The first event in the 2016 Parkland Association of Disc Golf Tournament series is in the books.
The Vibram Birdie Bash was held in Springside Sunday, with 23 participants entered. The tournament was played over two rounds on the 18-tonal course, with a barbecue of burgers splitting up the disc tossing for the participants.
It was almost an ideal for disc golf, sunny, warm, a light breeze, and no mosquitos. Only tent caterpillars hanging on gossamer webs detracted from the day, and only a little.
Players went out for 18 in the morning under the rules of the Birdie Bash, aces and eagles being worth five points, birdies three and hitting the post on a birdie or better shot a single point.
As the players ate burgers and hotdogs, they were re-carded into flights, and then headed back out for another 18.
When the finally tally of the 36 was complete, the Men鈥檚 Open winner was Todd Schick from Melville, SK., with an amazing 83 points.
鈥淚 really enjoyed it,鈥� Schick said of the Springside course. 鈥淚t鈥檚 shorter than I鈥檓 used to, but it鈥檚 tactical.鈥�
Schick said generally he attacked the course using an up shoot approach off the tees.
Schick had chosen the Vibram Valley as his fairway driver for the event.
鈥淚 used it sparingly at first,鈥� said Schick, but added as the course progressed to longer shots off the tee he started to utilize to it to good effect.
As for his putter choice, the Ridge, it is a disc that will remain in Schick鈥檚 play bag.
鈥淚 loved it. I think it might be my number one (putter) now,鈥� he said.
Schick said his putting was bang on Sunday, never missing one he felt he should have made, and sinking a couple at near 100-feet. He said he had some professional inspiration which may have helped, having been watching one of the best in the game at putting, throwing tournaments on YouTube.com.
鈥淚 got some confidence watching Paul McBeth,鈥� he said, adding in a Birdie Bash going hard on putts is a key.
The women鈥檚 winner, from a field of five was Brenda McKay who is from Birtle, MB, where she is the driving force behind the North Ridge Disc Golf Course which will be officially opened Saturday, June 25.
It was the first tournament for McKay, who is a newcomer to the game, who said she had signed up to make connections, and have fun, without an expectation of winning.
When asked if the win surprised her, McKay admitted, 鈥渁 little bit.鈥�
McKay said last summer she set up a target in her backyard to practice her putting.
鈥淭hat helped me,鈥� she said.
But the win remained secondary for McKay who is a driving force in the Birtle course development.
鈥淚t was building a network of people who are involved in this sport,鈥� she said.
The Junior winner was Josh Istace from Moosomin, SK. The 11-year-old is already out-throwing his dad Christopher Istace who is heading up the Rocanville Disc Golf Course which will host the next tournament within the PADG, a doubles event June 26.
The Spirit Award went to Irene Cymbalisty of Yorkton, SK.
