Wind part of challenge at Stockholm event

The wind was blowing, and that made throwing golf discs all the more challenging, but that did not deter those taking part in the first tournament to be held at the Stockholm Disc Golf Course.

“All week we were keeping one eye on the forecast,” said Trevor Lyons, tournament director with the Parkland Association of Disc Golf. “There was supposed to be rain, but the system moved through, and the sun was shining. But the wind was pretty strong for the first nine, and by the time we went out for the championship nine, it was gusting even harder.”

But the wind was generally taken in stride by participants, although the par-30 course played far harder because of it. After two rounds scores of 75 proved good enough to make the final round of five.

“It was a bit wild out there, no doubt about it,” said PADG chair Calvin Daniels, himself a participant. “There were some pretty wild throws out there.”

Daniels, who did not make the final five, changed hats and picked up a microphone, to do commentary on the round for Access 7 television coverage, said players adapted well to the wind.

“The early round scores were certainly inflated by the wind playing havoc with some shots, but the final five steadied things in the gusting winds,” he said.

In the end Duncan Holness of Regina, a finalist at the PADG event at Patrick Park Disc Golf Course in Yorkton earlier this year, would top the field throwing a one over par 31 in the final round.

The win was a narrow one, with Chris Hoyt of Regina just a stroke off the pace with a 32.

Adam Daniels of Yorkton was two strokes back with a 33, good enough for third.

Fourth was J.J. Kroczynski of Regina, with Lyons of Yorkton rounding out the top five.

“It was quite a final round,” said Daniels. “Chris (Hoyt), teed off on number four and the disc got up over the tree line and the wind just kept pushing it north, off the course, across the road, and into an adjacent yard.

“And then were some fine shots. Duncan (Holness) had a few tough lies, but made some key approach shots from his knees, which were key to his win.”

Lyons said the course, which was just installed this summer, was in great shape for the event, and was well received by players.

“We are very lucky in this area to have had a lot of communities see value in creating disc golf courses for local recreation,” he said. “The Stockholm course is among those, and I encourage players to check it out.”