Linden’s Jon-Pat Myers wins bronze medal in disc golf at Ethiopia Open
LINDEN – Local resident competes as the only South African at the Ethiopian Disc Golf Open.
South African disc golf champion and Linden resident, Jon-Pat Myers has returned with more than just memories from the Ethiopian Disc Golf Open.
The inaugural tournament in Asosa in mid-February featured some of the top players in the world, and while Myers was the only South African invited, he had to source funds from friends and fans to afford the trip.
READ: SA disc golf champion needs your help
Despite suffering a stomach bug over the two days, Myers won a bronze trophy and accomplished his goal of putting South Africa on the map in one of the world’s
fastest growing sports.
“The entire experience was beyond description and I returned with a renewed motivation to see South Africa host an SA Open,” he said.
“To see what the Ethiopians have done with so little and to see the enthusiasm with which the players are taking to the course is an inspiration. With our country’s potential,
I can only see the sport growing at the same rate it has worldwide.”
Myers added that it was great to watch Tapani Aulu, one of Finland’s best disc golfers, snatch first place through two near-perfect rounds of 10-under and 11-under par respectively.
Myers made up a two-stroke deficit on the last day, but still finished one shot behind American, Kevin Derrick in second place after a last-minute push by several quality players.
The $200 US [R 2364] that Myers won allowed him to register as a professional disc golfer with the Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA).
“My ambition was to beat Derek Robins [of Great Britain] who is one of the world’s best grandmasters. I managed to do so in adverse conditions and am so happy that I did not let my friends, who supported me, down and acquitted myself respectably as SA’s number one player.”
Myers’ next goal is to install a disc golf course at James and Ethel Grey Park in Melrose, after which he will look at qualifying for a PDGA World Championship in the next few years.
Details: Jon-Pat Myers myerssculpture@gmail.com; 074 494 9657.
