Meet Your 2026 World Long Drive Champions
Your 2026 World Long Drive Champions (L-R): Robert Oristaglio, Abby Marting, Nick DiLeo. Photo: Amanda Horine
A rookie sensation and two inspiring comeback stories take the belts at the 2026 WLD Championship in Reno, NV.
RENO, Nev. – Three new World Long Drive champions were crowned Saturday, Oct. 17, at Wildcreek Golf Course, wrapping up the 2026 WLD Championship, presented by Silver Legacy | Eldorado | Circus Circus Reno, a Caesars Rewards Destination. Across three days, athletes from 13 countries delivered huge drives and big moments. Championship Saturday also featured exhibition competitions with qualifying athletes from First Tee Northern Nevada and Special Olympics Golf.
Open Division: Nick DiLeo
In his rookie year, Nick DiLeo, a Texas native and the No. 3 seed, won the sport’s biggest belt. He first turned heads at the first two tour events of the year in Wellington, Florida, and arrived in Reno after months of preparation and training.
DiLeo only started playing golf in 2023 with some friends, and long drive took over from there. “I got hooked, and I said, this is what I want to do. I’m going to sell out for it.” The week tested him. “It’s hard mentally,” DiLeo said, recalling a “back against the wall, sixth ball shot” that he needed to get in to stay alive, “and I did.”
He hit 448 yards in the quarterfinals and 414 in the semifinals, then launched a 421-yard drive in the final. Runner-up Colton Casto, the top seed, didn’t get a ball in the grid in the final. His 452-yard drive in the quarterfinals was the longest of the championship.
DiLeo credits his wife for backing the work: “Wife has been real good to me about letting me work real hard on this, and thankfully it paid off.”
Women’s Division: Abby Marting
Abby Marting, a Pinnacle Ambassador from Dubuque, Iowa, beat a 24-woman field to win the Women’s Division belt. It’s a comeback story. A serious shoulder injury at 20 nearly ended her golf career. When she returned, her first drives on a launch monitor measured 270 to 282 yards, and those numbers led her to long drive.
Her start wasn’t easy. “My first year, I showed up in 2024, and my first two events, I got it handed to me, honestly, but the other ladies, they kept me coming back.” Last year she made the top eight and lost in the quarterfinals to eventual champion Kelly Rudney.
This year she beat Rudney in the semifinals, then hit a 347-yard drive in the final to out-duel runner-up Kyung Hyun Park (290).
“It really was a world championship today,” Marting said. “We had South Korea, Canada, and New Zealand, and USA represented in the final four.”
Her reaction afterward: “I’m grateful that it worked out okay… it’s just pretty surreal.”
Senior Division: Robert Oristaglio
Robert Oristaglio, of Tennessee, earned his first World Championship belt in his 25th year of competing. “I’ve seen two or three different generations of long drivers come through while I’ve competed,” he said.
When Oristaglio was diagnosed with cancer, World Long Drive followed his story, and the sport became his focus. “While I was getting better, this gave me a focus. It gave me something to put my energy towards and look forward to.”
In 2023, his rookie season as a senior, he finished second to Ryan Reisbeck.
This year he beat top-seeded Kevin Shook in the semifinals, then hit a 399-yard drive in the final to edge runner-up Ryan Ehlers (373). “When I had another opportunity to come out and get on the stage to win the championship, I took it. And I took it home.”
His approach all day was to “just be in the moment.” His reaction afterward: “I am sort of floating on air right now.”
Three champions, three incredible stories. Congratulations to Nick, Abby and Robert, and a big thank you to every athlete who competed in Reno.
Watch the Championship on the Golf Channel: Tuesday, Dec. 1 at 9 PM ET.
Follow along on social media for more champion content to come.
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Great to see three different journeys behind this year’s titles. DiLeo’s rookie victory and Marting’s and Oristaglio’s comebacks make these sprunki phase 3 championship wins even more meaningful. DiLeo proving himself in his rookie year, Marting overcoming a serious injury, and Oristaglio finally earning his first title after 25 years of competing are all incredibly inspiring. It's great to see their hard work and determination rewarded on such a big stage.
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a great recap of the championship. the focus on the personal stories behind the wins, like nick dileo's rookie journey and abby marting's comeback from injury, adds a compelling layer beyond just the distances. it's interesting to see the global representation in the women's final four. the inclusion of the exhibition events with first tee and special olympics is a nice touch for the sport's community aspect. Image To SVG
Thank you for this insightful post on the 2026 World Long Drive Champions! It's exciting to see the future of long drive showcased so well. I recently participated in a local competition myself—while not quite at that level, it definitely gave me a taste of what those champions experience. It reminds me of my enjoyment playing drift boss to sharpen my focus and coordination; turns out, it's all about precision in both sports! Keep up the great work!