Nikko Locastro

Last updated
Nikko Locastro
— Disc golfer —
Personal information
Full nameNikko Locastro
Born(1988-09-16)September 16, 1988
St. Louis, Missouri
Height5 ft 5 in (165 cm)
NationalityFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States
ResidenceGrass Valley, CA
Career
Turned professional2006
Current tour(s)PDGA National Tour
Disc Golf Pro Tour
Disc Golf World Tour
Professional wins100
Number of wins by tour
PDGA National Tour4
Best results in major championships
PDGA World Championships 3rd: 2013, 2016
USDGC Won: 2009
European Masters14th: 2016
European Open 7th: 2013
Japan OpenWon: 2010
Achievements and awards
PDGA Male Player of the Year2009, 2010, 2011
National Tour Series Champion2009, 2011

Nikko Locastro (born September 16, 1988) is a professional disc golf player from St. Louis, Missouri. He has been playing the sport professionally since 2006. As of May 2023, Locastro was ranked 54th in the world, and had the 40th highest rating at 1027.

Contents

In 2009, and then again in 2010, he broke Barry Schultz's season winnings record. He was previously sponsored by Gateway Disc Golf, Dynamic Discs, Innova Discs, [1] and Prodigy Disc. [2] by Westside Discs through 2021, and as of December 27, 2021 announced that he is leaving Westside for the 2022 season. In 2011, Locastro was awarded the Player of the Year award, for the third consecutive year. [3] In 2022, he was disqualified at the European Open due to an incident involving Nikko threatening a tournament official. [4] He was subsequently suspended by the PDGA for 9 months, followed by 15 months of probation. [5]

Professional career

2009 season

In Locastro's 2009 season he played 43 events and won 16 of them. Of the wins, six were A-Tier tournaments, and one was a National Tour event. His most notable event, however, was his win in the United States Disc Golf Championship, his first major. His win made him only the fifth different winner in this tournament. He also bested the previous record for earnings in a year, beating Barry Schultz's total by over $2,000.

2010 season

Locastro's 2010 season improved upon his previous year. In fewer events, he managed more winnings, besting his previous record by nearly $4,000. In addition to earning more, he was also more consistent, finishing no lower than 13th. Among his fourteen wins were 5 A-Tiers, a National Tour event, the Vibram Open, and his second major, the 2010 Japan Open, held in Tochigi, Nasu Highlands, Japan. He also finished second at the USDGC and Scandinavian Open, both majors.

2011 season

In 31 events played as of November 11, Locastro had won 15. Of these 15 wins, 5 were A-Tiers, and two were National Tour events. One of the A-Tier wins included the Stockholm Open, held in Stockholm, Sweden. This was Locastro's only international win in 2011. As of the September and August updates, Locastro's player rating reached 1045, at that time the second highest rating yet, behind David Feldberg's 1046. [6]

2012 season

Locastro started out his 2012 season by winning the 13th annual Gentlemen's Club Classic. Averaging a 1070 rating over the three rounds, he took home $1,400 for his first A-Tier win of the year. Shortly after on May 5–6, Locastro won his second A-Tier win at the St. Louis Open tournament held annually. That year's tournament took place at the Jefferson Barracks, Sioux Passage, and Endicott courses. He also won the Ledgestone Insurance Championships Super Tour, where he took home $2,500 in winnings. Locastro finished 15th at World Championships.

Professional wins

Notable wins

DateTournamentTierLocationEarnings
March 5, 2009The Memorial NT Scottsdale, Arizona $2,500 Results
October 7, 2009 US Disc Golf Championship M Rock Hill, South Carolina $15,000 Results
June 10, 2010Japan Open M Tochigi, Japan$5,450 Results
August 13, 2010Vibram Open NT Leicester, MA $3,000 Results
April 2, 2011Texas State ChampionshipsNT Hitchcock, Texas $1,410 Results
May 13, 2011Alabama Disc Golf ChampionshipNT Athens, Alabama $2,065 Results
July 5, 2020The Preserve ChampionshipDGPT Clearwater, Minnesota $4,200 Results
March 14, 2021Waco Annual Charity OpenDGPT Waco, Texas $5,000 Results

