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| Gallery |
After much anticipation the Perth Open was just around the corner. As the 2nd event of the inaugural ADGTour, we all looked forward to the tours west coast swing, some sun, surf and two permanent disc golf courses.
In the few days leading up to the event Perth put on some record heat. Temperatures all week hit around 40 to 42 degrees (over 105 to 110 Fahrenheit). However this event was being hosted by international tournament director and recently residing back in Australia, Chris Himing. Chris has over the period of 6 years and over 120 events in the USA a seriously uncanny way to call on great weather in the face of tornadoes, floods and everything in between. The streak continued as on the eve of the event the temperature dropped from 42 on Thursday to only 27 Friday. The same was forecast all weekend. Perfect Disc Golf weather. Please click ‘Read more…’ below for the full story.
The first of the three interstate travellers, Andrew Ferguson arrived early Friday morning from Geelong in Victoria. During a whirlwind tour and breakfast in downtown Perth Andrew was heard to comment on several occasions just how much he liked the scenery down town. Andrew took more photos than a Japanese tourist that works for Nikon. After a quick drive up to Kings Park to check out the view the guys headed north to check out The Maze Course.
After a good ole Aussie welcome by Pam the Marketing Director the guys met Tim the local animal wrangler and tour guide. Tim earned a new nickname from all the players this weekend…Steve Jnr. This is of course was in reference to Steve Irwin. Tim is a true classic and has to be experienced. Crikey!
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| Twisted in Australia |
Tim was the perfect host and just the guy to show Chris and Andrew around the property. First up was to meet the kangaroo’s. After meeting a few of them Tim headed off to collect a basket for some photos. As he left he told Chris and Andrew to just go and round up the roo’s and get them in the small pen. What? Were these 30 or so kangaroos going to listen to these two disc golfers? Were these guys going to be the first disc golfers to die by Kangaroo mauling? As luck would have it they somehow managed to round them up and heard them into the correct pen. After thinking they could have a new career option the kangaroos out smarted them both and pushed open the gate on the other side of the pen to escape back to freedom. That career was certainly short lived.
Steve Jnr (Tim) then collected the 2 ½ year old male koala Clancy for some photos. The cameras were rolling on Tim’s 15 minutes of fame and he didn’t let anyone down. The soon to be showing on Australia’s Funniest Home Video Show blooper real was making even the animal’s laugh. Check your TV guides soon.
The guys checked out the course by playing a round before heading back to the coast for a look around Sorrento Quay. The wind was howling at the beach but at least it was not 40 plus degrees.
Off to check out the Rob Hancock Memorial Course in Greenwood for the rest of the afternoon. Andrew was quick to notice the street name at the entrance to the course…Mulligan Drive! Was this to be an omen to come?
After meeting some locals and doing some “tournament work” the guys headed back to Dave’s house for a shopping spree from hundreds of Chris’ discs. It was like kids in a candy store.
Later that night Paul Arden from Melbourne and Albert Munoz from Sydney arrived. After renting a car the guys headed to the coast to find their hotel on the beach in Scarborough. Albert was heard to say that next time Paul needs to update to a sexier sounding voice on his GPS rather than the dull and numbing voice that would be directing them all over Perth this weekend.
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| Saturday Practice |
Saturday morning and the Perth Open was about to begin. Albert and Paul were at the course at the crack of dawn from certain reports. The TD arrived around 11:30am after a relaxing morning breakfast with friends. Must be tough being an ADGTour TD? The crowd slowly started to drift in and by the scheduled start time of 2pm were all ready to go. No one had heard of Chris’ American speech stories, which was a good thing.
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| Life Time Member |
The important thing of the welcome was the awarding of an Honorary Lifetime Membership to the ADG and membership number 0001 to an Australian legend in the sport, the late Rob Hancock. Rob’s parents were on hand to accept the award. It was a special moment for all that knew and remembered Rob. You will never be forgotten Rob.
32 players including 5 women teed off on round one which would be two rounds of nine on the original course. Players included multiple Australian Champions, previous World Record Distance holder Mick Canci, Ultimate players and several local players new to disc golf.
