Armageddon Disc Golf Tournament Tees Off in Style
A huge field of disc golfers from across the country, and America, were in town at the start of April to take on the Armageddon Disc Golf Tournament. Photo: Norman Hensley.
It was a busy weekend for local disc golfers as the annual Armageddon Disc Golf Tournament doubled as the final competition for the New Zealand Elite Series.
Players from across the country, as well as three American pros, Avery Jenkins, Maverick Robertson, and Ella Hansen, gathered at Redstone Golf Park for a practice day on Friday before three competitive 18-hole rounds over the weekend.
Avery Jenkins emerged as the champion, finishing with a remarkable -19 from his three rounds, a three-shot lead over Maverick and Christchurch’s Ashton Clark T3 on -16.
Anthony Rodgers was the top local finisher in the pro open, with his -7 good enough for a standalone seventh after consistent rounds of 59, 59 and 58. With locals Tom Strawbridge (11th, +8) and Angus McKenzie (15th, +26) also in the pro field.
Motueka’s Patrick Ludlow finished third in the mixed amateur 1 with -5 after three rounds, while Nelson’s Justin Kennedy finished second in the over 40s mixed amateur on +1.
For the first time ever in the national Disc Golf scene, the first tee off was from a raised platform three metres off the ground and splitting the gap through a triple Mando (mandatory obstacles).
The disc golf fun didn’t stop there. A challenging nine-hole putting course in the City of Purgatory paintball arena culminated in a fiercely fought final on Saturday evening.
A Glow-in-the-Dark Hole-in-One from the raised tee-off saw a lucky Westcoaster walk off with an unexpected $500 prize, and a skeet shooting opportunity saw just nine targets hit after 2000 paintballs were shot.
Top of the South sunshine, good food, great company, striking, event-specific Armageddon discs and awesome trophies sealed this event as a highlight of the Elite Series and disc golf in New Zealand.
Hayden Shore and his team from Disc Shop, together with local Nelsonian and assistant Tournament Director Tom Strawbridge, continue to show the quality and competitiveness of our courses and players is increasing with every tournament as the sport of disc golf continues growing in leaps and bounds across the country.