Originally published at: https://discgolf.ultiworld.com/2020/08/05/ultiworld-disc-golf-mpo-power-rankings-august-5-2020/
Photo: Alyssa Van Lanen – DGPT
Welcome to the Ultiworld Disc Golf 2020 Power Rankings! Our rankings offer a fun alternative to the PDGA World Rankings and player ratings. Those metrics take a long view of the field, ours relies on the “hot take.”
Here’s how we rank our Top 25.
First, we use an algorithm to create an objective ballot. This formula combines standardized scores across Elite Series tournaments, multipliers for depth of field and tournament purse, and a decay function that emphasizes recent performance.
Next, the Ultiworld Disc Golf staff cast top 10 ballots. Our goal is to marry the “eye test” with cold hard stats.
Finally, we added a popular vote for 2020, which gives our subscribers a chance to cast ballots alongside the staff.
Staff and subscribers only consider results within the past two months. They prioritize performance at Elite Series events but may consider regional tournaments as well. Because our human voters only rank the top 10, the objective ballot covers the lower half of the rankings. The objective ballot, on the other hand, has slightly greater historical reach than the former because it only considers Elite Series events.
Let’s get to the results!
Power Rankings Top 10 are available to all Ultiworld Disc Golf readers. Want the entire top 25? You’ll have to be a subscriber.
1. Calvin Heimburg
Rating: 1047
Last Month: 2nd place – Dynamic Discs Open (DGPT), The Preserve Championship (DGPT) , The Silver Cup (DGPT Silver Series), 6th Place- Discraft Great Lakes Open
2020 Best Elite Series Finish: 1st place – The Memorial, three 2nd place finishes at Elite Series events
Heimburg holds on to the top spot in the Ultiworld Power Rankings thanks in large part to his three straight second place finishes at Pro Tour events and becoming the second-highest-rated player in the world. Heimburg is first in birdie percentage this season, 59%; first in parked, 23%,;and first in reaching Circle 1 in regulation, 60%. Heimburg has certainly learned how to tour and right now there is no more consistent player on tour than the righty from Safety Harbor.
2. Eagle McMahon
Rating: 1044
Last Month:
6th place, Dynamic Discs Open (DGPT), The Preserve Open (DGPT). 1st Place- Discraft Great Lakes Open (DGPT)
2020 Best Elite Series Finish: 1st place – Discraft Great Lakes Open, 2nd place – The Memorial
McMahon also stays put in our power rankings. As he said on the Upshot, he may the most elite all-around player on tour. The complete package throws with distance and accuracy on every style and type of shot. McMahon could play a par 7, and throw a unique style of shot successfully on each throw. His win at DGLO somehow seemed like his most “mature” (is that the word?) win yet. He gave himself a look at every hole over the course of the weekend, birdieing every hole at least once except for hole 16. McMahon shot an -11 all three rounds and carded zero bogies.
3. Paul McBeth
Rating: 1062
Last Month: 1st place – Dynamic Discs Open (DGPT), The Battle for Bedford (B Tier). 10th Place- DGLO (DGPT)
2020 Best Elite Series Finish: 1st place – Dynamic Discs Open, 2nd place – Waco Annual Charity Open, 3rd place – The Memorial
It does feel odd having the highest rated player in the history of the game this far down the list (in third) but 2020 is a strange and unforgiving year. McBeth looked off at DGLO, and he struggled to string together a good scoring run all weekend.
4. Richard Wysocki
Rating: 1042
Last Month: 4th Place- Dynamic Discs Open (DGPT), 17th Place- The Preserve Championship (DGPT), 1st Place- Silver Cup (DGPT Silver Series), Seviren Lang Memorial (A Tier), 2nd Place- DGLO
2020 Best Elite Series Finish: 2nd Place – DGLO
Jumping up from 11th to 5th thanks to strong finishes in his past three events is Ricky Wysocki. The two time world champion looks stronger and healthier than he did in the earlier portion of the season and his play is reflecting it.