This we think is the largest crowd to play a disc golf event in over 10 years in Australia. By any account it was a great turnout after all that has happened in the last 10 years or so in a country that has a very long history of disc sports.
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| Round 2 Lead Card |
After round one local guys John Damiani and Corey Bandy were tied up on 54. A good score considering the strong sea breeze. Albert Munoz and Brian Vanallen rounded out the top 4. In the ladies Anna Haynes had a commanding lead over first time player Isobel Macaulay.
A free barbecue was cooked and served for everyone as the stories of good shots and not so good shots echoed around the lunch crowd. As the players finished up their lunch and stories Chris setup a portable basket and explained to everyone the “Ring of Fire”. Over $400 of merchandise was given away as everyone had a blast playing and laughing their way around all sorts of putting styles.
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| TD in Action |
Round 2 would consist of two rounds of nine on a special temp course using some portable baskets combined with some new tee boxes along with original locations. Some holes were longer, some shorter and some just plain tougher. One memorable hole was Hole #4 that had OB all the way down the left side of the fairway combined with a series of trees. The basket precariously set just 3 metres from the same OB. One unnamed player proceeded to hit three consecutive trees and deflect left for three consecutive OB’s. Shooting 7 from halfway down the fairway the mystery person laid up for a solid 9. The next hole the same person was feeling a little beaten up and threw their hat on the ground and kicked it. As luck would have it the hat flew up in the air and got stuck in a tree. Now that is just bad luck., and the question is should that also be a penalty stoke?
The CTP Hole #8 provided every group a chance to win a disc for the closest shot on their card. Someone tell Rob Cinquini he can throw up the middle of the trees next time. It’s generally the shortest way to the hole even though we all know Rob can throw a mile.
After 36 holes John and Corey were still tied for the lead but the big mover was Paul Arden who had jumped up to tie Albert for a place in the final 4 on Sunday. With the better 2nd round score Paul would make the final four over Albert. Brian had consolidated his spot in third place. In Advanced it was a tough battle for first with Callan Holmes and John Manomy going shot for shot all round. Anna lost a little ground to Isobel but continued to lead. Deb Ng and Dani Thompson were having a great time playing as the laughs around the course would prove. In the beginners division Ross McBeth was proving too consistant for the rest of the field. Not too bad considering he was playing with one disc.
Everyone headed off to various parties and gatherings around town. Despite the early tee time on Sunday it didn’t stop some players from living it up. Come Sunday morning Chris was reminded why he loves running one day events so much. Everyone arrived on time at The Maze course and got in a few quick practise holes and to shake out the muscle aches and pains.
At 10am everyone teed off on this short, fun but mostly technical brand new course. Everyone was reminded to watch for any loose Kangaroo’s after Chris and Andrew’s wrangling efforts on Friday.
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| Dave Bandy and his Ace Price |
One highlight of the round was on Hole #4 as David Bandy hit his second ever Hole-in-One. The amazing thing was his first was only 30 minutes before on the same hole in practise.
The Advanced division had a playoff for first with John Monamy getting a nice birdie on the first playoff hole to beat Callan Holmes.
Two new players arrived to test out the fun on Sunday. As an assistance to players they had the option of entering for Saturday only, Sunday only or for both days. This helped players get a feel for the event without having to commit to all weekend.
Tim and The Maze staff fired up the barbie and we all enjoyed another sausage sizzle along with more stories and laughs from the weekend.
The scores were totalled, the trophies awarded and everyone made plans for their next round of disc golf. Congratulations to everyone on a great weekend of disc golf and a great way to continue the ADGTour around Australia.
Some interesting questions came from the weekend…
Would Anna find her hat?
Would Brian ever go into another maze again?
Would Mick Canci continue to throw his world record disc?
Would JD be convinced to read the players program?
Would Bart stop laughing after winning the Rip’t game Sunday afternoon?
Congratulations to the Perth Open Champions for 2007.
