Huntsville’s Cadence Burge ranks No. 10 in the world among women’s pro disc golfers – at age 18

HUNTSVILLE — Talk about a whirlwind year for Cadence Burge.

She graduated from Grissom and started online classes at Arizona State – she’s a statistics major.

Along the way, she competed in major disc golf tournaments in Finland, Estonia, Vermont, Texas, California, Michigan and elsewhere.

In June, she won her first Pro Tour tournament – the Discmania Challenge.

Oh, by the way, she’s also the 10th-ranked woman in the world in the Professional Disc Golf Association.

Off the road and on break from classes for the holidays, Cadence took time to take part in a Q&A with 256 Today.

1. How did you learn you were ranked No. 10? How did you react and what does that mean to you?

I learned I was ranked No. 10 through seeing it on the PDGA’s social media post. I can’t recall a certain reaction, most of my goals for ranking this year was my placement in the Disc Golf Pro Tour standings (I was No. 9). Both of these rankings combined made me very proud to see how far I’ve come this year. Last year, I could not have even imagined that I would be considered a top 10 player in the world, and the fact that it is reality now is surreal.

2. What’s your secret to your success, especially for your age and who you’re competing against?

Nonstop practice for years, and being involved since I was very young. The professional side of the sport has many people ages 16-20, so I am actually used to playing against other people my age. There really is no secret to being good besides consistent practice and a drive to be better.

3.  How long have you been playing; when did you turn pro and what made you decide to go pro?

I have been playing for around 10-11 years now (2015), and accepted cash to turn professional in late 2022. I chose to go pro because I won Amateur Worlds and NADGT (National Amateur Disc Golf Tour) Finale earlier in the year, which is usually a signal that you are ready to start challenging yourself to professional fields. With the overall goal of playing pro tour events in 2023, it was time to take that next step in order to gain experience.

4. Who’s your biggest influence personally and professionally?

My biggest influence is probably my dad. He got me into disc golf when I was 8 and allowed me to practice at my own pace. He supported the goals I had, took me to tournaments across the South, and made sure I had everything I needed. He is also a big tournament player, is the Alabama state coordinator, runs many tournaments in Alabama, is highly involved with courses in the area, and is overall a large face for disc golf in the South. His attitude and dedication to the game is something I respect and look up to admirably. He helps inspire me to continue chasing my goals as a professional disc golfer and shapes the way I view the game.

5. What do you remember about your first Pro Tour win?

I remember basically every single second of that entire day and round, but I will not bore you with all of those details. After I threw my final upshot I was trying to force myself to hold out hope winning was possible, but I was stuck thinking of all the strokes I lost to Holyn (Handley). As I watched her upshot sail (out of bounds) long, I turned to my caddy and asked repeatedly “Did that actually go OB? Did that cross?” As I came to the realization that if she couldn’t throw it in, then I was actually going to win. I was hyperventilating and in pure shock, with my caddy trying to hype me up. I remember asking my team manager if I could just lay my putt up just to be safe, and he replied with, “Just put it in the basket.” The entire moment was a dream come true as a burst into tears the second my friends and family all gathered around me to give me a hug. One of my biggest fears was being alone when I won a big event one day, but everyone I cared for was there for me. This was the best moment of my life.

6. What is life like on the Tour?

Life on tour varies person to person, but one thing that is consistent for everyone is that you are constantly on the move and constantly away from home. I really enjoy getting to  travel and the experience I am getting from being away from my family. I have always been very studious, so balancing studies with the tour hasn’t been too bad for me. I do any work or tests I have in the evening after I play my tournament or practice rounds, and study hard the days before the tests. My downtime is mostly spent resting and watching new shows, but we also enjoy swimming and playing pickleball. One of my goals next year is to be more active doing things outside the hotel, including to continue going to the gym.

7. What tournament did you enjoy the most and why?

Discmania Challenge or U.S. Women’s. Discmania for the obvious reasons that I played well, but I also just had the most fun. I spent the week with two of my best friends where we watched shows, played games, went on adventures, and spent time at the course. U.S. Women’s is at a close second. I got to do fun side events, eat at a really good Chinese place, almost won a major, and spent more times with my best friends. I have very good memories getting into the freezing cold great lake there with Shelby (Cowen), with our sweatshirts on and everything. After that, we got into the hot tubs of her hotel to warm up.

8. You’ve been around the country and also Europe this year. Where was your favorite spot?

My favorite spot varies on what I’m looking for. For the views and experience, I really enjoyed Norway. The course was breathtakingly beautiful, and we stayed in Oslo and got to experience the city. Destination-wise, either Michigan or Vermont has been my favorite. The lakes and mountains provided outside activities to do to keep us entertained and were very pretty, especially in the fall.

9. Do you have any tips for up-and-coming players?

For new players: Keep the game fun! if you are getting frustrated trying to get better, take a step back and try doing something within the game you enjoy. Maybe that is playing casually with your friends or doing something fun like a doubles round. For people trying to go pro, my tip is to play all the time. While field work and other forms of practicing are important, I think you get the most important reps from playing disc golf every single day.

10. What are your goals for 2026 and your career?

My goals for 2026 are to maintain a 970 rating and reach 975, get back to a point of throwing that I know I can (I’m in a slump right now) win a Pro Tour event, get top 8 in points. I also want to continue growing my social media and improve my reputation. For my career, my goal is to win a few majors, and get a world title one day. These are crucial to cementing yourself as a top disc golf player in history. I want to be in contention for the win at several tournaments and show consistency in my game.