Nate Doss is an American professional disc golfer who won three PDGA World Championships (2005, 2007, 2011). 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 (herself a four-time disc golf world champion) as a brewer, launching Bevel Craft Brewing. Doss also provides live color commentary on the Disc Golf Network.
Amateur career Doss first played disc golf when he was seven years old, and by the time he was eleven, he was hooked. Success wasn't too far behind. In 1998, at the age of thirteen, Doss was invited to the Amateur World Championships, held in Appleton, Wisconsin, by Steady Ed. He finished seventh in the Juniors < 16 division. In 1999, he went to Kansas City, Missouri and won the same division he took seventh in the year before. He turned pro the next year.
Professional career
2008 season The 2008 season was possibly Doss's best season. While he won only one National Tour (NT) event, he also won the most prestigious disc golf tournament of the year, the United States Disc Golf Championship. This win gave him his largest payday as a professional disc golfer: $12,000. Other top finishes of the year include runner-up finishes in two majors: The Scandinavian Open, held in Skellefteå, Sweden, and the World Championships, held in Kalamazoo and Battle Creek, Michigan. His runner-up finish in the world championships was his fourth straight top two finish in this tournament, a run bested only by Ken Climo's nine straight wins.
In addition to the National Tour wins, Doss won two smaller tournaments and finished second in the National Tour Series. In just 14 events on the year, his earnings were $27,545, giving him an average of $1,967.5 per tournament attended. He finished the year with a 1036 rating, which was a stellar season by any measure.
2009 season The 2009 season was very much an up and down year by Doss's standards. Perhaps the greatest disappointment of the season came when he finished 12th at the World Championships, his worst finish there since he placed 18th in 2004. This finish ended his four-year run of top two finishes. On the upside, Doss won six tournaments, including two National Tour stops. He also finished on the lead card at the USDGC, taking fourth and his largest paycheck of the year. Doss wrapped up the year earning $18,088 in 23 tournaments, for an average of $786.43 per tournament. He finished the year rated 1033.
2010 season The 2010 season was another underwhelming year. Out of 22 events played, Doss won only two, the Brent Hambrick Memorial Open, a National Tour Event, and the Pittsburgh Flying Disc Open, an A-Tier event. Despite only winning twice, Doss finished in the top three in several National Tour events as well as Majors. Notable third-place finishes include the Steady Ed Memorial Masters Cup (NT), Beaver State Fling (NT), Japan Open (M), and the Minnesota Majestic (NT). Doss also finished fifth at worlds. His end of the year totals include $19,512 earned in 22 tournaments, for an average of $886.91 per tournament. His end of the year rating was 1036.
2011 season The 2011 season was Doss's second full season as a full-time professional. It was a hallmark season in a number of ways. First, this season marked the first time in his career that his Player Rating eclipsed the 1040 mark, peaking at 1042 as of the October 25th update, as well as the season ending update. In addition to one National Tour win, Doss won his third career World Championship in 2011, giving him sole possession of second place on the career world titles list. Another big win on the year was the inaugural World Disc Golf Match Play Championships, which he took home $5,000 for. 2011 was a banner year for Doss, as he set or broke many of his personal bests.
2011 Worlds In 2011, the 2011 Disc Golf World Championships took place in Doss's backyard - Santa Cruz, California. One of the courses included in the championship, DeLaveaga DGC, was the first course Doss played on, at seven years of age. Doss beat second-place finishers Josh Anthon and Will Schusterick by seven throws for his third world championship, his first since 2007.
Professional wins
Notable wins Date Tournament Tier Location Earnings Results PageWorld ChampionshipsM Allentown, PA$5,000Results PageBeaver State Fling NT Portland, OR$1,615Results PageCanadian Open NT Toronto Island, Ontario$2,821Results PageWorld ChampionshipsMHigh Bridge, WI$5,500Results PageGolden State ClassicNTLa Mirada, CA$1,800Results PageUS Disc Golf ChampionshipMRock Hill, SC$12,000Results PageGreen Country OpenNTPawhuska, OK$1,080Results PageMinnesota MajesticNTTwin Cities, MN$2,500Results PageBrent Hambrick Memorial Open NTColumbus, OH$1,800Results PageKansas City Wide OpenNTKansas City, MO$1,650Results PageWorld Championships MSanta Cruz, CA$7,000Results PageVibram Open at Maple Hill NTLeicester, MA$3,000Results Page
Major, NT playoff record (2-2) YearTournamentTierOpponentResult2007 Beaver State Fling NT David Feldberg/Avery Jenkins Won2009 Green Country Open NT Josh Anthon Won with birdie on first extra hole 2009 Brent Hambrick Memorial Open NT David Feldberg/Avery Jenkins Feldberg won with birdie on first hole 2010 Sunshine State Classic NT Ken Climo Lost to birdie on first extra hole
Summary Competition TierWins2nd3rdTop-5Top-25EventsWorld Championships 3 2 1 7 13 17 Other Majors 1 3 4 17 31 34National Tour 8 11 13 48 83 85
Annual statistics Year Events Wins Top 3 Earnings $ / Event Rating* WorldRanking*1998 2 0 0 $0 $0.00 x -1999 3 0 0 $0 $0.00 967 -2000 5 0 0 $329 $65.80 976 -2001 13 0 1 $1,731 $133.15 995 -2002 9 0 2 $2,127 $236.33 1000 -2003 15 0 4 $4,573 $304.87 1001 -2004 18 2 6 $6,328 $351.56 1013 -2005 18 4 9 $13,832 $768.44 1027 52006 17 5 8 $14,021 $824.76 1029 82007 17 5 14 $22,663 $1,333.12 1030 32008 13 4 7 $26,545 $2,041.92 1036 22009 22 7 14 $17,338 $788.09 1033 72010 21 2 11 $19,012 $905.33 1036 92011 22 7 13 $31,268 $1,421.27 1042 12012 20 2 6 $15,539 $776.95 1039 62013 18 2 10 $15,566 $864.78 1041 102014 18 0 6 $16,794 $933.00 1037 22015 18 1 9 $22,034 $1,224.11 1032 62016 17 1 5 $18,164 $1,068.47 1029 -Career 286 42 125 $247,864 $866.66 - -
*At Year End
Equipment Doss is sponsored by Discraft. He has a number of signature discs (marked with *), and commonly carries the following discs in competition:
Drivers Force (ESP, Ti, Z)* Nuke (Ti)* Predator (Z) Pulse (ESP) XL (X)
Midranges Buzzz (Ti)* Drone (Ti) Hawk (Z) Wasp (Z)
Putters Challenger (D, Ti)
References
External links Nate Doss Website Nate Doss PDGA Player Page