PDGA Directors Poll: September 21, 2018
PDGA Directors Poll: September 21, 2018
Worlds helps some veteran pros return to the list!
Before Pro Worlds, Gregg Barsby had slipped off our Directors Poll. That's changed in a big way. Photo: Alyssa Van Lanen
The first Directors Poll since Pro Worlds was kind to the veteran competitors who showed out in Vermont. But it also tilted in favor of the pedigreed champions who dominated the following week at the Delaware Disc Golf Challenge.
Indeed, there was no movement in the top 5 on the Open side, as Paul McBeth and Ricky Wysocki duked it out at Iron Hill and, as a result, held strong at the top of the list. Newly-crowned PDGA World Champion Gregg Barsby, meanwhile, was rewarded for his title with a huge jump back onto the rankings. The Northern California native slipped outside the top 20 and hadn't appeared on the list since April, but that may have been a mistake: Barsby's triumph three weeks ago was no fluke, as he built up to his five-round flourish with a 13th-place showing at Ledgestone, a first-place finish at the CCR Open, and a fifth-place run through the MVP Open. Clearly, he peaked at the right time, and his slotting in at sixth on this list, compared to the season-long consistency of those above him, feels right.
On the Open Women's side, it's Paige's world, and everyone else is just living in it. The fact that the top spot still belongs to Paige Pierce, though, registers as somewhat of a surprise after Paige Bjerkaas' continued ascent and convincing victory at Worlds. For Bjerkaas fans who may think she was slighted, take heart: The margin of our polling was razor thin, with Pierce taking first place by .09 points.
Other observations from this week's poll:
- Plenty of lead card time the last two weeks helped Paul Ulibarri make the biggest jump in the men's division. He hasn't finished outside the top 5 in his five events since Ledgestone. Pretty good.
- After making plenty of noise in Europe that didn't make it to our directors' ears, Kristin Tattar had to come to the United States to get into the top 10. The 928-rated pro has averaged 950-plus over her eight rounds in America, and as of press time she is hanging onto second place through the first round of the United States Women's Disc Golf Championship.
- Matt Orum has shown, time and again, that he has the talent to hang with the best players in the world. Another top 10 showing at Worlds makes him a name to watch through the season's homestretch, and next year: He plans to hit the road full time.
| Rank | Player | PDGA # | Previous | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Paul McBeth | 27523 | 1 | -- |
| 2 | Ricky Wysocki | 38008 | 2 | -- |
| 3 | Eagle McMahon | 37817 | 3 | -- |
| 4 | James Conrad | 17295 | 4 | -- |
| 5 | Nate Sexton | 18824 | 5 | -- |
| 6 | Gregg Barsby | 15857 | New | -- |
| 7 | Simon Lizotte | 8332 | 6 | ↓ 1 |
| 8 | Paul Ulibarri | 27171 | 11 | ↑ 3 |
| 9 | Chris Dickerson | 62647 | 7 | ↓ 2 |
| 10 | Seppo Paju | 36744 | 10 | -- |
| 11 | Josh Anthon | 17946 | New | -- |
| 12 | Kevin Jones | 41760 | 9 | ↓ 3 |
| 13 | Drew Gibson | 48346 | 8 | ↓ 5 |
| 14 | Garrett Gurthie | 13864 | 12 | ↓ 2 |
| 15 | Michael Johansen | 20300 | 13 | ↓ 2 |
| 16 | Matt Orum | 18330 | New | -- |
| 17 | Zach Melton | 38361 | 15 | ↓ 2 |
| 18 | Calvin Heimburg | 45971 | 18 | -- |
| 19 | Jeremy Koling | 33705 | 14 | ↓ 5 |
| 20 | Cale Leiviska | 24341 | New | ↓ 1 |
Open Women
Kristin Tattar finally cracks the list after a top 10 finish at Pro Worlds and a runner-up showing at the Delaware Disc Golf Challenge: Alyssa Van Lanen
| Rank | Player | PDGA # | Previous | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Paige Pierce | 29190 | 1 | -- |
| 2 | Paige Bjerkaas | 33833 | 6 | ↑ 4 |
| 3 | Sarah Hokom | 34563 | 2 | ↓ 1 |
| 4 | Catrina Allen | 44184 | 3 | ↓ 1 |
| 5 | Jessica Weese | 50656 | 4 | ↓ 1 |
| 6 | Lisa Fajkus | 32654 | 5 | ↓ 1 |
| 7 | Rebecca Cox | 32917 | 8 | ↑ 1 |
| 8 | Madison Walker | 59431 | 7 | ↓ 2 |
| 9 | Kristin Tattar | 73986 | New | -- |
| 10 | Eveliina Salonen | 64927 | 9 | ↓ 1 |
Comments
I don't understand why Paige
I don't understand why Paige Bjerkaas gets #2 in the poll and Barsby #6. I can see 4, 5, or 6 for Bjerkaas but not 2. Certainly nothing against Paige B, but it doesn't seem right based on the entire year for the women's field.