Major, NT playoff record (1-0)

YearTournamentTierOpponent(s)Result
2010Japan OpenM David Feldberg Won with birdie on first extra hole [7]

Summary

Competition TierWins2nd3rdTop-5Top-25Events
World Championships00241011
Other Majors24291821
National Tour468305358
Disc Golf Pro Tour10322227

Annual statistics

YearEventsWinsTop 3Earnings$ / EventRating†World
Ranking†
20061525$2,646$176.40996-
20072128$5,535$263.57100837
200826818$13,848$532.62102412
2009421529$40,926$974.4310322
2010361427$45,256$1,257.1110401
2011331623$29,859$904.8210444
20122259$14,618664.45103719
201329619$25,343873.9010416
201421611$18,320872.38103321
2015321421$27,119847.4710364
201637‡1222$31,364847.681028-
Career314100192$254,834$811.57--

The above information was gathered from Locastro's player page.
†At Year End
‡Includes Disc Golf Pro Tour Championship (not PDGA Sanctioned)

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Disc golf</span> Sport in which players attempt to throw a disc into a target

Disc golf, also known as frisbee golf, is a flying disc sport in which players throw a disc at a target, using rules similar to golf.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Professional Disc Golf Association</span> International governing body of disc golf

The Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA) is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit membership organization dedicated to the promotion and sustainable growth of disc golf. The PDGA is the global governing body of disc golf. The organization promotes the sport through tournament development, course development, rules and competitive standards, media and sponsor relations, and public education and outreach.

Ken "The Champ" Climo is an American professional disc golfer considered by some to be the best professional disc golfer of all time. Climo has claimed twelve PDGA World Championship titles, including nine in as many years from 1990 to 1998. The only other golfers to achieve multiple World titles are Harold Duvall, Barry Schultz (2003–2004), Nate Doss, Paul McBeth, Richard Wysocki and Isaac Robinson. In addition to his world titles, Climo has an unequalled record in the United States Disc Golf Championship, earning five titles. Named PDGA player of the year seven times, Ken Climo was inducted into the PDGA Hall of Fame in 1995.

Nathan Sexton is an American professional disc golfer currently sponsored by Innova Champion Discs. Among his most notable accomplishments are his 2003 Junior I Boys PDGA World Championship and his 2017 United States Disc Golf Championship win, which is his first PDGA Major title as a professional. He registered as a professional with the PDGA in 2004, but has only been touring full-time since 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nate Doss</span>

Nate Doss is an American professional disc golfer who won three PDGA World Championships. With his third win, Doss became only the second person to achieve three MPO world championship wins, after Ken Climo‘s twelve. Additionally, Doss became the first Discraft sponsored player to win Disc Golf's other prestigious event, the United States Disc Golf Championship, in 2008. After retiring from the game in 2018, Doss began a new career with his wife Valarie Jenkins as a brewer, launching Bevel Craft Brewing. Doss also provides live color commentary on the Disc Golf Network.

Barry Schultz is a professional disc golfer based in Charlotte, North Carolina. He has played disc golf since the early 1980s, and has been a professional since 1992. He is on the Innova Champion Discs Hall of Fame Team. For a number of years, he was one of the most dominant players on tour. From 2003-2009, he held the single season earnings record of $40,896, which was finally surpassed by Nikko Locastro in 2010. He is one of six men to win more than one World Championship. He is also a three time United States Disc Golf Champion, one of only four people who have won the event more than once, the others being Ken Climo, Will Schusterick and Paul McBeth. Schultz additionally holds two Masters World Championships. He and Climo are the only two men to earn both an Open and Masters world title. Schultz was inducted into the PDGA Hall of Fame in 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Feldberg</span> American professional disc golfer

David Feldberg is an American professional disc golfer, and tournament director. At the end of the 2017 season, he was the 45th ranked disc golfer in the world. Feldberg is one of the most successful disc golfers in the sport's history, having won 6 unique majors, second all time.

