August 27, 2022 by Josh Mansfield in Analysis, Opinion with comments

Gregg Barsby is one of the most unlikely world champions in the history of disc golf. He finished outside the top 10 in both the Disc Golf Pro Tour and National Tour standings in the 2018 season. He was 1020 rated at the time he won his first and only major. Indeed, it may have been by the sheer force of the “Barsbarians” will power that carried Barsby to the 2018 title.

Cinderella stories often draw the attention of casual and committed fans alike. There are three players this year who are most likely to play Cinderella at the ball this year.

The Odds On Favorite: Isaac Robinson

What’s to like…

Since becoming a professional in 2016, Isaac Robinson has been a fringe player at the elite level of disc golf. As a full time student, he has been a regular feature at the Ledgestone Open, but 2022 is his first full season on tour.

Robinson has shown key champion qualities now that he’s on the road full time. His win at the LWS Open at Idlewild of course demonstrated an ability to win at the top level of the sport, even with cameras trained on him and some big names trying to chase him down. Robinson also has solid major experience with an 8th place finish at USDGC last year to his name. He is 1033 rated and finds himself in 19th in the DGPT standings. It’s a robust resume given his limited touring and he has all the tools necessary to have a championship week in Emporia.

The hesitations…

Isaac Robinson is a fantastic putter and his success this week will demand being dialed in on the green. Unfortunately for Robinson, that still may not be enough. The skill most tested in Emporia is your performance off the tee. While a 76% fairway hit percentage is good for 7th on tour, his C1 (38% – 63rd) and C2 (62% – 66th) in regulation leave much to be desired. Additionally, while he does manage to keep it on the fairway often, a 51% scramble rate will not be sufficient on a set of courses where OB is an inevitability.

The Favorite on These Courses: Ella Hansen

What’s to like…

Ella Hansen is one of the flashiest players on tour. The ultimate convert came over to the professional side of the sport during the COVID year and appropriately joined team Discmania, home of the crush boys, as their top (and basically only) FPO player. Known for her elite distance in ultimate, Hansen has…