Mount Gambier was overwhelmed by a huge eruption of disc golf from the Valley Lakes area last weekend as the nation’s top throwers invaded the Limestone Coast.
The prize on offer was the 2021 Eruption competition run by Mount Gambier Disc Golf which treated players to three days of fun.
Mount Gambier Disc Golf had high hopes for the tournament director and player Ryan Nicholson confirmed it smashed all expectations.
“We could not be happier and are absolutely stocked,” he said.
“All of the players that have travelled down here from Queensland, Western Australia and Tasmania for the first time were blown away.
“They praised it as one of, if not the best course in the country which is a big call coming from the Tasmanians because they have got a reputation as having the best.
“Also, with how the event ran from the weather to social and novelty events, it was all brilliant and well supported by everyone.”
The competition was played on the championship layout and included tees which forced players to clear lakes and trees where many came a cropper.
However, nothing was going to stop Disc Golf wunderkind Blake Houston from cleaning up the top prizes.
The 15-year-old blitzed the course to score -7 under across the three rounds and take home the Open victory.
The only other person to finish the weekend under par was runner-up Luke Bayne, who finished six shots in arrears.
He also won the “Sacrifice to the Gods” event which puts players to the test throwing from the Centenary Tower towards a basket 175m below.
Houston landed his 300-plus metre throw a mere 49m away to take the chocolates.
Nicholson said the young gun put on a brilliant display of disc golf.
“Blake is only a 15-year-old kid and took out the top division which is an amazing achievement,” he said.
“These points won from the Eruption will go a long way towards helping him potentially winning the national tour in the Pro Men’s Division.
“It is really exciting for the young fella and he is supported by a local disc golf company.”
Nicholson said there were several other top performers including some locals who dominated the Novice Women’s grade.
“We also saw some locals have some success, Rob Marcato took out a convincing win (by 46 shots) in the Amateur 50+ division after playing tremendously well,” he said.
“Mount Gambier’s Amy Weyers won the Novice Women by only two shots after a tight tussle with Anna Kolodina.
“They were never anymore than two shots away from each other across the whole weekend. Another Mount Gambier lady Michelle Schulz finished third as well.”
Although he could not complete the full weekend, the joyous spirit created by the 44 players around the Crater Lakes course was epitomised by Adelaide’s Gareth Morgan.
Not even a moon-boot could slow Morgan’s enthusiasm, who pushed through the pain barrier to take on the Mount Gambier course.
The Advanced class was won by WA representative Connor Donnelly, who squared the card to finish eight shots ahead of runner-up Jonathan Dragt.
Nicholson himself almost took out the Amateur 40+ category, but had to settle for second after Daniel Hartley stormed home with a strong final round.
Hartley finished three shots ahead of Nicholson, while Mount Gambier’s Justin Clarke was two shots away from the podium.
Intermediate went to South Australian Alex Costales from Launceston’s Edward Hesline, while Brad Riches overcame Ben Opitz in a tight fight for the Novice win.
With so many interstate travellers converging on Mount Gambier, Nicholson believed the Eruption’s success reaffirms the town’s place in the national disc golf scene.
“We already have a bit of a reputation for putting on good events after the big success of the 2019 Nationals,” he said.
“We are just a local club striving to make the event bigger.
“This year we had a smaller field because we could not let the Victorian and New South Wales players make the trip because of the restrictions otherwise we would have had more than 100 players for the weekend.
“The potential we have here with this incredible course and incredibly motivated volunteers and sponsors is amazing.
“We could grow year after year and attract more interstate and international players over time.”
Even less than a week after the three-day extravaganza, the disc golf action is not slowing down.
This Saturday the picturesque Crater Lakes venue will be a hive of activity once again when Mount Gambier plays its part in a nationwide celebration of the sport.
The Aussie Disc Golf Day event takes centre stage this weekend and Nicholson said it is a great opportunity for players of all abilities to give the activity a go.
“This Saturday is the Aussie Disc Golf Day where we will play two rounds,” he said.
“The whole idea is getting as many people around Australia playing at the same time and introducing new people to the sport.
“All the rounds will be scored, rated and compared across the country, so not only will there be local prizes, but nationwide competitions as well. We just hope to see people on the course and having a fun and enjoyable day.”
