Originally published at: https://discgolf.ultiworld.com/2022/05/13/ultiworld-disc-golf-fpo-power-rankings-may-11-2022/
Eleven tournament rounds in eighteen days is no small feat: preparing for two courses at the Dynamic Discs Open, the last of the three tournaments in this stretch, on a short week (only three days to travel and practice) and then battling gale force winds for 54 holes underscored the grind as the tour closed its first leg. So where do we stand heading into the west coast swing?
Well, the top six are virtually unchanged. On the heels of two masterful performances at the Jonesboro Open and the DDO, Kristin Tattar nabs the #1 spot for the first time this season. By unanimous decision, at that. It was a toss up between Catrina Allen and Paige Pierce for the #2 spot, but Allen edged out Pierce by the thinnest of margins. Unsurprisingly, these three have separated themselves from the pack and should be the favorites week-in and week-out. Along with Pierce at #3, Valerie Mandujano (#4), Missy Gannon (#5), and Kat Mertsch (#6) maintained their positions and clearly stand out as the best (and most consistent) of the challengers.
With the Europeans home for a bit, which players will capitalize on their absence? Hailey King (#7) is the most obvious answer, but Ohn Scoggins (#11, fresh off her W at Goat Hill) is always a threat, Ella Hansen (#9) is ready to air it out, Holyn Handley (#14) is ready to rebound after a lackluster performance in Emporia, and Maria Oliva (currently unranked) is primed for a reset in sunny California. I expect these five players to shake things up at the top of our docket heading into the USWDGC (beginning June 30).
Methodology: We combine an algorithmic objective ranking with subjective ballots submitted by UWDG staff. The algorithm uses a standardized scoring model to compare elite events, awards competition, and cash bonuses, and features a decay function that gradually phases out past results.
Read notes and stats on the top 10 and others in the field with an Ultiworld Disc Golf subscription.
Notes on the Top 10
The ‘recent unweighted’ category below includes the last 14 rounds from Elite Series, cumulative stroke play tournaments in 2022: Dynamic Discs Open, Jonesboro Open, Champions Cup, Texas State Disc Golf Championship.
[table id=238 /]
Field Notes
Lisa Fajkus (#15) finished in the top 10 for the first time this season in Jonesboro. Like many of the touring pros on the outside looking in, she hopes her fortunes improve on the west coast. She finished in 8th place at the 2021 Masters Cup, but I was particularly impressed with her game plan at the OTB Open in Stockton last year, where she took 5th. Can she repeat that success over the next two weeks?
Emily Beach (#16) looked great at the DDO. The Oklahoman was savvy with her wind reads and her comfort with overstable discs was on full display. Did you know that she currently ranks 9th in DGPT tour points, and that her rating is up 20 points since this time last year? Don’t sleep on Beach: always a great dark horse pick for your fantasy league.
Stacie Rawnsley (#25) wants that final round at the Jonesboro Open back something fierce. In the hunt for a podium finish entering championship Sunday, she was just a little off her game and couldn’t keep up with the pace. Still, her 12th-place finish is something to build on, and Rawnsley puts in the time off the course. Her distance advantage should give her a couple more opportunities to make it onto coverage over the next few weeks.