The women of Team Innova have been dominating the podium this season, maintaining a perfect streak of at least one FPO athlete in the top 3 at all 11 Major and Disc Golf Pro Tour events. At the recent 2024 Portland Open, our streak was kept alive by DGPT rookie Sofia Donnecke, who secured a 3rd place finish. This was only the second Pro Tour event for Sofia, but her promising performance showed that she has what it takes to compete with the best in the world. Star Team member Kat Mertsch also had a strong showing, earning her sixth top 10 finish of the year with a 4th place finish. In the MPO division, Calvin Heimburg finished in 6th place.
Sofia Donnecke, who played her first PDGA event in 2022, has quickly risen to the top of the FPO division. In just over two years, she has made her way onto a Disc Golf Pro Tour podium, showcasing her talent and consistency. At the 2024 Portland Open, Sofia shot the hot round on day two with a score of -10, setting a new course record. She also led the field in Scramble rate and was 3rd in Strokes Gained Tee to Green for the weekend. What set Sofia apart from the competition was her ability to limit her over par strokes, averaging just 1.5 strokes over par per round and avoiding any double bogeys or worse.
This was only the second Disc Golf Pro Tour event for Sofia, with her first being just a few weeks prior at the OTB Open where she finished in 14th place. Her impressive performance at the Portland Open has solidified her as one of the most promising up-and-coming players in the FPO division. In fact, Sofia became the player with the highest PDGA number to ever make an Elite event lead card. She also averaged 50 points above her current player rating, which is expected to increase significantly in the upcoming June update.
Aside from her accomplishments in disc golf, Sofia is also a Harvard graduate with a PhD in chemistry. She has many opportunities and paths to consider, both in and out of the sport. However, we hope that her early success on Tour will inspire her to prioritize and pursue a professional disc golf career. With her current trajectory, Sofia has a bright future ahead of her.
Kat Mertsch also had a strong showing at the Portland Open, continuing her streak of top performances with her fourth top 10 finish in a row. Her exceptional drives and approaches throughout the weekend earned her a 4th place finish. We are proud of the performances of our Team Innova athletes and look forward to seeing them continue to excel on the course.
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