Open – Cory Bandy
Advanced – John Manomy
Masters – Dennis Barnden
Beginners – Ross McBeth
Ladies – Anna Haynes
Thanks to The Maze, The City of Joondalup, The Hancock’s, anyone that chipped in to help and all the players that enjoyed the weekend that came from all over Australia.
See you all on a course soon.
Chris Himing
Perth Disc Golf Open 2007
Rob Hancock Memorial Disc Golf Course, Saturday 10th March 2007
The Maze Disc Golf Course, Sunday 11th March 2007
| Division | Rank | Firstname | Surname |
Round 1
|
Round 2
|
Round 3
|
Total
|
ADGTour Points
|
| Open | 1 | Corey | Bandy |
54
|
57
|
49
|
160
|
100
|
| Open | 2 | John | Damiani |
54
|
57
|
54
|
165
|
97
|
| Open | 3 | Albert | Munoz |
57
|
62
|
51
|
170
|
94
|
| Open | 3 | Brian | Vanallen |
57
|
59
|
54
|
170
|
94
|
| Open | 5 | Paul | Arden |
60
|
59
|
53
|
172
|
88
|
| Open | 6 | Christian | Krogdahl |
61
|
62
|
51
|
174
|
85
|
| Open | 7 | Andrew | Ferguson |
64
|
61
|
62
|
187
|
70
|
| Open | 8 | Rob | Cinquini |
58
|
63
|
999
|
1120
|
40
|
| Open | 9 | Mick | Canci |
60
|
66
|
999
|
1125
|
37
|
| Open | 9 | Nathan | Barnden |
59
|
67
|
999
|
1125
|
37
|
| Adv | 1 | John | Monamy |
59
|
64
|
52
|
175
|
82
|
| Adv | 2 | Calan | Holmes |
60
|
63
|
52
|
175
|
82
|
| Adv | 3 | Dave | Bandy |
65
|
65
|
50
|
180
|
76
|
| Adv | 4 | Travis | Naughton |
65
|
63
|
58
|
186
|
73
|
| Adv | 5 | Andrew | Hutcheson |
75
|
72
|
57
|
204
|
61
|
| Adv | 6 | Paul | Staples |
65
|
65
|
999
|
1129
|
31
|
| Begin | 1 | Ross | McBeth |
71
|
65
|
56
|
192
|
67
|
| Begin | 2 | Tim | Delane |
69
|
73
|
59
|
201
|
64
|
| Begin | 3 | Chris | Fanchini |
70
|
80
|
59
|
209
|
58
|
| Begin | 4 | Daniel | McNaughton |
77
|
74
|
63
|
214
|
52
|
| Begin | 5 | Craig | Baldacchino |
74
|
75
|
66
|
215
|
49
|
| Begin | 5 | Bart | Lethan |
71
|
76
|
68
|
215
|
49
|
| Begin | 7 | David | McNaughton |
79
|
79
|
76
|
234
|
43
|
| Begin | 8 | Scott | Davies |
68
|
74
|
999
|
1141
|
28
|
| Begin | 9 | Paul | Denyer |
75
|
74
|
999
|
1148
|
22
|
| Begin | 10 | Flethcer | Joyce |
80
|
81
|
999
|
1160
|
19
|
| Begin | 11 | Leo | Tolley |
999
|
999
|
74
|
2072
|
7
|
| Ladies | 1 | Anna | Haynes |
71
|
78
|
61
|
210
|
55
|
| Ladies | 2 | Isobel | Macaulay |
90
|
87
|
999
|
1176
|
16
|
| Ladies | 3 | Deb | Ng |
95
|
97
|
999
|
1191
|
13
|
| Ladies | 4 | Dani | Thompson |
136
|
999
|
88
|
1223
|
10
|
| Ladies | 5 | Sarah | Rowles |
999
|
999
|
74
|
2072
|
7
|
| Ladies | 6 | Ester | Barter |
999
|
81
|
999
|
2079
|
1
|
| Masters | 1 | Dennis | Barnden |
72
|
71
|
999
|
1142
|
25
|