The 2015 Rotorua Disc Golf Championships.

The Scion Redwood course in Rotorua is probably the very best place to kick off the NZDG Tour. At the height of summer if offers ample picturesque shade and challenges every Disc Golf skill you have. Since we started playing there a few years back a lot of the blackberry and rough areas of the course have been cleaned up and with no rain for the past month even the traditionally wet areas of the park were bone dry.

At the players meeting first time TD Brad Muir welcomed attendees from as far away as Wellington in the south and Whangarei in the north, and as is becoming the norm now even a few faces this reporter hasn't seen on the tour before, especially from Wellington where the two permanent courses are bringing new players out of the woodwork.

At the beginning of the year it's always interesting to see who's taken their Disc Golf skills to a new level, so as the cards came in after the Saturday morning round it seemed like not a lot had changed with West Auckland's Simon Feasey on a 55, Taumarunui's Pete Boyle on a 56 and Waiheke Island's Siep Van Vliet [back on the tour after a break away] on a 57.

But ... round 2 is where the cat really got amongst the pigeons. One time Rotorua local and now Auckland North Shore Disc Golfer Logan Papuni showed that the impressive performances he'd had in 2014 were just a taste of what's to come in the year ahead. This reporter had the privilege of playing in the same group as him on the Saturday afternoon and was blown away by the Disc Golf display he put on. At one stage he went on a run of 8 birdies in a row to come in with a course record 48 [10 under the card.] It was a thrill to witness Logan's skills and attitude as he put on a Disc Golf lesson for his playing partners. [insert .. picture Rotorua2015-012]

With Simon shooting a consistent 52 in his second round and Pete Boyle a 55 it was very tight at the top, Sunday's27 holes were going to be very interesting. TD Brad had decided on a slightly different format for the Sunday. Instead of a full 18 followed by a 'Super 6' he had everyone playing a final 9 after their morning round of 18. Going in to this final 9 Simon on a 162 had a 1 shot lead over the hard charging Logan with the Lost Tribes Pete Boyle and  Blair Joines making up the top foursome. It would have been nice to watch these guys play but it was also nice to head back out into the Redwoods to play a final 9 ourselves.

When it came time to hand out the silverware Logan had piped Simon by one shot over the Final 9  to take the Championship with Pete Boyle third [1st in GM] and Siep Van Vliet fourth [1'st Master].

Great event, well run on a beautiful course. Thanks to everyone involved for a great weekend.

The Pictures

Click here to see pages for past Makaripi and Rotorua events: 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2010 NZ Nationals | 2008 NZ Match Play Championships