Originally published at: https://discgolf.ultiworld.com/2021/05/20/ultiworld-disc-golf-mpo-power-rankings-us-edition-may-20-2021/
It’s kinda crazy to think that Calvin Heimburg, someone who was in the hunt for the victory at the last two Elite Series events, has yet to finish below fifth at any event in 2021, is rated in the 1050s, and previously topped the Power Rankings earlier this season, could drop a position in the ranks to fourth. But that’s how momentum goes.
Since winning the Jonesboro Open the week before the last rankings, Ricky Wysocki retains his top spot by finishing second at DDO, winning the Challenge at Goat Hill, going top five at the OTB Open, and reaching a new career-high rating of 1056 in this month’s update. The fourth place finish at OTB is also misleading as Wysocki could have finished in second place but lost some position on the final hole of the tournament by chasing a big putt. Of course.
Wysocki’s had an emotional month and responded by continuing his stellar run of golf. He’s been able to hold off Eagle McMahon, who won in Stockton and has a couple second place finishes, Paul McBeth, who “finally” won an Elite Series event at the DDO, and the aforementioned Heimburg. Lingering in the background ready to challenge for one of those top four spots is James Conrad, who looked like he was clicking over the weekend in NorCal.
While the battle for no. 1 has been fun to watch, the rest of the ranks have also given us plenty to talk about. Brodie Smith (22nd) and Benjamin Callaway (16th) both make Power Ranking debuts, and Anthony Barela shot from unranked to an 11th place showing. It’s time for the West Coast Swing, so we’ll see who is ready to make moves before Pro Worlds.
Note: while COVID travel restrictions remain in place, this list considers players based in America. We will break out an international top 10 once the season gets underway across the pond.
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. For the second regular season ranking, staff considered the following criteria: 1. results from the 2021 Elite and Silver Series events, 2. UDisc and PDGA statistical measures, 3. the previous UWDG Power Rankings, and 4. their super subjective vibes, gut feelings, and premonitions heading into the Dynamic Discs Open.
MPO Power Rankings
Full breakdowns for each player continue below.
1. Richard Wysocki
Wysocki’s fourth place finish at OTB was the first time he has missed the podium since the Vintage Open, and only the second time he has missed the podium since Waco. Over that stretch, Wysocki has four wins, and a second place finish at DDO. Wysocki is playing the best golf of any player on tour, and perhaps has the most compelling storyline of anyone which should also qualify him to become to king of Westeros.
2. Eagle McMahon
A win and two second place finishes over his last three has McMahon in second place for us. He hasn’t been making it to every DGPT event but he certainly looked in prime form in Stockton this past weekend.
3. Paul McBeth
McBeth’s win at DDO was his first Elite Series victory of 2021 and is enough to put him in our top three, but it should be noted that McBeth has missed the top four more times (4) than he has made the top four (3) at Elite Series events this season.
4. Calvin Heimburg
The top five finish streak continues for Heimburg. Aside from Wysocki, he has been the most consistently excellent player in MPO all season. While he is still hunting for his first Elite W on the season, Heimburg’s play in 2021 has been absolutely clinical.
5. James Conrad
Conrad earned his first podium finish of the season, charging up to second from the chase card at OTB to finish at 28-under par on the weekend. Conrad had a characteristically rough patch during the wide-open spaces portion of the season, but now that we’re getting back into the trees and shade, look for him to be back on the podium more often.
6. Adam Hammes
Hammes is the name most associated with the sentence “no one’s really talking about how good…” which creates a fun little paradox. Anyways, Hammes has been playing really well, with four straight top 10 finishes since leaving Texas.
7. Chris Dickerson
Remember how Dickerson was the sort of player who would show up for big events before going home to shred his local scene? Well, it’s that time of year again. After his fourth place finish at DDO, Dickerson has returned to the southeast to wreak havoc, and won’t be back on the capital T “Tour” until Pro Worlds. Worth noting, Dickerson has only three finishes outside the top four this season.
8. Nikko Locastro
Locastro’s hot start to the season aside, the veteran from St. Louis has had a bit of an up and down stretch of play. Locastro finished ninth at the Mid America Open, 43rd at DDO, and then ninth at OTB.
9. Drew Gibson
Now, Gibson is the actual person who is having the best season no one is talking about. Gibson hasn’t finished outside the top 15 since Waco, and has four top 10 finishes at tour events this season. His seventh place finish at DDO was his best since 2018 when he took second, and he traditionally fares well on the west coast swing of the tour.
10. Kevin Jones
Jones only has three top 10 finishes this season, and not including those, only three top 15 finishes this season. He’s had good rounds but nothing close to a complete event.
11. Anthony Barela
Two straight second place finishes in California for Barela is probably the most consistent stretch we’ve seen from the Arizonan across tour events yet in his career. If he can keep it going, we may have a Worlds dark horse threat on our hands.
12. Paul Ulibarri
Uli hasn’t been able to participate in a full west coast swing since prior to his knee injury at the end of 2018, and it’s fair to say he is playing his best golf since the injury right now and the upcoming stretch of courses will suit him well.
13. Casey White
White has come back to earth a little bit since Jonesboro, but is still putting at 90% from inside 10 meters and with the wooded portion of the season coming up. White’s stock is still looking promising.
14. Colten Montgomery
Four straight top 15 finishes for Montgomery is the most consistent stretch of his touring career, and a positive sign of things to come.
15. Garrett Gurthie
GG has just not played as well as he is capable of this season, plain and simple. He should have fileted OTB but settled for 24th. He only has three top 15 finishes this season at elite events.
16. Benjamin Callaway
DDO bump for Callaway to debut on our power rankings. It’s worth noting that he followed up his DDO showing with an A-tier win over Andrew Presnell, who we’ll get to shortly.
17. Joel Freeman
Freeman’s eighth place finish at OTB is his first top 10 finish at an Elite Series event of the season. He has mostly been hanging out in the top 15 with a couple Silver Series top 10s, but seems to be rounding into form just in time for worlds where he should be comfortable playing at altitude.
18. Chris Clemons
Clemons has struggled to find the top 20 this season, but he has also cashed at every event and hasn’t fallen outside of the top 35 yet.
19. Kyle Klein
First place at Mid-America, a win at 303, and 11th at OTB. Why is he so far down the list? Having to withdraw from DDO hurts the formula, but he has been playing excellent golf and has shown he’s more than just a flash in the pan youngster.
20. Thomas Gilbert
Gilbert has not finished better than 15th this season. It’s all about limiting bogeys.
21. Gavin Rathbun
Rathburn skipped OTB but has finished in the top 10 in three of his last four tour events. In fact, he only has four finishes outside of the top 10 at any event this season.
22. Brodie Smith
Brodie consistently finishes in the top 25 range, so he’s in our top 25. That simple. Welcome to the ratings, Brodie.
23. Ezra Aderhold
After a tough stretch of finishes, Aderhold has put together back-to-back top 15 tournaments.
24. Zackeriath Johnson
A ninth place finish at DDO ain’t bad at all. Especially when you get a couple highlights too.
25. Andrew Presnell
Ok, forget everyone else who is laying claim to the quiet good season, the title goes to Presnell. He has finished no worse than 16th in all but two Elite events he has attended this season, and has four wins on the season.