From Wednesday 2nd March to Saturday 5th March I travelled to Wellington to play in the NZ Disc Golf National Champs.

It was held at Berhampore Golf Course, which is used for both normal golf and disc golf. It is a very hilly course, with lots of big pine trees, and gorse and blackberries if you go too far off course. So it is really different from Jellie Park where I mostly play.

The main tournament was 54 holes from Thursday to Saturday, with one round each day. Practice and a doubles competition happened on Wednesday. I played my best round ever on Thursday to be in the lead. I played well, but not quite as well on the other two days, but managed to win the Junior (under 18s) division in what was a very close and tense finish. Me and Casey (from Invercargill) who finished second were all tied up with 2 holes to go, but I pulled ahead on the second to last hole and took the win.

I won a portable disc golf basket for home, and also one to be given to Middleton Grange School. This was really exciting because we had been wanting to get a basket for home and now we don't have to buy one.

It was a fantastic and fun experience and the course and the weather was amazing - no wind hardly at all for the three tournament rounds I played. Thank you to Middleton Grange School for letting me take time off school to attend this tournament. I am not sure where the tournament is next year, but really hope I can go again next year to try and defend my National title.

Sam Liken (Year 11 SCJH)