Whitehorse’s Dan Reimer might be a full 40 points behind top-ranked Jesse Devost in the Mt. Mac Disc Golf League standings, sitting in fourth, but he was top dog at the first annual Bushwacker Tournament disc golf open held Saturday at the Mt. McIntyre course.
Reimer had to adjust his game to the tournament tees installed for the event, but managed to par the course with a 56 on his opening round, taking a two-stroke lead over third ranked player Vince Fedoroff and a four-stroke lead over Devost.
Despite throwing a tournament high 52 in his second round, Devost could not close the four-stroke deficit as Riemer also broke par with a 54 to secure first place. Taking third was Fedoroff with a score of 60 in his second round.
“It wasn’t my best round,” said Reimer. “But we played tournament tees, which made it a lot tougher, so I was pleased – to be under par at all was significant on this course today.
“I almost got a hole-in-one on hole 16 – I hit the chains but it bounced out.”
The Bushwacker Open (with one ‘H’), which takes its name from a club that played in Whitehorse during the mid-1980s, was the first tournament to be held at the new 18-hole Mt. McIntyre course, installed to replace the Takhini course removed last year for development. Although there were about 10 fewer golfers out than organizer David Griffiths had hoped for, the 13 that did come out – like the Tuesday evening Mt. Mac league, just in its first season – reflects the sport’s resurgence in Whitehorse.
“(It’s the) first annual and a first in a long time,” said organizer David Griffiths. “It’s nice to see the sport back and growing.
“The city helped us out a great bit in dealing with Mt. McIntyre, and Mt. McIntyre was really helpful in helping us move here, and we have a beautiful course as a result.”
Reimer, who started playing eight years ago when he moved to Whitehorse, enjoys the new course, but misses the Takhini course that he first started playing on.
“I’m sad to see that course go away, but this course is playable and a lot of fun and that’s been really good,” he said. “Since the league got started, it’s been lots of fun.
“Takhini was a classic. This one has the real baskets, which is really good. But Takhini was a tougher course, a longer course, and this one is a little easier. If you want to be competitive on this course you have to be shooting birdies, for sure.”
Taking home the senior division was Lew Piercey with a combined score of 115 (five over par) in two rounds, out shooting second place finisher Griffiths by four strokes. Howard Chymy finished third, a shot behind Griffiths.
In the women’s division, which unfortunately only had one entry, Catherine Lamarche tossed her way to a 135 over two rounds to become the first women’s champion.
Contact Tom Patrick at tomp@yukon-news.com