2009 NZDG Championships
From a GM’s point of view it’s always rewarding when one of the young up and comers puts his hand up to organise and run a tournament .. especially when it’s our premier annual NZDG Championships. Not only did Josh Smith and his beautiful [very pregnant] partner Allie Joynt put their hands up, but they excelled in everything they did.
Friday’s NZDG National Doubles Championship saw numerous players out on the course for the first time. Doubles is not just a lot of fun, it’s a great way to learn a course as well, as you discuss tactics with your partner and watch your opposition analyse the different routes down the fairways and approaches to the greens. If you’re up to 6 rounds over 3 days it’s well worth the effort, if not there is a lot to be learned just wandering around with the camera as well. Congratulations to Simon Feasey and Blair Joines for retaining the National Doubles Championship Jenny and Robyn Joynt who took out the Woman’s title and to Karoline Jonsson and partner Andrew Taylor who beat Ming Menzies and Jimmy Connolly in an all Tauranga play off for the mixed Doubles Crown. Friday evening saw the NZDG rent-a-crowd converge on Josh and Allie’s place for a fully catered BBQ .. Brilliant! .. Complements on the superb steaks as well.
Saturday evening saw us all scrubbed up and out for the tournament dinner at the 'Cock and Bull' where TD Josh Smith handed out some bar tab prizes which went down a treat (a veiled attempt to slow down a few of the favourites the following day? - Ed.). Sunday morning dawned ideal for Disc Golf: a little overcast and dead still which was welcome relief as we headed into the business end of the weekend. The 8:30 players meeting saw the fours heading to the tees by 8:45, a good idea on the final day for those hitting the road straight after the event. At lunch there was some shuffling of the cards as Blair Joines' 6 under course record saw him jump into the top group. The final round saw the over all championship lead change several times with Josh Smith, Pete Boyle and Simon Feasey all taking a turn at the top, but when the dust settled it was Simon who came out on top just 2 shots up on Josh who was just 1 ahead of Grand Master Pete Boyle. Congratulations to everyone who made our NZDG 2009 National Championships a great one. And from the TD: The course was in great condition, the competition was tight and the golf was as hot as the weather! We kicked off the 31st N.Z Disc Golf Nationals with the doubles in the searing Waikato heat as Hamilton turned it on for the visitors. There were some “interesting” results and some disappointments (myself included) as everyone came to grips with the technical course. Jenny and Robyn Joynt took out the women’s doubles with Blair Joines and Simon Feasey claiming another men’s title. The highlight of the competition would have to be the 3 extra holes and ‘putt off’ that were required to separate the top mixed pairs. This preceded the first round of singles on day 2 and was an entertaining way to start the day. After some miscalculating and a quick flick of the infamous “T.D twink”, Karoline and Andrew were sent back to Hole 1 along with Ming and Jimmy to decide which of the Tauranga twosomes would be crowned champions. They would have been there all day so I intervened with a putting competition in which Karoline and Andrew prevailed. Congratulations guys! The first two rounds were unseeded and everyone got a chance to mix and mingle with fellow disc golfers from all levels and from as far abroad as Australia and the U.S.A. Dinner followed the first day's play at the Cock n Bull where we enjoyed a pleasant meal as we tried to predict the outcome of the next days play. The 2nd day got under way with groups now seeded. Simon had a commanding lead in the Men’s Open as did Ming in the Women’s but as everyone soon realised it would be a tournament of two halves. After the morning round there was a lot of reshuffling right across the board including Blair Joines who jumped into the top group with a course record -6. Heading into the final round it was anyone’s for the taking with the top 4 consisting of Simon Feasey of Auckland with a 2 stroke advantage, two Taumarunuians and Lost Tribe members (Blair and Pete), and yours truly flying the Hamilton Hornets flag. It was a torrid affair with each golfer taking his turn first and last off the tee as the lead changed hands. There were missed chances a plenty and as the tournament came to a close a desperate 30m birdie on 17 by the course designer wasn’t enough to rattle the nerves of the “Mighty Fease” who incidentally is not only a great sportsman but one of the nicest guys you’ll meet. An ace was required as well as some other from of divine intervention to force a play off but it wasn’t to be and as we added up our scores at the bottom of hole 18 which is appropriately named “would’ve, should’ve, could’ve”, some of us were left pondering what may have been. Congratulations to all our winners: Juniors Womens Mens Click here to drop to the Full Results We wish to continue to host events into the future (2009 Match Play?) and perhaps become permanent fixture on the disc golf calendar. Thanks to all those helped in any way or form with the course set up and to Jim Gabb at Below the Line Ltd for our slick shirts. Thank you to Allie and Corryne for the fantastic food that fuelled us all weekend and last but not least to each and every participant. Thank you for making an effort. We need you to continue to make that effort in order to grow the sport here in God’s own. Looking forward to seeing you all soon to forecast, reminisce, argue and deconstruct the great sport that is Disc Golf. Josh Smith, Disc Golf Nationals 2009 Tournamen Director Pictures
 Jack Turner putts out as Michael Proctor, Damien Peters, Sheriff Ibrahim, Jimmy Conway and Ming Menzies watch on .. No Pressure!
 Jimmy Conway and the NZDG rent-a-crowd make the most of a spot of shade between rounds.
 The GM slots one through the trees on hole #11 on the Saturday afternoon.
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Well researched tournament information made available month’s out from the event, a great well-thought-out course which tested a variety of disc golf skills, brilliant hospitality and even the weather came to the party. What else could you ask for?
The Saturday format for the opening of the NZDG Championships saw both rounds un-seeded, which is a great way to mix up the playing fours ahead of the seeded serious business-end of the competition. By the end of the day there weren’t many surprises with the usual suspects making the top couple of groups. Possibly the biggest surprise was there was just 1 ace, and even more of a surprise was that it was from 10 year old Toby Gentil playing in his 5th Nationals. Good thing he’d paid into the ‘ace kitty’ for the first time! He now had 3 rounds of anxious waiting to see if he had to split it. 
