Posted by Prodigy Disc
on January 25, 2024
The 2024 Prodigy Disc Core Team
Year 10 of Prodigy was monumental. Team players racked up victories on the Disc Golf Pro Tour, European Pro Tour, and at Majors, with Isaac Robinson becoming the first MPO player sponsored by the Star to win a World Championship. Prodigy will continue to push that momentum forward with a formidable group ready to make a mark on the upcoming campaign.
The Prodigy Core Team is the highest level of professional support and sponsorship from the Georgia disc golf manufacturer, and the talented mix of touring players includes those poised to break through and skilled veterans constantly working to reach new heights.
In 2024, the Core Team will feature 9 players representing 4 countries spread across 3 continents. Combined the group has won 535 events dating back to 2004.
Meet the Prodigy Disc Core Team
Isaac Robinson
2023 PDGA Professional World Champion, 2x Major Winner
In addition to his victory at the 2023 PDGA Professional World Championship in September at Smugglers’ Notch Resort in Vermont, Isaac Robinson also captured a Major title in April at the PDGA Champions Cup at the International Disc Golf Center in his home state of Georgia.
Isaac’s first Prodigy Collabs Series disc, the Archive midrange, was released in August 2023. He first joined Prodigy in 2016 and was promoted to Core Team in 2021 after returning to the company.
Chantel Budinsky
Canada's Highest-Rated FPO Player
Ontario’s Chantel Budinsky only began playing professionally in 2021 but has quickly established herself as a force on the course. Last season was her most active year on tour, and most successful. A win at the Disc Golf Pro Tour’s American Flying Disc Open in August solidified her place as one of the best players in the division.
Chantel joined Prodigy in 2022 and earned promotion to the Core Team for 2024. She is a must-follow on YouTube and Instagram.
Luke Humphries
2023 Järva Open Champion - European Pro Tour
Luke Humphries is no stranger to big wins, having won the PDGA Amateur World Championship in 2018 and Rookie of the Year honors the following season in his first year on tour. An international trip in 2023 netted him his best professional victory with a win at the famed Järva Open European Pro Tour stop in Sweden.
Luke joined Prodigy in 2020 and has been on the Core Team since 2021. He also hosts the popular YouTube series OTB Tour Skins on the GKPro channel.
Kevin Jones
2020 Disc Golf Pro Tour Champion
How to sum up Kevin Jones? He’s a multi-time Elite Series winner, Disc Golf Pro Tour Champion, all-around athlete, and talented DJ. He’s also a purveyor of viral disc golf shots, a highlight reel he added to in 2023 by acing a hole at the Järva Open with a grenade shot.
Kevin joined Prodigy in 2019 and has been on the Core Team since signing. Jones’ own Prodigy Collabs Series discs are a staple in his lineup. The overstable Distortion approach disc, straight-flying Feedback fairway driver, and dependable Reverb distance driver each play an important role in his gameplan.
Manabu Kajiyama
16-Time Japan National Champion
A legend in Japan, Manabu Kajiyama reached a milestone few have ever achieved when his PDGA Player Rating crested the 1050 mark in December 2022. He was the highest-rated player in the world in August 2023 with a rating of 1056.
Manabu first joined Prodigy in 2014.
Cale Leiviska
159 Career Wins
Cale Leiviska is a founding member of Prodigy Disc, having joined the company in 2013. Ten years later in 2023, Cale began spitting his competitive events between the MPO and MP40+ divisions, winning several A-tier titles in both. He and his wife also welcomed their first child.
Cale is a decorated disc golf course designer and owner of Airborn Disc Golf. In 2020, he embarked on one of the world’s largest disc golf projects, founding and designing the Airborn Disc Golf Preserve in Clearwater, Minnesota. It has become the no. 1 rated facility in the state, features three courses, and hosts The Preserve Championship Disc Golf Pro Tour event each summer.
Through the Prodigy Collabs Series, Cale has introduced the popular Falcor distance driver, Shadowfax fairway driver, and Stryder midrange disc.
Väinö Mäkelä
2021 Finland National Champion
A verified celebrity in Finland, Väinö Mäkelä has dominated European competition with wins at the 2021 Finnish Nationals and six Finnish tour victories on the Prodigy Pro Tour to go along with a 2016 Junior European Disc Golf Championship crown. He is a constant challenger for podium finishes at Majors, Disc Golf Pro Tour, and European Pro Tour events.
Väinö joined Prodigy in 2015 and the Core Team in 2021. He now equally splits his time between North America and Europe, still calling Turku home. Väinö documents his travels on his YouTube channel, often in his native tongue.
Ezra Robinson
2023 Jim Palmeri's 50th American Flying Disc Open Champion
In his first full season on the tour, Ezra Robinson earned his first career Disc Golf Pro Tour win at the 2023 American Flying Disc Open, completing the Prodigy sweep alongside Chantel Budinsky. Nine top 10 finishes at DGPT and higher events helped Ezra reach a career-high player rating of 1036.
Ezra joined Prodigy in 2016 and was promoted to the Core Team in 2021.
Aidan Scott
2023 Rookie of the Year Finalist
Most people got their first look at Aidan Scott with his seventh place showing at the 2023 PDGA Champions Cup, but he’s been making a mark in the Southeast for a couple of years.
Aidan first joined Prodigy in 2022 and earned promotion to the Core Team for 2024.
2023 Core Team signee Caroline Henderson has stepped away from competitive disc golf while rehabilitating an injury. Prodigy remains committed to Caroline if she returns to the sport in the future. We wish her the best and a successful recovery.
