New Champions Rise in Disc Golf World

The world of disc golf has welcomed two new stars to its ranks as Grady Shue and Sandi Hendel were crowned 2017 PDGA Rookies of the Year. This achievement marks a significant milestone for both players, who have demonstrated exceptional skill and dedication in their first year on the pro circuit.

Grady Shue, a 22-year-old native of North Carolina, has been making waves in the disc golf community with his impressive performances. In 2017, he participated in an impressive 35 events, claiming seven victories along the way. Notably, he took top honors at the Kentucky State Disc Golf Championships and the Fall Disc Golf Classic. Shue's late-season surge, which saw him notch 11th and 12th place finishes at the Vibram Open and United States Disc Golf Championship respectively, ultimately helped him secure the Rookie of the Year title with a total of 33 points.

When asked about his sudden rise to fame, Shue humbly admitted that he didn't initially realize he was in contention for the award until mid-season. "It's weird," he said. "I never really thought it would happen, but it just kinda ended up happening."

Sandi Hendel, a 40-year-old Canadian player, has made an equally impressive impact on the sport. With 19 events under her belt and 12 victories to her name, she accumulated a total of 124 points to take the Rookie of the Year title. Her success marked a historic milestone as she became the first Canadian woman to claim this prestigious award.

Hendel spoke about her goals for the year, stating that she had aimed to compete against the top female players in the US and gain valuable experience. "It's kind of like a cherry on top," she said. "I've set goals every year, and this was my goal last year – to see how I'd compete against these ladies."

Both Shue and Hendel have faced challenges as they transitioned from amateur to professional ranks. At the 2018 Las Vegas Challenge, both players experienced a slight dip in performance before rebounding with top-10 finishes at the Memorial Championship.

As they look forward to their next adventure on the disc golf circuit, Shue expressed his gratitude for being included among an elite group of champions. "Everyone who's gotten Rookie of the Year is amazing golfers," he said. "It's great to be a part of that."

In addition to recognizing the new Rookies of the Year, the 2017 Players of the Year were also announced. Paige Pierce claimed her second Open Women's division title with an impressive 20 wins from 28 events, while Ricky Wysocki secured his third Player of the Year award after taking down two Majors and three NTs.

Pierce acknowledged that this year's accolade felt different due to her dominant performance throughout the season. "Player of the Year is one of the coolest awards because it shows consistency for 365 days," she said.

Wysocki, who has now achieved back-to-back Player of the Year titles alongside consecutive world championships, agreed with Pierce's sentiments. "It's a great feeling to win something and back it up," he said.

This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/shue-hendel-earn-rookie-year-honors