Men's Ranking 1-25

Speedgolfers, the results have been complied, the votes have been cast, now it's time to present our 6th release of the SGPR. Before we do, let's revisit the Purpose, Process, and Potential of the Speedgolf Power Rankings.

1. To bring awareness to the competitive sport of Speedgolf by stimulating discussion among fans, media, and the global sporting community. 
2. To extend the virtual reach of Speedgolf events worldwide, beyond the select few championships in which top players compete at the same venue.
3. To add further credibility to the ongoing growth of Speedgolf, by showcasing the top pro and amateur players' world-class talent, just as other sports that also have world rankings.

To be considered active for ranking, a player must have competed in at least two officially-sanctioned Speedgolf events from 2017 to 2019.*

A select group of Speedgolf insiders are invited to vote on a list of the top active professional and amateur Speedgolfers. These insiders include National Speedgolf Organization (NSGO) directors, players, ambassadors, informed media, and proven fans of the sport.

Beginning in 2018, the POC adopted a pod-based voting system. This enabled performance data to take a larger role in determining the rankings, rather than voter sentiment (informed or uninformed) or pure finishing position. The metrics used to determine pod assignments include, but are not limited to:

• Heavier weighting to more recent events
• Strength of field
• Head to head results
• Performance consistency

The final rankings represent the consensus vote compiled from all ballots submitted by the deadline.

*players with only 1 event are included if they finished winner or runner-up in a national or world championship

The Speedgolf Power Rankings are NOT an Official Ranking like the Official World Golf Ranking on the men’s professional golf tours (PGA Tour, European PGA Tour, Asian Tour, etc). However, as Speedgolf activity increases worldwide, subsequent rankings will continue to evolve to become more similar to the official-style of performance rankings. For now, a data-driven, voter-backed process as described above best captures the subtleties of ranking top players that may be missed in a purely mathematical formula.

• Wins:
• Runner-ups: 2
• Top 5's: 3

Notes: A couple 2nd place finishes in 2018 - in Missouri behind Wes Cupp and in Kentucky behind the Hawk, vaulted Holt onto the rankings last year. Solid Speedgolf showings in 2019 kept him on the expanded list this year. All eyes on a healthy Holt in 2020.

• Wins: 1 | 2017 NZ Speedgolf Open
• Runner-ups: 
• Top 5's: 2

Notes: Holloway sustained a sidelining injury that kept him out of Speedgolf competition for most of 2018 and all of 2019. But this NZ national champion is ready to get back into the action in 2020.

• Wins: 1 | 2017 Swedish Speedgolf Championships
• Runner-ups:
• Top 5's: 3

Notes: The 2017 Swedish national champion flew all the way to the midwest in 2019 to play in the Ohio Speedgolf Invitational, (and attend the Memorial tournament with the SG crew), notching a top-4 behind some big names like Jamie Young and Wes Cupp.

• Wins: 1 | 2018 Finnish Speedgolf Championships
• Runner-ups:
• Top 5's: 3

Notes: Honkalehto finished atop the field, (which included the eventual 2018 world champion, Mikko Rantanen) in the 2018 Finnish national championship. Tons of game and plenty of speed to finish top-5 whenever he laces it up in Speedgolf competition.  

• Wins:
• Runner-ups:
• Top 5's: 2

Notes: Always in contention at the NZ Speedgolf Championships, LeCompte has two top-5 finishes to his name. Look for continued improvement in 2020 from Mark.

• Wins: 1 | 2019 Swiss Speedgolf Championships
• Runner-ups:
• Top 5's: 2

Notes: A newcomer in 2019, Zimmerman has started his Speedgolf career off with a bang. Ronnie played in 2 Euro events, finishing 4th at the French Championships, and winning the inaugural Swiss National Championships in October.

• Wins: 1 | 2018 Australian Speedgolf Championships
• Runner-ups:
• Top 5's: 1

Notes: A two-handicapper from Victoria with a 5km PB of 16 minutes, shot 80 in 47 minutes and 26 seconds in his first Speedgolf event, becoming the 2018 Aussie national champion.

• Wins: 1 | 2019 Finnish Speedgolf Tour Championship
• Runner-ups: 1
• Top 5's: 3

Notes: I was only a matter of time before Pitkala hoisted a Speedgolf trophy. After a podium finish at the 2019 Finnish National Championship, Jari took home the top prize (over defending world champion Mikko Rantanen) at the season ending Tour Championship.

• Wins: 1 | 2019 Swedish Speedgolf Championships
• Runner-ups:
• Top 5's: 1

Notes: Another newcomer to Speedgolf, it took no time at all for Andreas Finn to capture his first title, the 2019 Swedish Speedgolf Championships, vaulting him onto the SGPR at #17.

• Wins: 1 | 2018 Team World Cup 
• Runner-ups: 1
• Top 5's: 3

Notes: The 2014 World Champion was absent from competition in 2019, but the strength of his past performances easily keep him inside the world's top 25. Look out for more of Crum in 2020.

