INNOVA Team: Chris Heeren

Distance Drivers:
1 Champion Starfire - Stable distance driver for long hyzer shots
1 Champion Orc - Used for maximum distance drives, mostly open holes
1 Beast - Optional when room in bag, used for distance/water shots
1 Champion Sidewinder - Long turnover shots, that will not fade back at the end
2 Champion Firebirds - 1 for hyzer shots + windy shots, other for grenades, forehands, thumbers
Fairway Drivers:
3 Champion Eagles - One stable, one slightly beat, one beat used for rollers and turnover shots
1 Champion TeeBird - Used for long straight shots that hyzer at the end
1 Champion TL - Used for straight tunnel shots
2 Champion Leopards - 1 new for turnover shots, 1 beat for trick shots/rollers
Mid-Range:
3 Rocs - 1 stable, 1 slightly beat, and 1 very beat used for shots under 300'
1 Classic Roc - Main mid-range driver, most straight or turnover shots under 250'
Putt & Approach:
4 Aviar Putters - 2 stable putters for putting, 1 over stable or driving, 1 understable for misc.

How did you get started playing disc golf?
I got into disc golf my first year of college. There was a course located right on campus which allowed me to play every day after class. My roommate, Dan Sahagian, let me use a few of his discs and pretty much taught me everything I know about disc golf. Kris Bammert mentioned that there was an organization called the PDGA, so I signed up soon after, receiving my number #18464 in early 2001. I am still enrolled at UW Platteville and play the course almost every day.

Goals:
My goals for the '05 season include winning a Supertour and making a few Final 9's for a National Tour, also playing well enough to make it onto "Team Champion". My long term goals are to make a Final 9 for worlds, get my name known, and to get my rating up into the top 10. My main long term goal is to simply be able to continue to compete at the level I am now for many years to come.

Most memorable event:
My most memorable tournament would be the 2004 Great Lakes Open National Tour. I shot 3 consecutive rounds rated over 1034 and ended up in 2nd place going into the Final 9. This happened to be one of the closest Final 9 finishes in NT history with all 4 players leading the tournament at one point or another. After the last hole of regulation play, there was a 3-way tie for 1st place, and we were to have a sudden death play-off. With several hundred spectators watching it was the most fun I've had in my disc golf career. After the play-off I ended up tied for 2nd place and won $1435 which is the most I've ever won in a single disc golf tournament.

My favorite events:
Marshall Streets Disc Golf Championships (MSDGC) has to be my favorite tournament I have played. It was the most organize and well run tournament I have ever been to. They had a group of score keepers for every group and cameras all the way down to 3rd and 4th card. For the players package they sent out a DVD to everyone who played. they even had 3 groups of skins playing for $2,500 even before the tournament started. The only other tournament that comes close to MSDGC is the United States Disc Golf Championships. USDGC is the most prestigious disc golf tournament out there and should be considered in its own category. Other tournaments I like to play include:Mad City Open, Great Lakes Open, KC Wide Open, Minnesota Majestic, Homie's Fall Festival, Memorial, Bell South Open.

Most memorable win:
My most memorable win would be the 2004 Tower Ridge Open. During the 2nd round I shot my personal best of a 47, which was good enough to catch Barry Schultz and force a play-off. The winds were gusting30 mph and both of our approaches were well short of the basket. I was left with a 60' putt while Barry was looking at a 50 footer. I went for the putt, the wind picked it up and blew it straight into the chains for a 3. The wind picked Barry's putt up and over the basket and I had just won my first WI tournament ever. I will never forget that moment.

Advice:
Well of course practice! Simply practicing a little each day will go a long ways. Try to get a hold of a local pro that can help you with your form or technique. Practice driving in a field, it is a great way to add more distance to your game. Play with as many different people as possible, it's always good to see how other play, and it's also a great way to meet new people. However, I feel the biggest part of the game is the mental aspect. If youcan keep your cool on the course, and always look at the situation in a positive way, it not only will improve your game, but it will look more professional as well.