Paul Ulibarri is the 2021 Bob West Memorial Sportsmanship Award recipient.

The PDGA Board of Directors and Staff have announced several annual award winners for the 2021 season.

PDGA annual awards are typically announced during the summer following a calendar year, after nomination and selection processes have concluded. The award winners represent not only excellence on and off the disc golf course, they also personify many of the qualities and values championed by the PDGA.

2021 Volunteer of the Year: Mark Stephens #30042

The Volunteer of the Year is an active PDGA member who has proven him or herself worthy of special recognition based upon volunteer work performed for the betterment of the Association and the sport of disc golf. The Volunteer of the Year is determined by vote of the PDGA Board of Directors          

Mark Stephens on the job.

Mark Stephens is the PDGA state coordinator for the state of Michigan and the chair of the PDGA Discipline Committee. Mark has also served as tournament director for hundreds of sanctioned events and, for the last several years, has served as assistant TD for the United States Amateur Disc Golf Championships – a PDGA Major. Out of this extensive experience, Mark actively advises and assists fellow state/provincial coordinators and event directors and is an example to many working to grow the sport.

2021 Brent Hambrick Tournament Director of the Year: Tim Barr #10512

Tournament directors are the lifeblood of the association and competitive disc golf. They donate hundreds of hours of their time each year to organize and host sanctioned competitions for all of us to compete in. The Brent Hambrick Award for Tournament Director of the Year award recognizes a TD who went above and beyond in fulfilling their responsibilities and in hosting successful event(s).

Candidates for the award are nominated by PDGA Staff, based on the quality of the event(s) run, the number of events run, the number of players served, and the overall event(s) experience. Voters are the Elite Pros, the State/Province and Country Coordinators, the PDGA Major and Elite Series tournament directors, and the PDGA Board of Directors and Staff. A TD may win the Brent Hambrick TD of the Year award multiple times, but they must wait for 3-years between awards.

Tim Barr with FP40 Champion Ohn Scoggins at 2021 Masters Worlds.

In 2021 alone, Tim Barr directed 16 events, including two A-tiers, five B-tiers and eight C-tiers. His work was capped off by directing the 2021 PDGA Professional Masters World Championships – a PDGA Major.         

2021 Bob West Memorial Sportsmanship Award: Paul Ulibarri #27171

Sportsmanship is defined as fair and generous behavior or treatment of others, especially in a sports contest. The Bob West Memorial Award for Sportsmanship is awarded annually to a PDGA member who exemplifies sportsmanship on the disc golf course and during competition, observes the rules of play, and wins or loses with grace.

Candidates for the award are nominated by the members of the PDGA and voted on by the Elite Pros, the State/Province and Country Coordinators, the PDGA Major tournament directors, and the PDGA Board of Directors and staff.

Paul Ulibarri on the Northwood Black course at the 2022 Ledgestone Open. Photo: DGPT

From nominations:

“Paul has and always will be a model player for new and veteran players to look up to. Any time you are grouped with Paul, you know your round will be filled with fun, laughter and good vibes.” – Brad Schick

“Always supportive and respectful to players and TDs. Class act and all around positive attitude on and off the course... year after year. He's overdue for this.”  – Mike Downes

Paul also chairs the PDGA Professional Players’ Committee. His contributions have been foundational in continuing to raise the standards at events that showcase the talent of the world’s top disc golfers.

Congratulations to these award winners on their well-deserved recognition!