Holly Finley is a professional disc golfer who was named the 2013 PDGA Rookie of the Year. Finley is sponsored by Innova Champion Discs. In 2013, Finley was the only woman to compete in the sport's most prestigious event, the United States Disc Golf Championship Performance Edition. She placed seventh and earned an invitation back for the 2014 USDGC Performance Edition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul McBeth</span> American disc golfer

Paul McBeth is an American professional disc golfer from Huntington Beach, California. He won the PDGA World Championships four times in a row and again in 2019 and 2022, making him a six-time champion.

Jeremy Koling is a professional disc golfer from Charlotte, North Carolina. He competes on the sport's North American tour: the Disc Golf Pro Tour, and competed on the PDGA National Tour until its last season in 2021. Among his most notable accomplishments are his 2008 PDGA Amateur World Championship win and his 2016 United States Disc Golf Championship win. Koling is the only male player to win the PDGA Amateur World Championships and earn the PDGA Male Rookie of the Year Award in back-to-back years.

Alex Geisinger is a former American professional disc golfer from Lakeville, Minnesota. He has 26 career professional wins, including the 2014 and 2015 Minnesota Majestic. Geisinger was the 19th ranked player in the PDGA World Rankings at the end of 2016.

Steve Brinster is an American professional disc golfer from Warwick, New York, and United States Disc Golf Champion. He joined the Professional Disc Golf Association in 1996 and became a professional in 1997.

Eagle Wynne McMahon is an American professional disc golfer from Boulder, Colorado. He has 53 career wins and is one of the highest rated players in the world. At the end of the 2023 season he was ranked 1st in the world by UDisc.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Disc golf in Estonia</span> Overview of disc golf practiced in Estonia

Disc golf is a popular sport in Estonia, where it is played at the recreational, club, and international competition levels.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on disc golf</span> Global impact of COVID-19 on disc golf

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused disruption to disc golf across the world, mirroring its impact across all sports. Throughout the world and to varying degrees, leagues and competitions have been cancelled or postponed.

Scott Stokely is an American professional disc golfer, disc sports (frisbee) teacher, and author.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Ulibarri</span> American disc golfer

Paul Ulibarri is an American professional disc golfer from Show Low, Arizona. In 2006, he won the PDGA Amateur Disc Golf World Championships and began playing professionally the following season. As of June 2020, Ulibarri has competed in over 500 PDGA sanctioned events and has 107 career tournament wins. His career earnings total over $304,000 making him the 7th highest earner in PDGA history. Ulibarri is currently the Discraft Team Captain and a member of the commentary team for Jomez Productions.

Andrew Marwede is an American professional disc golfer from Alpena, Michigan, currently competing on the PDGA National Tour and Disc Golf Pro Tour. He Joined the Professional Disc Golf Association in 2015 and became a professional in 2016.

Johnny Sias is a professional disc golfer, tournament director, and course designer from Lavalette, West Virginia. He became a professional in 1983 and joined the Professional Disc Golf Association in 1986 after finishing 15th at the 1985 PDGA World Disc Golf Championships in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kristin Lätt</span> Estonian professional disc golfer

Kristin Lätt is an Estonian professional disc golfer and former competitive cross-country skier. In 2022 she became the female disc golf world champion for the first time. Lätt is the only female disc golfer in history to achieve a PDGA rating of 1000 or better, and is widely considered one of the greatest disc golfers in the history of the sport.

References

  1. ↑ "Team Innova Dominates the Start of 2012". 27 February 2012.
  2. ↑ Giggey, B. "Prodigy Disc and "Vested Interest"".
  3. ↑ PDGA (February 22, 2012). "2011 POY/ROY" . Retrieved 2012-02-25.
  4. ↑ PDGA (22 July 2022). "2022 Statement Regarding Nikko Locastro's Disqualification at the 2022 European Open".
  5. ↑ Charlie Eisenhood. "Nikko Locastro Suspended for Nine Months".
  6. ↑ PDGA (March 29, 2011). "He Made It!" . Retrieved 2011-11-14.
  7. ↑ "2010 Japan Open--Dramatic Disc Golf Finals". YouTube . 2 July 2010.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.