2026 Taranaki Open | RD1 B9 | FPO | Mertsch, Chocek, Donnecke, Smiley
The 2026 Taranaki Open is a disc golf tournament part of the tour down under, brought to you by Gothro presented by MVP disc sports. Sarah Hok and Taylor Chosk are on hand at Englewood Golf Club, navigating the back nine holes in challenging windy conditions. With six strokes ahead of the rest of the field, Taylor's performance is impressive, showcasing her skill in sticking shots despite the gusty winds. The duo discusses the difficulties of playing in this wind, noting how it affects shot angles and accuracy. As they move on to hole 10, a par-three 247-foot shot over a narrow, bean-shaped island, they examine their options for tackling the challenging shot. Taylor opts for her SS putter, debating between sidearm and backhand techniques, while Sophia chooses an overstable hiser putter. The video provides insight into the strategies and techniques used by top players in disc golf, offering viewers a closer look at how to navigate wind-affected shots and maintain control on challenging courses.
Watch top FPO players Mertsch, Chocek, Donnecke & Smiley compete in RD1 B9 of the 2026 Taranaki Open: unpredictable shots & intense competition ensue.
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Welcome back everyone to [music] the 2026 Tanaki Disc Golf Open part of the tour down under brought to [music] you by Gothro presented by MVP disc sports. I'm Sarah Hok here with Taylor Chosk. We're here in the back nine. We've had quite a front nine. The wind has been crazy. We're here at Englewood Golf Club. How's it been out there, Taylor? >> Yeah, I mean, the wind's definitely tricky and it [music] it shows if you're uh hitting the angles you want or not. >> It doesn't look like you're playing in the wind, though. Look at this up at the leaderboard. Six strokes shy of the rest of the field. Yeah, I didn't know I was at a a sixstroke lead here, but I knew I was uh keeping it clean. And >> all of the rest of the normal humans are shooting over par in this wind. >> Let's go on to hole 10. It's a par three, 247 ft. This is a funny little bean-shaped island. It's slightly downhill, probably playing more like 230. But it's also really difficult to hit because, as you can see, laterally it's pretty wide, but vertically this is it's a skinny little area, much less than the circle. >> Mhm. >> The drop zone is at the end of this pathway. [music] Um, players are going to try to stick this landing and the wind is making it difficult. >> Yep. I'm opting in for the challenger SS putter. have two options here, whether to go sidearm or back backhand. And the left to right wind was uh drawing me away from trying the sidearm. >> Oh, wow. That dropped out of your hand, too. >> It It dropped. That was crazy. It just dropped. The wind dropped it at like just over the thing and then it scooted all the way to the end. If that just tells you how difficult it is to stick this landing. Mhm. >> Sophia going with the hiser. Does she pick the distance right? Yeah, she does. >> Yep. Going with her came in there overstable. >> Feels good to stick this island. >> No doubt. An envy here for Smiley. >> Also sticks it. Nobody's super close to the basket, but being on this island is just an accomplishment in win like this. >> Oh, Cat gets a Oh, barely...
