The Hill Tournament - Taumarunui, New Zealand 2004.
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The Lost Tribe Do It Again by I Wozdeer
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Disc Golf players of New Zealand are just getting spoiled silly lately. A new challenging course in Rotorua for the NZ Disc Golf Nationals in February. Then the spectacular beauty Queenstown's ‘Dart River Safaris Paradise Plate’ tournament in March. At it just kept coming with April's fun in the sun at Taumarunui for The Hill tournament.

Organisers The Lost Tribe of Taumarunui had thought she might be a wet one with misty rain falling in the days leading up to the event, but it couldn't have been better. Cloudless skies greeted the contestants on the Saturday and the only wind was from Quan's behind.

With a few of the country's top players absent, one could see the fire in the eyes of a few wanna-be's that thought this could be their tournie to take. Chris 'The King' Kingsnorth has jumped a few rungs lately with some consistent rounds, eliminating those 2-3 shot tragedies that used to hurt his game a few years ago. The Scarb was back as a dad, having missed the Nationals due to poor timing on the breeding front. And then there were rank outsiders who still looked like they were focused on the ultimate goal: Dylan 'The Villain' Cooper from Wellington, the Greek Mexican Juan Unda (who even brought his coach/nutritionist Marty Pants along) and most of the local boys who fancied themselves should the leaders falter.

Before the first disc was even tossed, the fine conditions had people talking of someone cracking the 50 mark for a new course record. Eyes turned to local favourite Blair Joines for this feat and sure enough, by the afternoon it was so. In fact the record was now a superb 6 under 48 as he completed the day with a total of 99.


Great views, great weather, great putt!

Quan's game continues to mature rapidly. Here we capture his confidence as his disc hits the chains dead on in a great 30 footer birdie. Click on the image for a zoom in.

In Blair's wake after the first day were those who were expected to feature - the top group for Sunday morning was to be Blair, Chris, Pete 'Tribal Leader' Boyle and a well deserved jump into the TG by Dylan the Villain with a faultless ace that afternoon. The Scarb had dropped to the second group due to a few unlucky bogies and even a double bogie or two - his aggressive putting wasn't even to blame, just the roll of the green (and the disc!)

Towards the back of the field (and still playing as the sun set!) were the Wellingtonian diehards Aaron and Julian, who were having their own battle - both on the scorecard and also, by the looks of it, to see who could drink the most!

But before the last two rounds were to be played, there was Saturday night to get through. The Taumarunui crew are renowned for their fine hospitality and they didn't disappoint. After a massive feed for lunch, visitors were treated to more divine eating in the evening. Those who enjoyed a feed at Pete's also got to continue the competitiveness with a unique game of 'Bush Croquet' in the yard under lights.


Taking The Direct Route-ly
Real men wear stubbies and gumboots to disc golf. And there's none so real as Daring Dave Routley. Warming up with a deep throaty 5 minute cough, this slippery sidearmer threw some very strong forehand shots. Here on the 18th, Dave threatens the target.

So hangovers or not, everyone made it for the Sunday morning roster. A light mist hung over the area, but all was still calm and the sun was due to burn it off soon enough.

We elected to follow the second group for the morning (it had nothing to do with the fact Dave was there, honest) as we had our eye on the humble Mexican Juan Unda. He had come back from a 3 over 57 Saturday morning to record a 3 under 51 that afternoon. We felt that if he would continue that dream form, he could find himself in the TG for the first time. And of course The Scarb was going to make a fiery comeback.

We were right on both counts - starting the round on hole 10, Unda amazed the gallery with 3 straight birdies, including a fine 40 foot bomb putt on the 11th. Steve was a bit slower off the mark, but was soon into birdie mode. With no real record behind him, Juan was feeling the pressure of a good round in the making, but managed to stay calm - some say due to a little early morning chat with tournie leader Blair, who's always happy to share some pointers.


'Join'ing The Dots
To Hill Champion Blair Joines, The Hill course seemed like child's play. Showing that extraordinary balance of power and accuracy, he fires an Ol' Faithful down to the 18th target positioned just left of the building.

So it was some tired feet that returned to base for yet another great Volcanic Plateau spread for lunch. The burgers, salad, soup and desert were a godsend for the tired, beaten bodies that were to fight it out for the last round.

After a quick DGSGM (Disc Golf Supplementary General Meeting) where everyone wondered when Feasey was going to make some baskets, it was a reshaped few groups that went to the tees for round 4. Juan had held it together to fire a career best 49 and Steve had pushed himself back into the TG. With Blair holding a massive 9 shot lead, it was going to be a fight for 2nd unless someone could shine from the word go. The Scarb had the first chance with a nice drive on the 1st, but his putt was disappointingly low. And in fact it was the leader who fired yet another salvo, with Blair potting another birdie on the 3rd.

Chris couldn't find a birdie to save himself, but at least was keeping the bogies at bay. He eventually started to secure a few 2's in the back 9 and finished in outright 2nd with a total of 208. Juan Unda surprised everyone with his 3rd birdie on 18 to pip The Scarb by one shot for 3rd place with a 209.

But way out front with a dazzling 199 was local disc golfer extraodinaire Blair Joines. Well done Blair - great consistent golf.

Well done Blair - and well done to all involved, the Lost Tribesmen sure looked after us.

I Wozdeer


So Close!
Over half the hole of The Hill featured sub 80m shots across a gully. Therefore everyone was thinking 'Ace!' at least a few times. Here Marty comes agonisingly close.
It's An Ace!!!

Everyone wanted one, but it took a slightly drunk Wellingtonian. Dylan celebrates an Ace on the 72m 6th.


'Vector Charlie Roger!'
If you timed your drive to the plane taking off, you got a hell tail wind!


Memories
When the first 'car tyre' chain basket was made, Quan was just knee high to a grasshopper.


Yeah, Right!
Sharing a beer and a few lies.


Another accurate mid-range drive by Dylan.


Across the valley, so many targets looked so inviting to the ace - here Des has a dig.


The original Taumarunui chain basket proved tough, even for Silver medallist Chris Kingsnorth.


'Get on down there!' Champion Blair chucks another uncannily accurate drive on the tough 6th.


I See Red
The infamous Basket d'Rouge that still appears on the circuit. Marty at the tee.


Shhhh!
The Scarb is all concentration despite a plane landing right next to the fairway...


The Focus
Despite 3 slow rounds with the Southern Drunkards, Gene maintained that dedicated focus.


TG
Chris lets one rip. And then he throws a disc. All part of the Top Group psychology.


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Results

Name Division Rnd1 Rnd2 Rnd3 Rnd4 Total
Blair Joines
O
51
48
49
51
199
Chris Kingsnorth
O
52
52
51
53
208
Juan Unda
M
57
51
49
52
209
Steve Scarbrough
O
52
57
49
52
210
Pete Boyle
M
55
52
52
54
213
Dylan Cooper
O
56
51
54
58
219
Victor Kereopa
O
56
58
56
56
226
Dave Routley
M
59
59
54
54
226
Quan Weston
J
61
60
58
55
234
Mart de Haas
M
60
62
56
57
235
Des Cooper
M
63
56
61
59
239
Gene Tutaki
O
63
67
61
60
251
Aaron Webby
O
74
79
77
74
304
Julian Crofskey
O
76
80
74
74
304

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