. And it must return only title i dont want any extra information or introductory text with title e.g: ” Here is a single title:”

This article was written by Lauri Alasaukko-oja, co-founder of Frisbeegolfmedia, a Finnish media company focused on disc golf. For more disc golf news in Europe and coverage of the Disc Golf Pro Tour European events, visit the website: frisbeegolfmedia.fi.

Article from Frisbee Golf Media. Photo: Marika Salmi / DGPT

The Finnish disc golf community had to blink twice as a 15-year-old this season, Iida Lehtomäki has made a large splash in professional tournaments in Finland and across Europe.

Lehtomäki has only been playing disc golf for three years. She came onto the radar for the first time the disc golf community last year when she won the European Amateur Open qualified her to take part in the European Open 2023. Last summer, at just 13 years aged, She also celebrated winning the Junior European Championships.

At the start of the 2024 season, the adolescent player had her sights set on the Finnish amateur Championships. She also took part in professional tournaments in the summer however, decided not to accept any prize money. Lehtomäki won her last Finnish amateur tournament Championship on September 15, 2024. Now, at the age of 15, Lehtomäki has decided to turn professional.

Iida Lehtomäki explains the motivation behind her decision: “I no longer really got into the competitive spirit at amateur tournaments. I didn’t see the point in continuing to play against them.”

background
• Age: 15 years
• Been playing disc golf for 3 years
• Discovered disc golf through school sports
•Turned professional in September 2024
• Junior European Champion (2023)
• Finnish amateur champion (2024)
• Finnish Junior Champion (2024, 2023)

An outstanding season
Lehtomäki opened the 2024 season with a mighty performance, winning the first event of the national Prodigy Disc Pro Tour in Jämijärvi. Their summer season also brought a victory on the DGPT Europe circuit as Lehtomäki, who hails from Petäjävesi, secured victory in the silver event in Estonia.

Photo: Marika Salmi / DGPT

The silver event victory earned Lehtomäki an invitation to the prestigious Throw Pink Women's Disc Golf Championship (TPWDGC) in the United States, taking place October 10-13, 2024 in South Carolina.

Now in her ninth year of high school, Lehtomäki is preparing for the invitational tournament in the United States alongside 48 of the world's best players. Other Finnish players at the start are Eveliina Salonen, Henna Blomroos, Silva Saarinen and Heidi Laine.

“At the start of the season I thought I would just play a few of the Finnish Pro Tour events and mess around, but then I ended up playing a few of them (Disc Golf Pro Tour events). And that’s how it happened,” laughs Lehtomäki. When it comes to the competition, Lehtomäki doesn't put too much pressure on himself: “I see it as an experience. I haven’t really thought about placement yet, but if I’m not last, then I’ll be cheerful.”

“Of course I will try to arrange everything so that I can play at a good level. I want to avoid large ups and downs, but I don’t put too much pressure,” explains Iida Lehtomäki. “I'll just see how things are done in the larger world.

The Throw Pink Women's Disc Golf Championship (TPWDGC) begins Thursday, October 10th at Winthrop Arena Golf Course in Rock Hill, SC. Full coverage of the US Disc Golf Championships and Throw Pink will be available exclusively on DGN Pro.

For more information about the USDGC and TPWDGC media plan, see the article below.

Everything you need to know about Disc Golf Network's coverage of the 2024 USDGC and TPWDGC