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Feb 25 & 26 Onetangi Sports Park Disc Golf Course

Summer on the beautiful Waitemata Harbour

It’s always good to have an ace up your sleeve

After 40 brave sporting bodies put their skills to the test in Taupo, the tour had now shifted up north to the scenic backdrop, beautiful ridgelines, oh and not to mention a spot of wind of Waiheke Island. After a year in obscurity “The Island” was back and putting on a landscape that was second to none. With the weather playing it’s part the scene was set for another fantastic tour event.

With Course designers Siep van Vliet and the ever trusty Paul Cohen doing a fantastic job in redesigning a new course layout for the tournament the two local lads were looking to cash in on course knowledge. While TD Brett Hailstone was hoping he could transfer his good from the stick version to the proper version of golf.  With some new faces taking on the challenge it was great to see a new breed of Waiheke lads coming through with Jake Hailstone and Kip Hailstone competing for the Junior Division division. Also more international faces were to appear With American Mark Carney competing in his first disc golf event in this country while fellow countryman Nick Harrel IV was far more accustomed to the Kiwi ways of disc golf and knew what lay ahead. And for the orange shorts of Nicholas Mckay his hands were a little heavier with  the new addition of his wedding ring being firmly wedged on his finger (ceremony at his local disc golf park Monte Cecilia!). Congratulations Nick from all the disc golf crew.

The first round saw a similar story starting to unfold with 2012 National Champion Simon Feasey taking the lead shooting a 50. Hot on his heels was course designer Siep van Vliet was on course to be in the lead only to be undone on the last two holes, which saw him shoot a very impressive 52 in the first round. TD Brett Hailstone (53) was enjoying the stigma that comes with leading the Grand Masters Division and it was left to Jenny Joynt to lead the field in the woman’s division with Nigel Hailstone (57) holding the lead over the pesky Mexican Juan Unda in the Masters Division. 

The afternoon saw the sun really belt down on the course and start to take it’s effect on the golfers. While most were trying to better their scores the sun and wind were making sure that you had to work for every shot you picked up. After a poor showing at the Nationals by his standard David Keene got out the blocks early with 3 birdies in the first five holes of round two. Meanwhile Simon found a slow start to cut his lead to just one before a third of the round was gone.  The battles of the locals was heating up with Siep and Brett going toe to toe on the scorecard too, while hunting them down at the top of the second group was the ever improving leftie Brad Muir with some very impressive golf.  Firing himself into outright second and one shot behind after a hot front nine holes was 'Speedo' Keene, shooting a 23, while The Fease was also in hot form with a 25.

The back nine dished up a lot more carnage with the wind at it’s absolute best and Keene was unable to capitalise on the good from of the front nine. However shooting a birdie on the testing 17th saw him sneak to the front of the field while a lost disc on the same hole (only to be found within 5 minutes of finishing the round ) for Simon Feasey meant he would have to repeat his feats of the 2012 Nationals and come from behind. The skill of local Brett Hailstone came to the floor in the second round with some spectacular approach shots that shows he should spend more time on the tour than the stick course. Meanwhile Brad Muir had put some serious heat on the top four shooting a second round 52 to be tied with Siep van Vliet and needing a countback to see who would be in the top group come morning.  Nigel Hailstone was still keeping the Mexican at arms length in the Masters (while the Mexican even resisted riding at the chance of getting one over the guy they call Waiheke). Course designer Paul Cohen was ruing a few flights into the rough and was going to need something special to stop the Grand Masters title going to good friend Brett.  

The New Zealand Disc Golf Tour sees some wonderful festivities on the Saturday night and in this reporter’s opinion the Waiheke event takes the cake - or should it be the fish. With the Hailstone boys dishing up some of New Zealand’s best seafood on Onetangi Beach during a amazing sunset, some Frisbee throwing, a few beers and stories about the day's efforts and shots that were left out on the course. This was truly a chance for the American contingent of Mark Carney and Nicholas Horell to see just why New Zealand’s’ disc golf tour is one worth experiencing.

