Note: this site got hacked, but we’re back. Even before it was hacked, I wasn’t posting much. But I hope to start flexing my writing muscle once again. Stayed tuned and thanks for stopping by. —Rick

This will be the first Pro Worlds I’ve missed—either as player, staff, or reporter—since 1984. As the Worlds is the oldest “major” disc golf event, it has truly earned the description “major” unlike several of the “Johnny-come-lately” events that have been declared majors—seemingly for more political than historical reasons…but I digress. Though I’m free from reporting about this event as Disc Golf World, the magazine is on hiatus, I still find myself drawn to write about it because I’m a member of the 2009 Pro-Am Worlds team here in Kansas City and as a newly elected Board member of the PDGA, I’m keenly interested in helping the two events that the PDGA owns and operates—the Pro Worlds and the Am Worlds—to be as good as they can be.

First some numbers. The most impressive streak continues, as Tim Selinske will once again tee it up in the open division as he done the previous 26 years of Worlds. For most of these years, Tim’s focus has been on the business side of disc golf having been with Innova Champion since it’s founding in 1983, and thus, playing the game at a competitive level has not been a very high priority. Also, as the courses have gotten longer and his body only older (he’s nearing 50), Tim is thinking about moving down to masters in the future. Without poring through the records, I’m pretty sure that David Greenwell is the only other person who has played in every Worlds in either open, masters, or grandmasters.

A big number is 897, which represents the 580 ams and the 317 pros for this event. This compares quite favorably with the Iowa Pro-Am Worlds that drew 911—579 ams and 332 pros. The late date of this Worlds, which has run into some school openings in many communities may account for the fact that there are nearly 30 fewer than the 80 juniors who were in Iowa.

Even though over 20% of the entire field (182 players) are from Michigan, this might be the best-represented Worlds for US participation ever with only three states—Mississippi, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island—sending no one. (However this might be changing before too long as I just read this unusually accurate piece about disc golf this morning: http://tinyurl.com/RIdiscgolf

Internationally, it’s a mixed bag. For the first time ever, there are players from Ireland and Russia, but missing are reps from Australia, Belgium, England, Germany, Scotland, and Finland—countries that have been here before. We hope to induce more of the top international pros to travel to MO-KAN country for the KC Worlds.

Picking winners for these Worlds, especially for someone who’s getting most of his information from the Web, is kind of silly, but I’m going to have some fun and lay it out anyway, guessing the winners—both pro and am.

As most everyone knows, Ken Climo has won this event 12 out of the 26 times it has been held, but more awesome is that he’s won 12 out of the 18 he’s played. Those six other Worlds belong to Barry Schultz and defending champ Nathan Doss (2 each) and the no-longer-playing-very-much Ron Russell and Cam Todd. Though now 40, it’s hard to count Climo out of an event that he has helped to define and he understands better than most how to handle the marathon (7.5 rounds if you go all the way in open) that is the Worlds. The Champ has played a pared down schedule this year, and reportedly injured his arm during the Scandinavian open three weeks ago.

The defending champ Nate Doss seems to pace himself each year to be sharp for the Worlds and from all reports, his attitude remains upbeat. Schultz, who tailored his schedule to go to those events he wanted to be at this year, seems to have found some of the fun in playing that escaped him when he quit his job and made DG his sole source of income. He’s has a solid year with only one finish out the top six.

I think there are six other credible candidates for winning these Worlds: Dave Feldberg, Avery Jenkins, Steve Rico, Mike Randolph, Markus Källström and Eric McCabe. Feldberg has always believed in himself, has worked hard on his game, added the Japan Open to his resume of wins this year, is now ranked #1 in most polls, and is almost impossible to intimidate, which relates to his”Borg” nickname. (An intangible for him this year was being lucky enough to represent disc golf on the Conan O’Brien show last May—a disc golf superstar!) And on top of everything else, he is returning to the area where he went to high school and first discovered disc golf.

Avery Jenkins is a dominating force of nature just about ready to break through at this event. He crushes drives both back backhand and forehand, putts well, and when he stays focused, he’s very hard to beat. However, even when things don’t go his way, he’s always supportive of his little sister, Valerie.

Touring all over the country for the first time, Eric McCabe has had a breakout year, finishing no worse than ninth in any event, and no worse than seventh in any of his seven NTs. However, he didn’t win a NT, although he had two seconds and two thirds.

