Duel In The Desert Kicks Off In Mesquite, NV: Women's Division Season Opener

World Long Drive returns to Mesquite, Nevada for its second tour stop of the year, dubbed the Duel in the Desert. Set against the familiar backdrop of the Mesquite Sports & Event Complex, hitters across all four divisions will battle rising temperatures and shifting winds over three days of competition.

This event also marks the highly anticipated kickoff of the Women’s Division season. Here's what to expect.

Women’s Division

The Duel in the Desert brings together three of last year’s top performers: Kelly Rudney, Monica Lieving, and reigning World Champion Phillis Meti. Rudney aims to replicate her 2024 season opener win, while Lieving—last year’s Endless Summer winner and current World No. 1—enters with off-season momentum and a new personal best ball speed of 191 mph.

Meti, a five-time World Champion, returns to one of her most successful venues. She claimed her first world title in Mesquite in 2006 and remains a consistent force in the division. Returning to competition is Alexis Belton, the 2018 Clash in the Canyon winner, known for her consistent, accurate swing, she will be one to watch.

Elite Division

Colton Casto, Zack Holton, Scottie Pearman, and Jack Smith enter as front-runners, posting the highest ball speeds at the season opener, with Casto reaching 231 mph. But high speed means little without control—Casto and Pearman went out of bounds in match play at the Clash in the Canyon, allowing Roni Shin to seize the moment. Shin’s 438-yard drive remains the longest of the season, and his tournament win rocketed him from World Rank #32 to #14.

World No. 2 Sean Johnson also impressed early, tying for fourth in ball speed and hitting a 417-yard drive. However, he couldn’t find rhythm in the later rounds and missed out on match play. Still, he gained a spot in the rankings and will look to close the gap on Casto this weekend.

Rise Tour

With none of the top four finishers from the season opener returning, the Rise Tour field is wide open. Josiah Ward enters as a strong contender, having posted a 215 mph ball speed in the first event. If he can stay in bounds, he’s a likely candidate to win the division and earn a spot on the Elite Tour.

Amateur Division

Nineteen-year-old Kauner Kay returns after a breakout win in Mesquite, where he launched a 387-yard drive to take the Clash in the Canyon title. The four-time Junior Long Drive World Champion now sits at World Rank #3.

Also in the field are top-ranked amateur Casey Steed, 2024 Amateur Athlete of the Year Tanner Pipes, and Jay Heath, who returns from injury in search of his first event win in over a year.

As the Duel in the Desert unfolds, contenders across all divisions will look to make an early-season statement under the Mesquite sun.

How To Watch

No live streaming this season, but don’t worry—World Long Drive is delivering something even better. Matches will be recorded and post-produced, ensuring a high-quality viewing experience that highlights both the action and the athletes’ stories. You’ll be able to catch all the match play on World Long Drive’s YouTube channel in the week following each event, plus plenty of highlights across social media. @worldlongdrive

Thank You To Our Partners 

Partners for this event include; Pinnacle, Re/Max, Turtlebox, Bad Cards Fore Good Golfers, Bucket Golf, JumboMax Grips, Eureka Casino & Resort, CUBE, Flightscope, Mesquite Transportation Solutions, Course Record and Stephen Wade Toyota.