'The Island 2007'
Proudly sponsored by ‘Fallen Angel’, Stonyridge, Onetangi.
Event #1 on the 2007 New Zealand Disc Golf Calendar & the Inaugural Waiheke Island Tour event over the weekend of January 20 & 21 went down a treat.
It’s nice heading out of Auckland with ya mates, on ya way to somewhere different to catch up with friends from all over not just the country but the world as well, and having a whole weekend dedicated to disc golf.
But even better this time was the fact we we’re going by boat. It’s just a 40 minute trip from the ferry terminal downtown to Waiheke Island, time for a cup of coffee and a read of the paper and a catch up with others on the boat who are all heading to the event. The ‘Freaky Styley’ crew of Juan, Serf and Doover had brought their bikes but the smart Styleyists had organised a pick up from the ferry with Mr Waiheke Hailstone. [Thanks Nige]
Perfect disc golf conditions [because the wind is your friend] and an impressive field of 27 negotiated the hills of the Onetangi Sports Park. Players from not just the length and breadth of Godsown but UK Legend and Disc Golf Hall of Famer Derek Robins turned up after attending Sammy Neilson’s wedding in Christchurch.. [Congratulations Sammy by the way] A couple of yanks came to play; Justin Ellis and Mathew Falk both from Wisconsin, the Wellington Crew, the Lost Tribe rent a crowd from Taumarunui, the usual suspects from the Bay of Plenty, the Auckland Crew and of course the Hailstone Family was there in force along with the regular Waiheke Island disc golf addicts.
After the first round on the new long course on the Saturday morning it became real obvious it was going to be the battle for second that was going to create the most interest as Simon Feasey already had a 5. shot lead on the field. Shooting a new course record of 46, 8 under par.
By the end of the second round on the more familiar original short course Simon had extended his lead to 10 . and by the time we we’re cutting to the top 6 for the Sunday afternoon play off he had 19 shots on the field. Yep! You could have sailed the Waiheke car ferry between the multi time National Champ and second place.
Speaking of second place, that really was a great ‘6 hole shoot out’ to watch, with outright second only being decided on the last shot on the last hole. The 20 or so strong gallery including the sports reporter from the local Gulf News who followed this group were enthralled to the last shot. It was great to see some of the skills on display.
In a 3 way tie for second Nigel Waiheke Hailstone and Derek Robins both superbly birdied, Dylan Cooper sensationally saved par, on the last.
Blair Joines, with an ace on the old 9th always thereabouts just one further back on 180 and Siep the demon Van Vliet in 6th place on 181.
So the divisions went a little like this; Open Simon Feasey, Masters Nigel Hailstone, Grand Masters Bob Gentil, Junior [Under a white hat] went to Bruno Whale from Taumarunui and Junior [under 13] went to local lad Jack Hailstone, one to watch as years go by mark my words.
Great skills to all those involved Brett and the local crew did a great job for a first time tour event and it’s always good to come along to an event like this and see 27 players including numerous new faces .. Thanks too to the tournament sponsor, Stonyridge, the bottle of Fallen Angel went down a treat with the Sunday evening dinner.