Then we have Steve Rico, who went pro at the age of 15 in 1993, and seems to be finding the maturity on the course that he has needed to reach his full awesome potential. Mike Randolph and Markus Källström are long shots, but Mike especially seem to rise to the occasion for a guy who I believe still plays more ultimate than golf, and holds down a full time job. He’s also returning to his native state. Markus, who just about become the first European (though living in the USA) to win the open division last year has reportedly been injured, but anyone who can crush like he can and putt like he can, cannot be discounted. However, he has not played nearly as much as he did in 2007. Pick: my gut says Nate, but I’m picking Avery Jenkins.

The women’s division will likely be won by one of these Worlds Champions—defending champ Valerie Jenkins, three-time (2002, 2005, 2006) champ Des Reading, 2004 champ Birgitta Lagerholm, and the remarkable and durable four-time champ Elaine King (1991-1994…yes, she’s in her 40s!) With five-time Juliana Korver on the sidelines (actually marshaling this year) as she recovers from a serious hand injury whilst snowboarding early this year, I think only Angela Tschiggfrie is the only non-champ who has an outside shot of nabbing the title. Val’s main enemy in such a long event is that she might have too much fun off the course. When on the course, she plays fearlessly and has the power and the putting to crush anyone. But, at 21, she’s now just having fun, and the joy she gets from playing and being part of the elite disc golf scene is wonderful to behold. (While not updated recently, you can get to know Val here: http://tinyurl.com/valjks

However, Des is intense, and probably works harder off the course than any other player, and it seems that once a player has tasted a World Championship title, he/she wants it again. I think Birgitta is a long shot at best, although she beat Val in the Stockholm Open, although Val won the Scandinavian Open over Birgitta. Elaine King could win if the courses are not too power-based. She just missed getting into the final four last year at the fairly balanced set of courses in Wisconsin. My pick is Valerie to defend, joining Avery as the first sibling world disc golf champions. My sentimental pick is, of course, Elaine, who I first met in 1986 in a memorable road trip to Toronto.

Some day (and it may be sooner than later), professional disc golf’s senior division will begin at 50 years old. But the Worlds is one of a handful of events where people in the 40-49 year old division can not only get a title, but a damn good payday as well. Just lining up these players by their ratings show who will win the masters title: Jim Oates (two-time and defending masters champ)-1015; Al “Sugar” Schack-1009; Brad Hammock (four-time champ) and Stan McDaniel (three-time champ)-1008; Dean Tannock (one-time champ)-1007; Mike Raley, Brian McRee, Joe Mela (one-time champ)-1006. Eric Roadhouse-1004; Mitch McClellan-1001; Dan Ginnelly and Joel Kelly-999. The file that shows the ages of each these guys is missing, but I believe that Brian McKee is the youngest and has the chops to win this thing. Raley and Schack are playing in their home state, and likely know the courses better than most. I’d love to see Joel Kelly win for his years of being so close and being such a good sport—win or lose, but I’m going to pick Schack as the winner. After that, anyone but Hammock. I cannot get past his behavior at the 2006 Worlds (and his lousy attitude in general). If professional disc golf means having no fun and exhibiting no joy and blaming others for one’s shortcomings, then no one will ever buy in.

Might this be the year when, for the first time, a former open world’s men open champion wins an aged-protected division? With Johnny Sias (1986) and rookie GM Gregg Hosfeld in the 50 and above grandmasters field, it could happen. However the guys who have been dominating this division for the last five years—Kentuckians David Greenwell (2003, 2004, 2007) and Rick Voakes (2005 and 2006) are not going to roll over. Greenwell, with yet another win in the open division two weeks ago (this one at age of 55), has not lost to Voakes this year and played only in the open and masters divisions. Voakes has won all four events he played as a grandmaster. Now pushing 60, Voakes has suffered a number of injuries since his amazing top four finish in the open at the 2000 Worlds. Most of these picks are sentimental anyway, but despite the fact that Gregg was a loyal staffer at DGWN for 20 years, I’m picking him because he’s been on the road, where he has always played his best golf and his state of mind (and I think body) is excellent as his blog entries at http://www.onegranddiscgolftour.com will attest.

In the senior grandmasters division (60 and up), don’t be fooled by rookie Captain Snap Conger’s rating that is higher than Peter Shive’s. Snap just hasn’t played the amount of golf in the past couple of years to overcome Peter’s single-minded pursuit of disc golf excellence. However, if the courses are tight, Peter’s confidence might get shaken, but he’s been working on his sidearm for a year, so he’s even shored up this weakness in his game. My pick: Peter Shive.

Annie Kreml, who has dominated the women’s masters division the last three years, has given the other women a huge break by playing in the open division. Sue Stephens, playing near her home, has got to be considered the favorite, although Pam Reineke is higher-rated. Long shots in this uber-fun-loving division are Sheila Kirkham and 2004 champ Lisa Warner. My pick: Sue Stephens.

