Finns Flock to Ethiopia for Historic Disc Golf Event
Date Published
The Ethiopian Open disc golf tournament marked a pivotal moment for the sport in Africa, with some of the world's top players descending upon Assosa University to compete against local talent. Finns were particularly well-represented, with Tapani Aulu emerging as champion after a stunning performance on the 1599-meter course.
Aulu, Finland's PDGA Country Coordinator, displayed his remarkable versatility throughout the tournament, launching precise drives and sinking crucial putts to take home the title. His scores of 43 and 44 were nothing short of impressive, with 21 birdies and 15 pars – an astonishing feat considering he lost only one hole all day.
Kevin Derrick from Chicago finished a respectable second after shooting a 48 in the afternoon, while South Africa's Jon-Pat Myers rounded out the top three. Suleman Mohamed, Ethiopia's number one disc golfer, struggled with the unseasonably cooler temperatures and rainy conditions in the final round, dropping down to third place.
In the amateur division, Elem Katambo from Zambia stood out as a rising star, finishing at 2 under par and earning rave reviews for his impressive play. Eshetu Alemu, a PDGA member from Ethiopia, also made a strong impression by carding a division-best 59 in Round 2 to claim the recreational trophy.
The tournament's organizers, Yohannes Desalegn and John Luetzow, were instrumental in attracting national media attention and building a sense of community among local disc golf enthusiasts. Their efforts paid off, with Innova Champion and other sponsors playing a vital role in making the event a success.
As one grateful participant noted, "Betam betam ameseginallu" – or thank you very much indeed – to all those who made this historic tournament possible.
This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/flying-finn-crowned-emperor-ethiopian-open