Sunday saw an ever better day greet the golfers on the course without a cloud in the sky. Overnight leader David Keene once again started quickly out the blocks, birdying 3 of the first four holes, while Simon Feasey found himself in an unfamiliar position and slipping off the pace, until hole 6 that was. With Feasey on the tee doing only what he does best, he let rip with his favourite driver. Putting a good looking hyzer that flattened and started to take shaped towards the basket, while fading back to the left all eyes in the top group focused in too see just how good this drive was only to see the disc hit the bank 2 metres in front of the basket and smash full on into the chains for a 123 metre Ace!.

It was now game on between Feasey and Keene.  With Feasey coming storming back to regain the lead by the 10th hole the question was to see if Keene could respond.  While going stroke for stroke with Feasey in the back nine and at the end of the three rounds would see Feasey take a one shot lead into the super six after shooting a spectacular 48 while Keene was still within striking distance shooting a 50. While Brett Hailstone had the Grand Masters Title sown up with some solid golf over the weekend, he was more concerned about beating young up and comer Brad Muir who had fired a great 51 in the final round (including hitting the pole on the 6th just before Simon's ace on it), taking the battle for third place along with Siep van Vliet showing some supreme putting to put his name firmly in the mix.

Meanwhile the battle of the Americans was being hotly contested in the other group while eventual Woman’s Champion Jenny Joynt was not to be outdone making sure that she went shot for shot with the Americans shooting her best round of the tournament, for every person in their group scoring a 65 in their final round.  

Super 6

With Feasey and Keene battling it out for the stunning Two Taniwha trophy the eyes were firmly on the battle for third with Brett, Siep and Brad all within striking distance of each other and only 3 shots covering them for third place.  Maybe it was the endurance factor, or the fact that they are both left handed, however the super six saw Brad Muir jump from 5th all the way up to third with some spectualr drives and impeccable putting. While in the battle for the trophie David Keene managed to pull the vital shot back after Simon Feasey missed a 5 metre putt on hole 2 of the Super Six which was a long par 4.

Playing the signature hole along the ridgeline and after following a stunning drive from Brad Muir, Keene put his drive in the hands of the Wind Gods and had looked to have given Feasey a reprieve flying well off the fairway. However a solid up shot meant that it would go to the last hole to determine a winner. While once again Muir’s impressive skill saw his upshot hit the basket both Feasey and Keene had found both of them in trouble. With both carding bogies on the last hole it meant they were to finish the tournament tied on 174 a piece and share the tour points.  There was still the matter of the trophy though and so the top two pressed on to a Play Off.  

With Keene parking his drive on the first playoff hole it took a Feasey like drive to put his shot even closer to the basket and both taking birdies.  Both moving on to the second hole, which was again halved with Feasey missing a birdie and Keene unable to capitalise it was to other third extra playoff hole.  With the wind playing it’s part, Keene found himself in thick gorse and opened the door for Feasey to play somewhat safe and guarantee himself of a three. What he wasn’t banking on was Keene managing to fire a recovery shot from 5 meters of gorse to give himself at least a chance of taking the playoff to another hole. However unable to convert it meant that once again Simon Feasey would get to engrave his name on the famous Two Taniwha trophy for 2012.

Congratulations to all winners of all divisions Simon Feasey (Open), Jenny Joynt (Womans), Jacob Hailstone (Junior Boys ), Nigel Hailstone (Masters), Brett Hailstone (Grand Masters). It was a fantastic tournament and brilliant to see some new faces on the tour, not to mention all the juniors that are being introduced to the sport. Many thanks to Siep and Paul for the course design. Also to the TD Brett & brother Nigel Hailstone for their amazing hospitality.

Your reporter
Tab Loid

The Results

* Simon Feasey wins Two Taniwha trophy on 4th playoff hole.

Yeah!