The Red Tail Open returned to the hills of Mundaring on 8 March 2026, bringing 52 players together for a full day of competition across two rounds, two courses, and a proper test of adaptability.
As part of the WA Disc Golf Tour, the event carried added weight. Points, pride, and positioning were all on the line as players continued their season.
Hosted by Mundaring Disc Golf Club, this year’s edition raised the bar by utilising both of Mundaring’s courses. The World Course and the Original Course were played across the day, with divisions rotating across layouts tailored to skill level.
This was not just about playing well. It was about adjusting, staying composed, and executing when conditions changed.
Two Courses, One Complete Test
The Red Tail Open continues to showcase the full Mundaring experience.
Division 1 players opened on the World Course longs before shifting to the Original Course longs in the afternoon. Division 2 players started on the Original Course mids before taking on the World Course mids later in the day.
Each layout demanded something different. The World Course required commitment and distance control. The Original Course tested touch, angles, and patience.
With OB-lined sand greens, flagged creeks, mandatories, and thick bushland throughout, players were constantly balancing risk and reward.
The Weather
Round one gave players a chance to settle. Early conditions sat in the low to mid 20s, building quickly through the morning. By late morning, temperatures were already pushing into the low 30s with relatively dry air and light winds that did little to interfere with play.
It created a window for scoring. Players who stayed clean and composed were able to take advantage before the day really set in.
Round two was a grind.
While the recorded temperature peaked in the low 30s, it consistently felt much hotter on course, pushing well beyond 35 degrees in exposed areas. The combination of rising humidity, radiant heat off the ground, and limited airflow through sections of the course created heavy, oppressive conditions.
The hills of Mundaring held that heat. Fatigue set in quickly. Players began to feel the effects, with reports of discomfort, nausea, and early signs of heat stress becoming part of the challenge.
Decision making tightened. Execution became harder. The course began to punish even the smallest mistakes.
By the closing stretch, it was not just about choosing the right shot. It was about having the composure, clarity, and physical resilience left to execute it.
Round One – Setting the Platform
Round one was about positioning.
In MPO, Alex Kynaston set the pace early with a 1038 rated 58. Blake Houston stayed within reach with a 1017 rated 61, keeping the lead within striking distance heading into the afternoon.
Across the divisions, players who stayed disciplined found scoring. Those who drifted off line were quickly reminded how punishing Mundaring can be.
Round Two – Where it was Won
Round two separated the field.
Blake Houston delivered the performance of the day with a 1050 rated 52, the hot round of the tournament, turning a tight contest into a clear win at -21.
In MA1, Patrick Luke produced one of the standout moments of the event with a 1017 rated round and a second round ace, lifting the energy across the course.
Across all divisions, the story was consistent. Players who adapted to the heat, the layout change, and the pressure rose to the top.
Division Winners
MPO
1st – Blake Houston
2nd – Alex Kynaston
3rd – Karel Üksvärav
MP50
1st – Carl Bellesini
FP40
1st – Sue Summers
MA1
1st – Patrick Luke
2nd – Simmo Lait
3rd – Jesse Budge
4th (tied) – Jan Seire / Luukas Luoma
FA1
1st – Rachel Bunting
MA40
1st – Brad Curran
MA50
1st Lotus Kingston
MA60
1st – Brian Vanallen
Ma2
1st – Dan Chensee
MA3
1st – Signe Trommel
FA3
1st – Krystal Goscombe
MA4
1st – Benjamin Barker
International Women’s Day
This year’s event aligned with International Women’s Day, and Mundaring Disc Golf Club took the opportunity to recognise and celebrate the women in our community.
All women in the field received a special gift from Light More Candles, adding a thoughtful and personal touch to the day.
In addition, the highest rated female player of the event, Signe Trommel (tournament rating – 914), was awarded a handcrafted pen made from wood sourced directly from the Mundaring course. A fitting recognition of both performance and connection to the place we play.
Handcrafted Trophies with a Local Story
All first place getters took home something truly unique.
Custom pens, handcrafted from Jarrah timber brought down during the 2024 storms, were awarded to each division winner. These were hand-turned by Mundaring Sporting Club Bowls member Ron Whyte, giving each trophy a direct connection to the land and community that hosts the event.
They are more than prizes. They are pieces of Mundaring.
Sponsors and Support
Events like the Red Tail Open are only possible with the support of our partners.
Disc Connection, as naming sponsor, continues to be a driving force behind disc golf in WA, supporting both players and events at every level.
Light More Candles added a unique and thoughtful contribution, particularly in recognising International Women’s Day.
Flying Fox Disc Golf supported the event with CTP prizes and continues to produce quality gear widely used across the community.
Throw Pink’s involvement aligned perfectly with the day, supporting women’s participation and broader health initiatives in disc golf.
This support strengthens not just the event, but the community around it.
Final Thoughts by the TD
Mundaring does not hand anything out, and this year it reminded us why.
Across two courses, changing layouts, and rising heat, players were asked to adapt constantly. No two rounds felt the same, and no lead was safe without execution. It was a true test of not just skill, but composure and resilience.
What stood out most, as always, was the spirit of the day. Players competed hard, supported each other, and embraced the challenge in front of them. That sense of community is what continues to define events like this and the broader WA Tour.
On a personal note, thank you to every player who came out and gave their best in tough conditions. Events like this are shaped by the people who turn up and lean into the challenge.
A huge thank you as well to everyone working behind the scenes. From course preparation and setup, to spotters, helpers, and those quietly getting things ready at the club, this event simply does not happen without you. The work that goes in before the first disc is thrown is what makes days like this possible.
Mundaring is more than a course and more than a club. It is a community, and that was on full display.
The Red Tail Open 2026 delivered exactly what a WA Tour event should. A layered test of skill, endurance, and adaptability.
From early positioning through to late round pressure, from elite rated rounds to standout moments like the ace, it was a day that rewarded those who could adjust and stay composed when it mattered.
Two courses. Two rounds. One complete test.
Mundaring continues to show why it is one of the most challenging and rewarding stops on the WA Disc Golf Tour.
— Ken Summers
Tournament Director
Red Tail Open 2026 presented by Disc Connection | Professional Disc Golf Association
