PREDICTIONS 2006

With the New Year comes new opportunities. The missed putts and shanked drives, triumphs and defeats of 2005 are fading from our collective consciousness. Instead our sights a set on the horizon and the possibilities for major shakeups in the coming season. With that in mind I present our predictions for the top finishers in 2006:

My Pics

1. Ben
2. Dave (I honestly think Dave is probably the man to beat this year. He was looking damn strong the last time out, as he usually does, and when he has it all together, which is often, he can really just sit back and wait for the rest of us to beat ourselves while he just plods on, grunting - yet steady and efficient)
   
3. Mike (I agonized over this and initially put Ravi 3rd. Upon further reflection though I just cannot deny that Mike has been consistently a step above all last season)
   
4. Ravi (despite my occasional jabs at him on this board, I think we are going to see some serious improvements and a few tour victories for Shankdog this season, still he's gonna have to earn his way into the top 3)
5. Saitoru (while Mike W may have slightly more raw natural talent, Saito's focus and enthusiasm will reap big dividends in 2006)
   

Dave prefaced his list with the sage observation that anybody can win on any given day:

1. Dave
2. Ben ("slightly ahead" is my best guess at the scrawled annotation in my notes - whether Dave meant he will be slightly ahead of me or I will be slightly ahead of Mike is not clear)
3. Mike (again it either says either "choke artist" or "chokes at end". not sure which but some definite choking going on...)
4. Ravi
5. Saitoru/Mike

Mike M. Lets put him in perspective first and consider that he has only played about a season and a half and has improved so rapidly, much quicker then anyone else on tour, that at his current pace, he should easily dominate in 2006. He basically had no backhand at the start of 2005 and now arrives fresh from NC with a renewed swagger, confident in the distance and consistency in his backhand. Add that to his monster forehand and constantly improving putting game and it seems evident he will be taking down his fair share of tour stops this season. Anyway, his predictions:

1. Mike M.
   
2. Ben ("comes to play")
3. Dave ("not consistent". Thats what my notes say at least, although this does not really strike me as an accurate statement)
4. Ravi (this was a tough decision for Mike and he initially had Saito and Ravi tied for fourth)
   
5. Saito

Ravi's predictions, complete with his own commentary:

1. Dave – after a workman like offseason, the Mad Dog finally has the motivation to match the muscle. This pundit predicts he rockets his drive up to four franklins and continues his all-around solid play.
2. Ben – the defending three-time champ. Enough said.
3. Ravi – all three components are beginning to click and stealthily the approach, a prior weakness in his bag, is becoming a strength.
4. Mills – the monster will have his meals, especially at FDR, but the moat may encroach at the most inopportune moments. Expect both victories and defeats for the long driver on tour.
5. Greg – farmhand practice in the Charlottesville wilds will molt the x-step into a yeoman’s practiced steps.
6. Saito – dead-eye putting combined with a safe approach game will not be enough to compensate for a lack of power.
7. Chester – the wild card can blast off at times but is still known to be susceptible to the psychological rattle.
8. Weisberg - the game is there, but sustained impetus is questionable.
   

Saito

1. Ben (although he did pick himself at first, which is a nice indicator of the determination he intends to bring into 2006)
2. Dave
3. Mike M.
4. Saito
5. Ravi
   

Chester

1. Ben
2. Mike M.
3. Dave [insert many strokes]
   
4. Saito
5. Ravi
6. Mike W.
   

Chrissy, our 2006 New Year's Tournament Poker Champ, a.k.a "The Closer", makes the following completely unbiased predictions:

1. Dave
2. Ben
3. Mike
4. Saito
5. Tomoko (I can see tomoko kicking some ass soon as well. She has a very smooth stroke and a latent killer instinct which will eventually emerge on the course and we will have another certifiable disc golf fiend on our hands)

Tomoko

1. Ben
2. Dave (intially had Ben and Dave tied for 1, but when pressed...)
3. Mike M. (Tomoko had these observations on mike's play: "sweaty" "energy problems". Both of which btw i completely agree with. Mike - keep your shirt on buddy and bring more water!)
4. Saito
5. Ravi

Adam and Gretchen had a very intense huddle before proffering the following predictions:

1. Ben ("historically has been the best")
2. Dave
3. Mike
4. Saito
5. Shankenstein

Hopefully no one will take these the wrong way. They are obviously just for fun so that when we look back at the season after Tomoko comes out of nowhere to secure the Tour Championship, we can have record of who came the closest to predicting the outcome. And of course as Dave so wisely stated, anything can happen on any given day. Also, there is an undeniable trend as to certain courses favoring certain players so where we end up playing the most will have its affects. It may all come down to who wants it the most, in other words who puts in the most time with their practice backet. Mines currently on the UPS truck headed to Brooklyn...