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Last qualifier for local disc golf finals

It was a last chance event for area disc golfers, as the Bredenbury Disc Golf Tournament was held Saturday under near ideal fall conditions.
Bredenbury Disc Golf Tournament
Trevor Lyons of Yorkton tees off at the start of the Bredenbury Disc Golf Tournament Saturday.

It was a last chance event for area disc golfers, as the Bredenbury Disc Golf Tournament was held Saturday under near ideal fall conditions.

The last chance related to a chance to be invited to the Parkland Association of Disc Golf (PADG) ‘Champions Champion’ event.

“The Champions Champion tournament was one of the primary ideas of the PADG in its first year,” explained PADG Tournament Chair Trevor Lyons. “The top two finishers in each recognized PADG tournaments (if PADG members), throughout the year are invited back for the big event. This year there were seven events before Bredenbury, so this was the last chance.”

The tournament did not attract large numbers, but it was a first-time event, and a lot going on given the nice weather.

“We were just glad to get the tournament in this year with a lot of help from the PADG,” said Town of Bredenbury representative Kim Laycock Varga. “We were excited to move forward with a course this summer, and really think disc golf will catch on locally, so tournament numbers will grow in 2017.”

After an opening 12, the top four headed out again for the tournament title. As it turned out among the four finalists three had already qualified for the Champions event, putting the pressure on Calvin Daniels the lone Bredenbury finalist not yet headed to Yorkton.

“I didn’t have a great opening round, but squeaked into the final four,” said Daniels. “But we started with a clean slate in the finals, and in previous rounds I had handled the course pretty well, so I knew if I stayed away from out-of-bounds areas, and didn’t make huge errors, I might be OK.”

As it turned out Daniels was in a dog fight with Trevor Lyons early, both chasing leader Chris Istace.

“I finally caught Trevor on number seven, and had a good drive on number eight, but ended up at the base of a spruce tree. On my knees there was an opening and I was close enough to go for a bird, but the wind tossed my shot over the tonal, and I ended up with a boogie.”

So after finally tying Lyons on seven, Daniels saw him pull ahead by a stroke on his boogie.

“I thought that was it. Three of the last four really favour a leftie in Bredenbury, so in my mind Trevor was away,” said Daniels.

But on number nine Lyons went deep OB on his drive, which automatically added a stroke to his score.

Daniels parked his drive safely within birdie range.

Fate then played a trump card, as Lyons threw out of the OB, landing a couple of feet, still in the OB.

“I pulled the string. I’d like to blame the wind, but it was me,” said Lyons.

Daniels hit his birdie, while Lyons took a six, and the proverbial worm turned.

That is until the final tosses on the 12-tonal course.

Daniels turfed his tee, and then proceeded to hold the door wide open for Lyons.

“I tried to play it too safe,” said Daniels. “Chris (Istace) was up on me by a couple, so I knew I wasn’t catching him. I just needed to stay up on Trevor, and I butchered my tee shot, tossed a subpar second shot, underthrew my third shot so the wind threw it wide left and by the time it was over I had three a six.

“I was just lucky after a fine drive Trevor went wide right leaving a long putt for his par, and he ended up with a four, leaving me a one stroke margin.”

Josh Istace pared 12, to catch Lyons for third.

Chris Istace said it seemed like a tough round for everyone.

“After playing a less-than-satisfactory first round, I decided to simplify my game and just play par golf,” he said. “I thought I took unnecessary risks in the first round. When I played the course straight in the final 12, it paid off with a semi-decent score of 4-over. Nevertheless, I have shot better on that course.

“There was tight competition despite the lack of field. I really had to stay solid if I wanted to hold on through to the end.”

Daniels, who is also chair of the PADG, said he was glad to get a tournament in in Bredenbury.

“The town has done such a fine job of installing the course, it deserves to be played every chance a player gets,” he said.

There was also a tidbit of great news heard Saturday, offered Daniels.

“In conversation I was told there have been some discussions about a possible disc golf course in Churchbridge, which would be great,” he said. “The Yellowhead is becoming a corridor for courses with several from Edmonton to Winnipeg, and more expected.”

One of those anticipated for 2017 is at Wynyard Regional Park.

“I was out there a couple of weeks ago, and we have a solid vision for an 18 in spring, so Churchbridge would just add to the growth of the sport locally,” he said, adding he still looks at the regional park in Saltcoats and envisions a course there one day.

As for the Champions event Oct. 15, at Patrick Park Disc Golf Course in Yorkton the field is complete as follows;

• Springside - Todd Schick, Melville and Sam Meggs, The Pas, MB.

• Asessipi Beach & Campground - Chris Istace, Moosomin and Josh Istace, Moosomin

• North Ridge Disc Golf, Birtle, MB. - Doug Kerr, Yorkton and Trevor Lyons, Yorkton

• Sandy Beach on Good Spirit Lake - Jason Kienle, Yorkton and Jeremy Taylor, Saskatoon

• Yorkton - Mark Kienle, Wadena and Jeremy Taylor, Saskatoon

• Fort Q’Appelle - Jack Talsma, Fort Qu’Appelle and Randy Boehm, Regina

• Stockholm - Duncan Holness, Regina and Chris Hoyt, Regina

• Bredenbury - Chris Istace, Moosomin and Calvin Daniels, Yorkton