RUNNER-UP: Jackson Sulli-van on his way to second place in the Brook Park Brave in Te Kūiti recently. Photos Eddie Fowke
The Brook Park Brave is becoming more and more popular.
Disc golf is a sport which involves players throwing a frisbee and trying to get it in the hoop under par, much like golf, and the holes are varying lengths and feature a range of obstacles, making it more challenging.
This year’s Brook Park Brave had 82 keen disc golfers battling it out in various divisions, double the number of players who turned out in 2022.
It’s an event that has been running for the past six years or so and attracts some of New Zealand’s top out-of-town players to compete for the coveted title.
Josef Berry produced an exceptional final round, on what people call the best course in New Zealand, to take the title.
He scored a bogey-free 10-under par to shoot an impressive 21-under across the three days, a course record.
Tournament director and competitor Simon Feasey, who tied for 13th, said the event went well.
“It was great. Other than one player rupturing his calf up the top of the hill – and I had to go and get my car and get him back down the hill – it went well. That kind of ruined my round, though.”
Feasey said they were stoked with the turnout and how the competition went.
“We had a quality field. Josef played exceptionally well. He shot an impressive score, and his final round effort was superb.
“The various fields were strong, and it made for great competition.”
All up, the course covers close to 2800m and is one Feasey rates highly.
“I think it is the best course in New Zealand. It’s a great challenge and the hill is something else. You are usually buggered after three rounds, however, at Brook Park you can feel it after one round there.”
Jackson Sullivan and Henry Pearson finished second and third in the mixed pro open class with 12-under and 7-under respectively.
Nicholas Goelder took out the mixed amateur one division ahead of Tim Germann and Luke Hempel.
Aimee Whitmore was the top women’s amateur with an impressive score of 4-under, while Katie Hoffman and Michaela Kerr finished second and third.
Jeremy Harrison, Devyn Taylor, Te Omeka Kakau and Maddieson White won the other divisions.
“We had players from Auckland, Christchurch, Tauranga, Taumarunui, Taranaki, all throughout the country that came to take part.”
It’s a Pro Disc Golf Association B rated tournament, so they can attract a high-quality field.
“It’s a step down from the four golf disc majors but there were some talented players in action.”
Feasey said they were already excited for next year and hoped they could encourage even bigger numbers to partake.
Overall, the weather played ball, other than some rain on the first day.
Feasey was full of praise for the council for its support.
“They were great to deal with; they got in contact a couple of weeks out from the event and asked what was needed to be done and made sure it was ready for us.
“They’re great in supporting disc golf.”
He recommends the sport to anyone wanting to try something new.
“It’s so much fun. You get to travel around the country to play it as well.”