5. James Conrad
Rating: 1033
Last Month: 7th Place- The Majestic (A Tier), 39th Place- The Dynamic Discs Open (DGPT), 6th Place- The Preserve Championship (DGPT), 3rd Place- Silver Cup (DGPT Silver Series), 5th Place- DGLO (DGPT)
2020 Best Elite Series Finish: 5th Place- Great Lakes Open
Conrad also makes a big leap up our rankings thanks to a run of top ten finishes, excluding DDO, since the season resumed. Conrad is still looking for his first Elite Series podium finish of the season but as the tour heads towards his preferred wooded courses, it should only be a matter of time for Disc Golf Jesus.
6. Nikko Locastro
Rating: 1029
Last Month: 15th Place- Dynamic Discs Open (DGPT), 1st Place- The Preserve Championship (DGPT), 11th Place- Silver Cup (DGPT Silver Series), 5th Place- Clash at The Canyons IV (B Tier), 8th Place- DGLO (DGPT)
2020 Best Elite Series Finish: 1st Place- The Preserve Championship
Locastro’s win at The Preserve was his first big win in almost a decade, and what a Nikko win. It was complete with some jaw dropping shots, some controversy, some suspense, and plenty of time taken.
7. Emerson Keith
Rating: 1031
Last Month: 3rd Place- Dynamic Discs Open (DGPT), Silver Cup (DGPT Silver Series); 4th Place- The Preserve Championship (DGPT); 7th Place- Big Arms on the Brazos (B Tier); 15th Place- DGLO
2020 Best Elite Series Finish: 3rd Place- Dynamic Discs Open
It is official. No one can accuse Keith of being an “under-the-radar,” or “up-and-comer,” or “potential” superstar.” Keith has game and of the 19 (!) events he has played this season he only has five finishes outside the top 10 to go along with nine podium finishes.
8. Kevin Jones
Rating: 1038
Last Month: : 1st Place- The Majestic (A-Tier); 6th Place- Dynamic Discs Open (DGPT); 17th Place- The Preserve Championship; 14th Place- Silver Cup (DGPT Silver Series); 4th Place- DGLO
2020 Best Elite Series Finish: 4th Place- DGLO
2020 KJUSA = 2017 Eagle McMahon. Jones has the Idlewild win under his belt, and his heroic showing at Presidents Cup, but he hasn’t yet figured out how to close out a win on a big stage with a full field. His play down the stretch at DGLO cost him a win, and more importantly, some spots on the Ultiworld Power Rankings.
9. Adam Hammes
Rating: 1036
Last Month: 22nd Place- The Preserve Championship (DGPT), 3rd Place- Silver Cup (DGPT Silver Series), 7th Place- DGLO (DGPT)
2020 Best Elite Series Finish: 7th Place- DGLO
In a shortened season, top 10 finishes are golden, and while he may have struggled more than expected at The Preserve, it’s hard to argue with two top 10 finishes in back-to-back events.
10. Chris Dickerson
Rating: 1043
Last Month: 1st Place- Kiwanis Flex Start Open (C Tier), Cherokee Park Flex Starrt (C Tier), Tennessee State Disc Golf Championship (A Tier), 2020 Tommy Schumpert Open (B Tier), 2nd Place- DGLO (DGPT), River City Open (A Tier), 8th Place- Dynamic Discs Open (DGPT)
2020 Best Elite Series Finish: 2nd place – DGLO
Dickerson has only missed the podium twice this year, and has 10 wins under his belt at “local” B and C-tier events, as he is wont to do. Dickerson’s second place at DGLO wasn’t enough to catapult him into the top 10, though. We need more Dickerson at big events to push him up the ranks.
Top 25 continues below.
11. Simon Lizotte
Rating: 1045
Last Month: 10th Place- Dynamic Discs Open (DGPT), 2nd Place- The Preserve Championship (DGPT), 37th Place- DGLO, 1st Place- Clement Classic
2020 Best Elite Series Finish: 2nd Place- The Preserve Championship (DGPT)
Lizotte has shown us flashes of brilliant play, and flashes of not-so-brilliant play this season. Hopefully he’ll be able to find some consistency as the tour turns east.