• Wins: 2 | 2019 Ohio Speedgolf Invitational
• Runner-ups: 
• Top 5's: 5

Notes: 2016 World Champion had 2 wins in 2017 and two 3rd place finishes. In 2018, Young performed 8 strokes better than the rest of the field, shooting 73 in one of the most impressive golf rounds in Speedgolf history at the inaugural Vegas Extreme Speedgolf Challenge at Cascata Golf Club. Always near par, a fully healthy Young is a threat to any competitive field in 2020.

• Wins: 2 | 2018 Team World Cup
• Runner-ups: 3
• Top 5's: 8

Notes: Vancil loves to compete, anytime, anywhere. He won on the big stage in 2018 at the Team World Cup. Back-to-back runner ups at the '18-'19 Vegas Extreme Speedgolf Challenge, and a 3rd at the season ending 2019 Sacramento Open.

• Wins:  
• Runner-ups: 2
• Top 5's: 3

Notes: Runner up at the 2017 British and US national championships, and a 3rd place in the 2018 UK national championship. One of the fastest Speedgolfers on the SGPR.

• Wins: 2 | 2019 NSW Speedgolf Open
• Runner-ups: 
• Top 5's: 2

Notes: World record holder (77 in 31) 108 in August of 2016, Mitch was back on the scene in 2019. Edged current world #1 Jamie Reid at the 2019 NSW Speedgolf Open.

• Wins:  
• Runner-ups: 1
• Top 5's: 1

Notes: A Speedgolf legend, the only 2-time world champion, Hogan made his first appearance in 3 years at the 2019 Japan Speedgolf national championships. Rob dusted the rust off with a solid runner-up, trailing behind 6-time repeat champion Joe Matsui and ahead of former world #1 Wes Cupp.

• Wins: 1 |  2019 New Zealand Speedgolf Championships 
• Runner-ups: 1
• Top 5's: 2

Notes: 21 seconds (and current world #1 Jamie Reid) is all that stood between Longney and the 2018 New Zealand national championship title. With world #1 absent from the NZ field in 2019, Josh capitalized and stormed the field with a 6 shot margin of victory.

• Wins: 1 | 2019 ACT Speedgolf Open
• Runner-ups: 1
• Top 5's: 7

Notes: After a slew of top 5 finishes, including a runner-up at the 2018 British, McMaster broke through and captured his first Speedgolf title at the inaugural ACT Speedgolf Open in 2019.

• Wins: 2  | 2019 Sacramento Speedgolf Open
• Runner-ups: 2
• Top 5's: 5

Notes: A strong finish to the 2019 season pushes Dawley back into the top 10. Runner-up at the 2019 US Champs (15 seconds behind The Hawk), Scott won the inaugural Sacramento Speedgolf Open by posted his career low Speedgolf round (73 in 45) 118.

• Wins: 3 | 2019 Japan Speedgolf Open 
• Runner-ups: 
• Top 5's: 4

Notes: Matsui conquered the toughest field yet at the 2019 Japan Nationals, including Wes Cupp, James McMaster, and 2-time world champion Rob Hogan. An incredible 6-time repeat national champion, Joe prepared himself for victory with the lowest Day 2 score at the 2019 US Champs, jumping from 5th to 3rd.

• Wins: 3 | 2017 US Speedgolf Championships 
• Runner-ups: 
• Top 5's: 4

Notes: Former world #1, prolonged injury kept McLain from competition for most of 2018 and 2019. He eased back into competition with a top 5 at the 2019 US Champs, but it's hard to forget his dominance over the sport in 2017 and early 2018 at full health.

• Wins: 3 | 2018 US Speedgolf Championships
• Runner-ups: 3
• Top 5's: 9

Notes: Former world #1, twice a champion in 2018, Cupp notched three runner-ups and placed no worse than 4th in 2020.

• Wins: 3 | 2019 US Speedgolf Champions 
• Runner-ups: 
• Top 5's: 6

Notes: A breakout year for The Hawk. 3 wins in 4 starts including the 2019 US National Championships.

• Wins: 2 | 2018 British Speedgolf Championships
• Runner-ups: 1 
• Top 5's: 5

Notes: 2-time British National Champion, Benians finished runner up to world #1 in his only event of the 2019 season. The only active player to shoot in the 60's in official competition.  

• Wins: 2 | 2018 Speedgolf World Championships
• Runner-ups: 3
• Top 5's: 6

Notes: The reigning Speedgolf World Champion chalked up more wins this year, finishing no worse than 3rd in 2019.

• Wins: 3 | 2019 British Speedgolf Championships 
• Runner-ups: 3 
• Top 5's: 6

Notes: Defended his world #1 title in 2019 with 2 wins at the British Nationals and New South Wales Open. Reid has yet to finish outside the top 2 in official competition, including 2018 Worlds where he finished runner up to Mikko Rantanen by the slimmest of margins: 1 second.

Next up: Women's Rankings 1-10