While we all spend our dark February evenings looking wistfully out of the window wishing we were on the Disc Golf course, or while we stare out at the pouring rain and blustery wind wishfully wondering if buying that new Destroyer or Force will take our driving game to the next level, I'm sure some will have been refreshing Jomez and CCDG wishing for the start of the pro tour.



Ladies and Gentlemen, we're almost there. While the DGPT proper will be back on the 27th, the season will kick off for many of the top pros a weekend earlier at the Wintertime Open, now including fan-favourite Paul McBeth, with CCDG on hand to bring us next-day coverage on February 15th, less than two weeks away! All that means is it is time to make predictions of players who will be making big moves in 2020 and looking to capture titles, cash, prestige and ever-important tour points. Today, Don't Shoot will be bringing you a countdown of 5 players set to make a splash in 2020.

5) Jordan Castro - Team MVP

Team MVP's newest acquisition, Jordan joins already rated 1019, the joint highest on team MVP, and hit a career high 1021 at the close of the 2019 season. His style of golf is exciting to watch, he has big power and is an outstanding putter leading to some very consistent finishes on the tour last season including two podiums in A-tiers and a 5th place finish in the Beaver State Fling National Tour.

While some reports indicate that he still has some maturing to do as a player and as a competitor - indeed, he admitted how he suffered mentally towards the end of the season, he is still only 25 and spoke at length with Ultiworld about how excited and ready he feels for the 2020 season.

Will he be able to build on his performances from last year and claim an A-tier or above win in 2020? Possibly more important for his brand and image, can he make it onto more feature-card coverage in 2020? His new sponsor certainly believe so, and the recent off-season release of the Zoo Town Open on Central Coast would indicate that as well.

2020 prediction - A-tier win

4) Garrett Gurthie - Team Innova

Garrett had an outstanding 2019, taking down the Santa Cruz Masters Cup as well as finishing on three DGPT podiums. Known worldwide as one of the longest throwers in the game, and becoming ever more famous for his "Sonic" approaches (and let's be honest, his Sonic range is longer than the majority of our drives)

He looks set to continue to tour and work on his putting, really the only major weakness in his game. Expect GG to continue to show up at the biggest tournaments and to see him look to take down the DGPT event title that just eluded him last year.

2020 prediction - DGPT event win

3) Charlie Goodpasture - Team Kastaplast

While 2019 was a season of transition and some frustration for Charlie, 2020 looks set to be a sparkling year for the Clearwater pro. After suffering with back injuries and spending some time transitioning and getting used to being Team Kastaplast's most high profile professional, Goodpasture has proven with his latest results that he has what it takes to mix it with the biggest names in the sport, shooting a 1060 rated round at New World in November, and following it up with two regional wins to start out 2020.

Goodpasture focussed on putting at USDGC 2019 where he finished T33. 📷 USDGC

As his Disc Golf Retail business, PureLine Disc Golf, picks up - currently run through social media but with big plans in the works - Goodpasture hopes that he can begin to return to the kind of form that lead to a career high 1017 rating in Spring 2018 and beyond, and evidence so far indicates that should be in reach, as anyone who saw his excellent performance on Jomez at Throw Down The Mountain's feature card in early 2019 can attest!

2020 prediction - Top 10 at USDGC

2) Adam Hammes - Team Discraft

The big name to emerge at the end of 2019, Adam Hammes stunned viewers across the world making huge putt after huge putt to take one of the world's best, Calvin Heimburg to a play-off. Possibly the most entertaining battle of the year culminated in disappointment for the young pro, who was still playing in the Under 16 division as late as 2014.

1041 average to put you ahead of names like Eagle McMahon, Paul McBeth, and Austin Hannum. ⁣ That makes for a successful... Posted by Alyssa Van Lanen Images on Tuesday, 19 February 2019 Adam Hammes averaged 1041 at last year's Wintertime Open. 📷Alyssa Van Lanen Images

Tipped for greatness by many who know what they are talking about, and getting glowing mentions in other media such as Upshot Podcast's year in review, the Wisconsinite is sure to challenge for the biggest events in the world this season. Can he compete with his team-mate Paul McBeth for the world title? Only time will tell, but with Paul dealing with a nagging injury to his ankle requiring him end the season early, one might speculate that this is one of the best chances for up-and-comers to stake that 1x claim to the title.

2020 prediction - Major title?

1) Alex Russell - Team Innova

Who else could be number 1 on this list other than Alex Russell? The tall, brooding, well-spoken player managed to cash for over $20,000 last year, no small feat for someone who has only been a PDGA member for 5 years.

Alex Russel unleashes at Clash of the Canyons III - 📷 Roger Tranowski

The Vancouver, Washington local started 2019 rated 1014 and managed to climb those vital 14 points taking him from local pro to national challenger throughout a successful sophomore year on tour. The only thing that evaded the highly successful power-thrower was a win at a big event, with 2018's Majestic his biggest title to date. It seems sure that the title is coming though, as most who have seen the sheer power and accuracy which he delivers a line-drive with have tipped him for greatness, including both Paul McBeth and Nate Sexton. While he himself, humble and quiet on the course by all accounts, would never admit it, he seems to have grown in confidence and is ready to get that career-defining win and take his stature on tour to the next level.

2020 prediction - National Tour Title