12. Drew Gibson
Rating: 1032
Last Month: 8th Place- Dynamic Discs Open (DGPT), 5th Place- The Preserve Championship, 18th Place- DGLO (DGPT)
2020 Best Elite Series Finish: 4th place – The Memorial
DGLO was not kind to Gibson, who has been putting together a strong season with his open bag. Gibson struggled at WACO, which has been the only wooded course played on tour this season. We’ll see if he has a hard time in Idlewild, or if he finds his touch.
13. Garrett Gurthie
Rating: 1036
Last Month: 31st Place- The Preserve Championship (DGPT), 16th Place- Silver Cup (DGPT Silver Series), 2nd Place- Sevieren Lang Memorial (A Tier), 27th Place- DGLO (DGPT
2020 Best Elite Series Finish: 6th place – The Memorial
Gurthie is maybe shaking some rust off post lock-down. His finishes in Minnesota and Michigan are definitely uncharacteristic.
14. Philo Brathwaite
Rating: 1031
Last Month: 4th Place- The Challenge at Goat Hill (DGPT Silver Series), 10th Place- Dynamic Discs Open (DGPT), 17th Place- The Preserve Championship (DGPT), 22nd Place- Silver Cup (DGPT Silver Series), 3rd Place- Clash at the Canyons IV (B Tier), 18th Place- DGLO (DGPT)
2020 Best Elite Series Finish: 10th Place- Dynamic Discs Open (DGPT)
Brathwaite came out swinging at Goat Hill, but has slowed down a but as the season has continued. Moving back east is usually good for his game, though.
15. Austin Hannum
Rating: 1023
Last Month: 13th Place- The Majestic (A Tier), Dynamic Discs Open (DGPT), 48th Place- The Preserve Championship (DGPT), 22nd Place- DGLO (DGPT), 3rd Place- River City Open (A Tier)
2020 Best Elite Series Finish- 11th place- The Memorial
Hannum missed cash at the Preserve, and has only finished in the top 10 once at an Elite Series event this season (WACO).
16. Eric Oakley
Rating: 1024
Last Month: 29th Place- Dynamic Discs Open (DGPT), 17th Place- The Preserve Championship (DGPT), 20th Place- Silver Cup (DGPT Silver Series), 24th Place- DGLO (DGPT).
2020 Best Elite Series Finish- 17th Place- The Preserve Championship (DGPT)
Oakley has regressed to his mean after a very strong showing to start the season in Las Vegas. Statistically, Oakley is a middle of the pack player who is capable of showing up on any given weekend and pushing into the top 10. If he can bag a few more Circle 1x putts and be a little more accurate off the tee, he will be more consistent top 10 range player.
17. Niklas Anttila
Rating: 1016
Last Month: 6th Place- Pohjois-Karjalan avoimet 2020, 1st Place- Prodigy Dusc Pro Tour Helsinki, Prodigy Disc Pro Tour Tampere, 3rd Place- Wild Card Open, 4th Place- Prodigy Disc Tour Turku, 22nd Place- Prodigy Disc Tour Kuopio
2020 Best Elite Series Finish: N/A
Our first Finn on the list! Anttila is only 18, and is the 2018 Finnish Junior Champion. For more about him, check out our profile here.
18. Gavin Rathbun
Rating: 1014
Last Month: 21st Place- The Majestic (A Tier), 2nd Place- Unstable Open (C Tier,) 1st Place- Circus City Open (B Tier), 18th Place- Dynamic Discs Open (DGPT), 25th Place- The Preserve Championship (DGPT), 16th Place- Silver Cup (DGPT Silver Series), 5th Place- Clash at the Canyons IV (B Tier), 18th Place- DGLO (DGPT)
2020 Best Elite Series Finish: N/A
Rathbun is new to our rankings and probably a new name to most readers. Rathbun was playing Junior I Boys in 2014 and had his first season playing exclusively Open in 2017. In 2019, he finished 10th at The Rumble, and 5th at the Mid America Open. This year he is making the full tour, and is showing signs that he’ll be a name to watch moving forward.
