GEORGE NEWS - Eden Disc Golf hosted the second annual SHE Outeniqua Open at Rooirivierrif sportsgrounds on 27 and 28 April, drawing 42 players from across South Africa.
The event brought some of the highest rated South African players to compete for the 2025 titles, and a record number of entries in the junior and women’s divisions was received.
About one quarter of the adult competitors were from outside George (Johannesburg, Cape Town and Port Elizabeth).
The tournament was played over two rounds, and the lowest overall par score determined the winners.
The junior players excelled. Anthony Yssel won the mixed junior u.15 (MJ15) division, a well-deserved win for one of the regular junior division boys.
Second place went to Matthaus von Grüter and third to Callum Pretorius.
The female junior u.10 (FJ10) division was won by one of the new local players, Liané Nieuwenhuizen, with an outstanding performance in both of her rounds. Second place went to Grace Wilson and third to Shea Strauss.
All the girls improved on their par scores in their second round.
Female amateur divisions
Female Amateur 2’s (FA2) first place went to Jana Lessing from Cape Town, second place to Anine Galloway and third to Debbie von Grüter.
The Female Amateur 1 (FA1) division saw a clear win for the 2024 title holder, Josephine Meulenbeld. In second place was Lilla Schoeman and third Natascha Nieuwenhuizen.
Leon Strauss (Eden Disc Golf, left) with FA1 top players Natasja Niuewenhuizen (3rd), Lilla Schoeman (2nd) and Josephine Meulenbeld (1st), and Bart Meulenbeld (Disc Golf South Africa).
Men’s amateur divisions
The Men’s Amateur 3 (MA3) division was won by Michael Pieterse, his first podium finish with a first place. The MA3’s second place went to Peter Robinson and third to Darryl Claassen.
In the MA2 division, first place was won by 2024 title holder Bryan Wilson, who finished with a challenging par score to match. He was narrowly followed by Wayne Fairman, who delivered an outstanding performance and also set the course record on the first round he played on a challenging layout. Morné Galloway finished third in MA2.
The MA1 title was narrowly retained, after a play-off with Charl Morkel, by the 2024 title holder Alex Meulenbeld (equalling the course record in his first round). Mostert took second place and Ingo Hilbert, completing a superb second round, finished third.
This was a Professional Disc Golf Association sanctioned event, and the competing disc golfers received ratings for their performances based on the course played as well as the level of competition.
Councillors Donovan Gultig and Erika Brown spent some time with the players on Sunday morning and tried out the first few holes on the new course layout before the competitors started the tournament.
Interested players can follow Eden Disc Golf on Facebook or contact them via WhatsApp on 082 330 3966.
MJ15 players, from left: Anthony Yssel, Callum Pretorius, Wian Hanekom, Matthaus von Gruter and Fynn Mackay.
The FJ10 top girls, from left: Liané Niuewenhuizen, Grace Wilson, Mina Mackay and Shea Strauss.
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