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

Up and Coming Players

November 2008

Liz Lopez (PDGA #31162)

Hailing from sunny San Antonio, Liz Lopez is one of the newest competitive female pro players on the disc golf circuit. Picked up by Discraft in 2007, Liz has been touring extensively and reaping the benefits from the experiences she’s had thus far. She began to play the game with college friends in 2005 and at the time would head out to the course a few times a month. It wasn’t until 2006 that she really became hooked, and during the summer of 2007 she starting competing at the Pro level.

Liz ran cross country and track in high school, but her passion at that age was volleyball. She had plans to teach the game at one point, and said, “I had no idea that another sport could replace the passion I had for [volleyball].” Along came disc golf, and, well, you know how it is…

In 2008 Liz competed in her first full year of Pro disc golf and has piled up some impressive numbers, cashing in all but 3 of the events she’s attended. Her recent 4th place finish at the Players Cup and a 4th place finish in the PDGA National Tour Standings for 2008 should give her even more confidence for 2009.
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Read the entire Up and Coming article and interview with Liz Lopez here
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October 2008

David Wiggins Jr. (PDGA #24437)

If you have no idea who David Wiggins Jr. is, then you probably have not been paying attention to disc golf related news for the last few years. A 13 year old prodigy, David is already a 5 time Junior World Champion, and recently won his first tournament in an Open division. Let’s say that again. He is 13 years old and just took first in the Open division at the North Carolina Flying Disc Championships. As far as we can tell, that’s a new record for youngest player ever to win an Open tournament (Last record holder was probably 16 year old Sam Ferrans, of LaMirada, CA in Rochester, NY July 29, 1984).

David started playing disc golf at age 4. By the age of 11 he had already been sponsored by Innova and was inching his way into history with win’s at World’s and a few world records for distance in his age group. There is still plenty of time for this young fellow to develop, but he has most certainly made a mark for himself to date.

Read the entire Up and coming David Wiggins Jr. article and interview here…

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September 2008

Ziggy Bierekoven (PDGA #29879)

Ziggy, already a Discraft sponsored Pro and almost 16 years of age, has obviously been turning heads for the past few years. One might ask whether players like him are the future of the sport - time will tell.

As a kid he played soccer and basketball, but something special happened the day before his 11th birthday. Ziggy was walking around in the park near his house by himself and happened to notice a disc golf course. He’d never seen one before, but he said he “went home after discovering this weird sport where people throw a frisbee at weird metal things and told my mom that I wanted some discs for my birthday.” The day after his birthday he played disc golf for the first time, and hasn’t stopped since.

Read the entire Up and coming Ziggy Bierekoven article and interview here…

Paul Ulibarri (PDGA #27171)

Paul came somewhat quietly into the Professional Disc Golf world with his PDGA Amateur Disc Golf World Championship win in 2006. If you were paying any attention, he took 4th in the under 16 boys PDGA Amateur Disc Golf World Championships in 2005. Since then, his rating has jumped from 941 to 995. Now a Discraft Pro, Paul is finding his niche among top level players with winnings of over $3,900 in 2008 as of mid August. Pay attention to this one, as we are likely to see more and more top ten finishes from one of the best under 20 pros in the game.

An avid ball golfer, Paul played both golf and basketball during high school. Graduating with his associates in Business Management, he is currently take some time off from school, but plans on going back and majoring in Parks and Rec or possibly becoming a teacher.

Read the entire Up and Coming Paul Ulibarri article and interview here…

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August 2008

Mitch Sonderfan (PDGA #17998)

1000 Rated Disc Golf has been paying attention to up and comer Mitch Sonderfan. Mitch, a Poor Boy Discs and Phenix Disc Sports sponsored player, has been at the top of his game recently. Currently 999 rated, Mitch is bound to break 1000 after his 1st place finish at the Denver Classic and his 9th place finish at the 1st annual Vibram Open.

Not only did he place within the top ten at Maple Hill, but he played well enough to also qualify for the USDGC in Rock Hill, South Carolina in early October.
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Read the entire Up and Coming Mitch Sonderfan article and interview here…

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