19. Chris Clemons
Rating: 1027
Last Month: 34th Place- The Preserve Championship (DGPT), 24th Place- Silver Cup (DGPT Silver Series), 2nd Place- Twin Town Throwdown, 15th Place- DGLO (DGPT)
2020 Best Elite Series Finish- 15th Place- DGLO (DGPT)
“Clemons’s stock and expectations were high coming into 2020, but so far the lefty hasn’t given a reason to be bullish. It took until the middle of 2019 for Clemons to start consistently threatening, or finishing in the top 10. “ This was what we had for our initial rankings to start the season, and not much has changed, unfortunately.
20. Colten Montgomery
Rating: 1020
Last Month: 49th Place- Dynamic Discs Open, 8th Place- The Preserve Championship, 16th Place- Silver Cup (DGPT Silver Series), 11th Place- Seviren Lang Memorial, 24th Place- DGLO (DGPT)
2020 Best Elite Series Finish- 1st Place- WACO
Montgomery’s win at WACO may, or may not, have been a flash in the pan. Clearly he has the game to consistently challenge for the win, but he hasn’t yet been able to bottle the lightning he caught in Texas. His only top 10 finish since returning to action was at The Preserve.
21. Noah Meintsma
Rating: 1021
Last Month: 45th Place- The Majestic (A Tier), 5th Place- Dynamic Discs Open (DGPT), 34th Place- The Preserve Championship (DGPT), 24th Place- Silver Cup (DGPT Silver Series), 8th Place- Clash at the Canyons IV (B Tier), 27th Place- DGLO (DGPT)
2020 Best Elite Series Finish- 5th Place- Dynamic Discs Open (DGPT)
Meintsma has given us some tantalizing glimpses at what he can do with a disc, but, like so many players, consistency against a full field is holding him back.
22. Andrew Presnell
Rating: 1028
Last Month: 1st Place- Battle in Monett (C Tier), Missouri Eagle & Elephant & Castle (B Tier), The Ozarks Dam Open (B Tier), 15th Place- Dynamic Discs Open (DGPT), 25th Place- The Preserve Championship), 5th Place- 11th Annual Monkey Trap Open (B Tier), 9th Place- DGLO (DGPT)
2020 Best Elite Series Finish- 9th Place- DGLO (DGPT)
Presnell is one of those players who is going to cash when he shows up, but isn’t going to blow anyone out of the water. He is always accurate off the tee, hitting 82% of his fairways.
23. Ezra Aderhold
Rating: 1007
Last Month: 18th Place- Dynamic Discs Open, 15th Place- The Preserve Championship, 7th Place- Silver Cup (DGPT Silver Series), 1st Place- Clash at The Canyons IV (B Tier), 10th Place- DGLO (DGPT), 8th Place- Mid America Open (DGPT Silver Series)
2020 Best Elite Series Finish- 10th Place- DGLO (DGPT)
Aderhold is positioned to be the next big new name in the game. He has a full tour scheduled, and clearly has the game to make some noise.
24. Paul Ulibarri
Rating: 1027
Last Month: 23rd Place- The Majestic (A Tier), 18th Place- Dynamic Discs Open, 25th Place- The Preserve Championship, 1st Place- Idaho Masters Championship (B Tier), Top of the Pines (C Tier), 27th Place- DGLO (DGPT), 3rd Place- Mid America Open (DGPT Silver Series)
2020 Best Elite Series Finish- 5th Place- WACO(DGPT)
The veteran, and now regular Jomez commentator has either made the podium, or finished outside the top 10 this season.
25. Anthony Barela
Rating: 1021
Last Month: 1st Place- The Challenge @ Goat Hill (DGPT Silver Series) 20th Place- The Preserve Championship, 31st Place- Silver Cup (DGPT Silver Series), 3rd Place- Top of the Pines (C Tier), 10th Place- DGLO (DGPT), 13th Place- Mid America Open (DGPT Silver Series)
2020 Best Elite Series Finish- 10th Place- WACO(DGPT)
Barela is always going to throw the disc extremely far, and make some highlight reel putts and throws. He isn’t always able to translate that raw ability into wins, though.
Want to see how the voting shook out? See the complete objective voter tallies for MPO.