On Sunday Mount Gambier Disc Golf held the Crater Lakes Classic event in conjunction with its Club Championships and June League Day.
Players competed over two rounds on a 10-basket, 18-hole, alternate tee course utilising parts of the Crater Lake course including some dangerous throws over the Valley Lake.
The weather was much cooler than forecast with the temperature barely reaching above 10 degrees for the day, but players pushed through the chilly conditions.
After the first round the scores were tight in many divisions with less than three shots separating the top two players in the MPO, MA1, MA40, MA2, FA2, MA3 and FA4 divisions.
In the afternoon round conditions were slightly windier but this did not hinder players with many improving their scores.
The players put on a show with results in the MPO, MA40 and MA3 all coming down to the last hole and only one shot separating first and second.
David Perry claimed the sought after MPO win in the open division with a top score of 103, just one shot ahead of Matthew Noblet in a tight contest.
In the MA1 section Alex Costales made the most of his efforts with a score of 101, out placing Michael Gliese.
Justin Clarke compiled a great score of 122 on the day in the Amateur Masters 40+ to run away with a good victory from Ryan Nicholson and David Haskins.
Blake Nicholls’ score of 107 completed a comfortable win in the Intermediate class from Darryl Pearson and Benjamin Hicks.
The women’s division of the intermediates was won by Alice Reindl with +14 from Amy Weyers and Kate Eldridge claiming the minor placings.
Four competitors battled in the Recreational class with Curtis King placing first with 117 and Matthew Weyers and Phil Morgan fighting for the minor placings.
With a score of 119 Ben Tremelling and Chris Salter were the only two competing in the Novice class and Tremelling was the eventual winner.
The Women’s Novice class had three nominations with Taryn Pearce in first place from Michelle Schulz and Tayla Clarke.
Austin Holman and Henry Kerin contested the Under 15’s with the former emerging victorious with a score of 139.
Mount Gambier’s national champion Jessica Holman threw an incredible 161 in her section despite being the only nomination.
During the event there was a closest to the pin award for the men’s division on the 13th hole plus a combined women’s/juniors on the second.
Blake Nicholls parked it during the first round and this shot was not able to be beaten, while Michelle Schulz threw her disc within five metres of the basket to win the women’s/junior’s division.
Special mention must go to Blake Nicholls with an ace up the hill on the tricky 3rd hole which has a blind basket, so he was unable to see if he had sunk his first ever ace until he walked up.
The June League Day and Club Championships were also held in conjunction with the Crater Lakes Classic.
The scores from first round of the event determined the winners of the league and in the men’s section Perry and Costales both scored 49 to be equal first while Noblet completed the podium.
It was fierce action in the women’s round with three players going for gold.
But it was Eldridge with 67 from Weyers and Reindl both on 68 tying away for second.
The close action did not stop in the juniors with Austin Holman and Jessica Holman fighting it out.
Austin won the sibling rivalry by 10 shots while Henry Kerin joined them on the podium.
It was also the final round of the 2021/22 league season and Costales topped off a great campaign with the best score of the event.
His -19 under par was enough to become the men’s club champion.
Weyers continued to show her consistency and took out the women’s award with a score of +19, while Austin Holman was able to clinch the junior title with the same score.
These champions will have their names added to the honour board at the Blue Lake Golf Club.
The June League Day was also the final opportunity for players to challenge for the top bag tag.
Justin Clarke was able to take the number one tag off Ryan Nicholson in the final round to take the honours for the year.
Weyers had the lowest number for the women and Lincoln Holman for the Juniors.
The 2022/23 season will start with a Random Format Day on Saturday, July 2.
