World Long Drive crowns three champions in Reno Tahoe debut

The 2026 Pinnacle World Long Drive Championship made its first Reno Tahoe appearance at Wildcreek Golf Course in Sparks, Nevada, and crowned winners in the Open, Women’s and Senior divisions. The event also featured junior golfers and Special Olympics athletes, while charitable donations supported programs that expand access to golf.

Why it matters: - The championship’s Reno Tahoe debut marked the start of a three-year agreement that gives World Long Drive a new home and a runway to grow the event, fan experience and community ties. - The competition paired elite long drive with youth and adaptive-golf opportunities, broadening the event’s impact beyond the titles on the line. - The broadcast debut of the championship will air on Golf Channel on Tuesday, Dec. 1, at 9 pm EST.

What happened: - The 2026 Pinnacle World Long Drive Championship ran for three days at Wildcreek Golf Course in Sparks, Nevada, and finished Saturday, Oct. 17. - Nick DiLeo won the Open Division, Abby Marting won the Women’s Division and Robert Oristaglio won the Senior Division. - Athletes representing 13 countries competed in the event, which was presented by Silver Legacy, Eldorado and Circus Circus Reno, a Caesars Rewards Destination.

The details: - DiLeo, a World Long Drive rookie, closed his debut season with a 421-yard drive in the final round to take the Open title. - Colton Casto finished second in the Open Division and did not land a drive in bounds in the final round. - Marting won the Women’s Division from a field of 24 competitors with a 347-yard drive. - Kyung Hyun Park’s longest final-round drive measured 290 yards. - Oristaglio won the Senior Division, for athletes ages 45 and older, with a 399-yard drive. - Ryan Ehlers finished second in the Senior Division with a 373-yard drive. - World Long Drive hosted a First Tee Northern Nevada Championship on Championship Saturday for qualifying junior golfers in four divisions: Boys 12–14, Boys 15–17, Girls 12–14 and Girls 15–17. - Luke Swanson won the Boys 15–17 division with a 387-yard drive. - Special Olympics golfers also competed on the championship stage, and Scott Rohrer of Special Olympics South Carolina won with a 351-yard drive. - The event supported First Tee Northern Nevada and Special Olympics Golf through charitable donations and dedicated competitions. - First Tee Northern Nevada uses golf to help young people build character, confidence and life skills through athletic development and social-emotional learning in a safe, positive environment.

Between the lines: - The Reno Tahoe move gives World Long Drive a platform to connect competition with local tourism, sponsor support and community programming. - The inclusion of First Tee Northern Nevada and Special Olympics golfers suggests the championship is positioning itself as both a sports property and a community-facing event. - David Livingston, World Long Drive’s chief commercial officer, said the elevation, climate, golf culture and support from Caesars, Visit Reno Tahoe and Wildcreek Golf Course made the first year a strong start, and that the organization wants to build a bigger championship each year. - Gary Cimaglia, VP of Sports at Special Olympics North America, said the collaboration gave Special Olympics golfers a chance to compete on the World Championship stage and that the organization looks forward to growing the relationship.

What's next: - World Long Drive will continue its three-year Reno Tahoe partnership and aims to deepen community connections and expand the championship experience each year. - The Golf Channel broadcast on Dec. 1 will bring the event’s first Reno Tahoe chapter to a wider audience. - More information is available here.