1000 Rated Disc Golf Players, News, scores, and more

1000 RATED: At only 13 years of age, with 5 Junior World Championship wins in 3 different divisions, you’ve made quite a name for yourself already. How does it feel to be playing this well at such an early age?

DAVID JR: Everything I’ve done has been fantastic but I know I have a ways to go before I can keep up with the best players. I guess that the things I have done well have made me want to get better and made it fun for me to try to get better.

1000 RATED: We asked Ziggy Bierekoven a similar question and we thought it would also be an appropriate one for you: Since you are currently in school, how have you managed to juggle both disc golf and homework? Do some of your classmates know what you’re up to, or do you mostly keep your talents to yourself?

DAVID JR: My Mom and Dad make sure I do well in school. For them, good grades come before disc golf. I usually practice some putting in my back yard before school, and then go to the course after school until dark. We live right next to the Johnson Street course in High Point.  After dinner, I do my homework before anything else.

I talk about disc golf all the time at school and get my friends to play too. My middle school, the High Point Friends School, has started disc golf as part of PE since I have been going to school there. The same thing happened at my elementary school.

1000 RATED: This year you’ve placed in a couple of tournaments in the Pro division, including one win at the North Carolina Flying Disc Championships, though it seems you still have not accepted cash. Do you plan on accepting cash next year, or do you have other plans?

DAVID JR: I plan on staying amateur until at least Worlds next year because I want to try to win Am. Worlds.  After that I don’t know.  I want to keep my options open for college scholarships. My Dad is trying to work some of this out. Except A tiers and above, I plan on playing mostly pro tournaments from here on though - even if it is as an amateur.

1000 RATED: You played in your first USDGC recently and had some pretty good rounds there, including 3 out of 4 rounds at ratings higher then your current 974 standing. What did you think of the atmosphere at the tournament, and do you have any stories to tell? Also what was your favorite hole at the Winthrop course and what was your least favorite hole and why?

DAVID JR: It was real exciting to be playing there and kind of weird too. It was not too long ago that I looked at the same guys I was playing with at the USDGC and thought I could never disc golf well enough to be in the same group as these guys. I hoped to play better there, but did not do too terrible.  Hole 5 was probably my favorite hole. It is cool and a little scary playing along the lake and throwing over it, but with good shots I know I can birdie that one.  Hole 13 (888) is my least favorite hole. It seems that even with a good drive, the disc can still wind up OB.  I hate that!

1000 RATED: Your March 14th, 2007 flying disc distance record of 484 ft and 3 inches for 11-year-olds has been viewed over 90,000 times on YouTube (SEE VIDEO HERE). You hold many other records thus far and there are still more to come. How did prepare for this event, as well as your more recent 12-year-old distance record of 577 feet?

DAVID JR: My Dad and I practice distance throws over the winter at the High Point Athletic Complex where there are football and soccer fields. We usually do that 2 or 3 times a week for an hour. When I was smaller we did that because I could not throw as far as the guys I was playing against.  That practice helps a lot when the disc golf season starts again in the spring.  We try lots of different discs at different weights to see which ones work best in different wind and weather.

1000 RATED: What other accomplishments are you most proud of and what were these experiences like for you?

DAVID JR: I guess that would be winning the 19 and under Junior Worlds this year and winning my first pro tournament after that, the NC Flying Disc Championships.  The 19 and under Worlds this year was the toughest Worlds I have played so far. I was behind most of the tournament and Snappy Cole who was winning was playing great. Because it was so tough to come back and win, I appreciate that win in a special way.

I did not expect to get my first Pro win this year but I have been playing some Pro events for the fun and for the experience, so there was not much pressure going into the NC Flying Disc Championships. But I played my best and everything worked out for me.  On the last hole I was tied with Mike Hoffman and 1 ahead of Jeremy Koling, this years Am World Champion. Even then, I did not expect to win, but I played the hole well and did win. It was something I have dreamed about for along time, but when it came it was like a surprise present!

1000 RATED: In terms of developing your skills, what do you think is the most important piece of advice you’ve learned over the years? Also, Is there anyone specific you looked up to or learned from?

DAVID JR: Practice every day just like the kids who play baseball and basketball. Work on all your important shots – backhand and sidearm, overhand shots and rollers, and especially putting, and lots of different discs – putters, midranges and drivers.  I like to throw these shots at a basket 230 feet away and straight ahead and open – Hole 1 short at Johnson Street.  I unload my bag, then pick them up and do it again and again. There is open space behind the basket so I can practice longer shots too.

I looked up to and learned from all the guys at the Johnson Street course in High Point when I was younger. They were so nice and gave me discs and let me play in doubles and showed me what to do. If it weren’t for them, I’d probably still be playing baseball.

1000 RATED: Since you have a chance here to offer your own advice, what kinds of tips can you offer to players who are trying to up their game?

DAVID JR: Never give up in a tournament. You never know what might happen. Every shot counts. Just because you make a bad shot does not mean your next shot can’t be a good one. Don’t push it though.  Just keep playing your game.

1000 RATED: You are known to throw very straight, and often rely on your Aviars for many shots up to 300 feet. Can you give a detailed description of the discs you like to throw most and why; perhaps a description of what is in your bag during most events and why each is a good choice for you?

DAVID JR: Up to 300 feet:  JK no bead Aviar.    300-350 feet: Rancho DX Roc for straight shots and Champion Roc for hysers.   350-450 Leopards, T-birds and Eagles, then Xcalibers and Firebirds as I need more hyser. For pure distance Bosses and Destroyers. In my Phenix disc golf bag I usually have 4 Rocs, 6 putters, and 10 drivers.

1000 RATED: Who is your favorite 1000 rated player and why?

DAVID JR: My favorite 1000 rated player is Ken Climo.  Ever since I can remember, he has been the player most other players look up to. His accomplishments are amazing. He was sort of the first to make disc golf a serious professional career.