Kathy Hardyman has won the last two years in the grandmasters women’s divisions and is my pick to for the hat trick. However, Sandy Gast is higher rated and this will be her second Worlds in as many years. I still pick Kathy Hardyman in a three peat.

1985 grand masters champion (then 45 and over) Ray Carr is now a legend, and should be competitive in that division. Tom Skidmore makes his legends debut as well. Don Dillon keeps improving, but I think the overall athleticism of defending champion Al Faupel will prevail. My pick: Al Faupel.

Am Side

Other than picking (not-so-little—I hear he has had a growth spurt) 13-year-old David Wiggins to triumph in the 19 and under junior boys division, it’s even more hazardous making guesses who will win in the amateur side of the Worlds. Andrew Coggin, another incredible kid from North Carolina and winner of the 10 and under division in Tulsa in 1996 will probably prevail in the 13 and under division this year. Oh yeah, it’s likely that Nick Duran will defend his 10 and under title, but could be tested again by Brock Dowell.

Beyond that, we can look at the ratings for clues about for the advanced men. Another North Carolinian, Jeremy Koling has the best rating, 986, a full 15 points ahead of Tate Handy, who is playing at home. Rated from 1 to 11 points below Tate are 23 players. If Handy has done due karmic diligence by helping with the preparation for the Worlds, he might overcome Koling’s year of playing primarily in the open division, which in North Carolina is always tough. Also, this would account for his slighter higher rating. May the best man win, but I’ll go with Koling just to have a pick.

The highest rated advanced women’s player is the 2004 13 and under junior girls champion Kelsey Brakel, a member of one of several two-generation families competing in these pro-am Worlds. She was second last year. Last year’s third-place finisher Page Pierce is back and is the second highest-rated player in the division. These women will have to contend with another disc golf family member, Sandra Frazier, who won the advanced women masters title at the Tulsa Worlds. Also in the women’s field are Sandra’s daughters, Michelle and Rebecca Frazier, who won titles in Tulsa in the 16 and under and 13 and under divisions respectively. I’m picking Kelsey, who is playing in her home state, and has played only in open women and intermediate men’s divisions this year, which should have toughened her up.

I’ve always quipped within the ranks of the age-protected divisions: that if you can’t take a joke, play open. It’s usually within these amateur age-protected divisions that you’ll find a lot good-hearted, fun-loving players, who also are often dedicated disc golf volunteers—doing what needs to be done at the grassroots level. Just slightly over one of every three players (199 in total) of the ams are 40 (or will be this year) and over. (The pro division is ever older with 47.4% or 150 out 317 players in the age-protected brackets.) One pick is that my good friend Paul Eklund (aka Pablo Klunel from Shebogyan) will shoot much better than his rating. Other than that, I’m curious about Fiona Ming Menzies from New Zealand, who by 50 points is the highest rated advanced grandmasters woman. In the other men’s aged protected divisions, Mark Steddom is defending his men’s gm title and Terry Calhoun is the most experienced SGM—this might be his year. In the masters, defending champ Mark Roberts, playing at home is back, but Tim Weimer is the highest rated am master at 991 and he’s from Michigan, so let’s go with him. That leaves the 16 and under junior boys. I’ve obviously no clue, but I remember writing about the 983 rated Oscar Stenfelt from Sweden, so he sounds like a pretty safe choice. I’m picking Marie Fry as the women’s masters winner because she’s among the higher rated women and I like her name. The junior girls choices are locks as regrettably they are the only girls in their divisions.

My choices:
Open: Avery Jenkins
Women: Valarie Jenkins
Masters: Al Schack
Women Masters: Sue Stephens
Grandmasters: Gregg Hosfeld
Women Grandmasters: Kathy Hardyman
Sr Grandmasters: Peter Shive
Legends: Al Faupel

Advanced Men: Jeremy Koling
Advanced Women: Kelsey Brakel
Advanced Masters: Tim Weimer
Advanced Women Masters: Marie Fry
Advanced Grandmasters: Mark Steddom
Advanced Women Grandmasters: Fiona Ming Menzies
Advanced Sr Grandmasters: Terry Calhoun
19 and Under Jr Boys: David Wiggins
16 and Under Jr Boys: Oscar Stenfelt
16 and Under Jr Girls: Dawn Geist
13 and Under Jr Boys: Andrew Coggin
13 and Under Jr Girls: Korina Carlos
10 and under Jr Boys: Nick Duran