Great shots highlight Sandy Beach Tourney

The third annual Sandy Beach Disc Golf Tournament was held Saturday under near ideal conditions.

The great conditions led to some fantastic shot making and a very close competition among the more than 40 participants.

“We were thrilled by the response with more than 40-entrants and the way the weather cooperated,” said Sandy Beach resort owner Kelly Butz. “Disc golf has proven to be a great asset here, and we see new players all the time trying the course which is just what we hoped for.

“And the tournament has become a highlight of the summer here.”

Butz said the event was helped along by great volunteers within the community group at the resort, and great businesses in the area supporting the tournament with prizes.

Powered in part by a huge drive leading to an eagle on number-six on the second round of the day, Duncan Holness of Percival led the field after 18 with a 58, (par), tied with Jason Kienle of Kuroki.

Aaron Kienle of Yorkton sat at 59 (plus-one) after 18, and Jeremy Taylor of Saskatoon shot a 60.

The top-four then headed out for a final nine with a clean scorecard for the title.

Holness would again throw a par 29 to take the win, three up on Taylor. Jason Kienle threw a 33, while Aaron Kienle faded to a 37 for fourth.

“I guess the key to winning here was to stay steady. The weather was great, but the course has teeth if you get too high or too low,” said Holness.

“I had some good tosses today, including a huge drive to set up an eagle on six, but the most important shots I made were on number-five. I laid up each time directly in front of the double mandatory, which made my second shots much, much easier.”

Taylor said for him it was a chase from the start, but a huge birdie put him in the hunt.

“After the front nine I was plus-three chasing the top-six scores to make the final four,” he said. “I threw minus-one on the back and slipped into the top-four. It was my shot on three for the near ace, (he recorded an easy putt birdie), that tied me for the lead and Jason's miss on nine that got me to the champions tournament (with his second place finish).”

Taylor said it came down to staying calm.

“Staying within your game and not trying to do too much helped, especially when the scores were so tight,” he said. “I had to hold back and not get anxious when trailing hoping that someone's wheels might fall off and it worked.”

Holness said the course definitely has its challenges.

“The hardest thing about throwing at Sandy Beach was the number of tight lines that the holes presented to us,” he said. “It's very difficult to be bold when the penalty for a misstep is so harsh.”

That may have played to what Taylor sees as a personal strength.

“I'd have to say my strength, when accurate, would be my forehand drive,” he said. “I haven't been playing long enough to dial in long putts consistently so I need that first shot to be good.”

The two combatants did agree on the toughest hole of the day.

“Number four is always the toughest,” offered Taylor. “With a really narrow chute to throw down and over hanging branches get you 80 per cent of the time.”

“Hole four caused me fits all day,” concurred Holness. “It doesn't look like much, but the soft tee pad, closed in fairway, and further-away-than-you-think tonal had me dreading it each time I stepped up.”

The event qualifies Taylor, as a Parkland Association of Disc Golf (PADG) member, for the Farrell Agencies Champions Challenge to be held at the Asessippi Beach and Campground course Oct. 15. Holness was already into the Championship having qualified through an earlier event.

“The champions tourney is a great time and it's a great incentive for the other tournaments,” said Taylor. “Everyone wants to qualify and it's another weekend to make some quality throws with some good players. It's also a great way to end the season.”

Rounding out the prizes at the tournament was Taylor taking the Asessippi Beach and Campground sponsored closest-to-the-pin award, and the Yorkton Dodge best drive award went to Holness.

Kim Taylor took the ladies closest-to-the-pin prize, with Rachelle Kienle having the ladies longest drive.

The next tournament on the PADG schedule in this Sunday, (Aug. 13), at the newly installed Billy Haas Memorial Disc Golf Course at Kelvington. The event is being billed as a ‘Potluck Chuck’. Entry fee is players bringing a wrapped prize valued at $20/$25, and after play all will get to pick one, so everyone takes home a prize.

“We are hoping for a good turn out to launch this new course,” said PADG Tournament Chair Trevor Lyons.