2026 NZ Open | RD1 F9 | Pierce, Merstch, Hokom, Reigh
Watch as the stars of the disc golf world take to the challenging Orchard course in Auckland, New Zealand for the first round of the 2026 NZ Open. Hosts Sarah Hokom and Jennifer Smiley provide expert commentary on the action-packed event, which features a star-studded lineup including Cat Merch, Paige Pierce, and Chandler Ray. The duo discusses the unique challenges posed by the course's swirly winds, showers, and elevation changes, as well as the distinct playing styles of each competitor. Hokom and Smiley examine how Pierce's five-time world championship experience will serve her on this course, while also highlighting Ray's impressive distance and accuracy. Meanwhile, Hokom's forehand dominant style is set to be put to the test on this layout, which demands precision and pin-point accuracy from players.
Watch Pierce, Merstch, Hokom & Reigh battle in RD1 F9 at the 2026 NZ Open! Relive thrilling moments from one of tour's toughest courses.
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Welcome everyone to the 2026 New Zealand Open presented [music] by RPM Discs, part of the Tour Down Under brought to you by MVP Disc Sports. I'm Sarah Hokom here with Jennifer Smiley to call the action. Welcome to the booth. >> Thanks, guys. What's up? All right. So, we are here at the Orchard, which is a beautiful course near Auckland in New Zealand. And >> [music] >> today we're dealing with a lot of swirly winds and showers on and off. So, it's going to be a interesting round with all the elevation changes this course presents to us. Absolutely. We've got a star-studded lineup here. We got Cat Merch who won last weekend in the Tour Down Under at the Australia Australasian Open. She's always tearing it up on the course, and we're going to see some big bombs out of her. Speaking of big bombs, we got Paige Pierce, five-time world champion, plays for Disc raft, playing her second event here in the Tour Down [music] Under. You expect some big putts, some big shots out of Paige. Look at that full release. [music] Next up, we have Chandler Ray. She is pretty new to the scene, only been playing for about 2 years, I think, but she is a bomber. She throws so [music] far. You're going to see a lot of mids and putters out of her from this course. And >> [music] >> then we have Chandler Hokom. You're on this card, which is super awesome to see a forehand dominant player kind of tear this course up. We'll see. >> Yeah, I hope so. It'll be interesting to see all the different styles you guys play out there. >> Absolutely. Starting off with hole one, it's a par four, 680 ft. Players are going to throw a shot moving from right to left, probably a backhand to about here in the landing zone. And then they're going to shoot down to this green. It's only plays about 250, 270 from the upper area, but it's [music] a lot of elevation change, and there's OB everywhere, left, deep, right, short. You got to pin it in order to win it. >> ladies and gentlemen, a welcome to the first day here at the beautiful [clears throat] Horseshoe Orchard in West Auckland, and we're about to kick off MPR round one feature card at...
