Blake Windred and Doey Choi Claim Bonville Champions Trophy Honours
(Friday 5th December, 2014. 2:30pm)
Blake Windred and Doey Choi have been crowned the winners of 2014 Bonville Champions Trophy, after a gruelling 72 holes at the Bonville Golf Resort. Heat, humidity, and severe storms meant players were tested on not only a difficult golf course, but weather conditions many of the 44 elite players would never have experienced before.
Heading into the final round with a two shot lead, four front nine bogies saw that disappear as Jason Hong (Concord) and Kevin Yuan (The Australian) joined Windred on top of the leaderboard. Windred remained composed at the top however, closing with 9 pars and a birdie on the difficult par four 13th to hold off the fast finishing Mitchell Gannon (Bonnie Doon) by two shots and in the process collect his first overall JNJG title. Gannon exploded into contention with two eagles in a five hole stretch on the back nine, but he couldn’t get any closer to really put the pressure on Windred, despite some clutch putting down the stretch. Gannon finished in a tie for second with Hong, one shot clear of Isaac Noh (The Australian), who was in contention until a Double Bogey on the 16th stopped his momemtum. Rounding out the top five was Austin Bautista (Bonnie Doon) whose round of the day two under par 70 included seven one putts in a row!
Brad Doherty (Oatlands), at just 14 years of age, was the youngest player to make the cut, and boasted the impressive stat of being only one of two players in the entire field to play all 72 holes without a double bogey or worse.
Doey Choi (Concord) has capped an incredible season, with a three shot victory over Celina Yuan (The Australian) in the Girls Division. Choi led by as many as five shots with only three holes to go, before a Yuan birdie on the 16th, and an uncharacteristic triple bogey on the short par three 17th where Choi found the water twice, cut the lead back to one with one hole to play. After both girls hit the ball greenside on the par five 18th for two, a superb bunker shot by Choi left a short birdie putt, meaning Yuan needed to be aggressive and at least make a birdie of her own. She couldn’t, and Choi completed a fantastic up and down and claim the win. Amy Chu (Bonnie Doon) battle away gamely all tournament to finish three shots further back from Yuan in third, with Chloe Thornton (NSW GC) next in fourth.
Ever Changing Final Round Leaderboard at Bonville
(Friday 5th December, 2014. 12:00pm)
It’s a three way tie at the top of the leaderboard at the 2014 Bonville Champions Trophy, as the winds have picked up to make scoring difficult for the final round. Blake Windred (The Australian), Jason Hong (Concord), and Kevin Yuan (The Australian) sit at -1 for the tournament through 8 holes, as players head to the testing back nine. There are five boys within one shot of the lead, with Josh Armstrong (Gold Creek) and Isaac Noh (The Australian) at even par for the tournament, only one shot back.
Doey Choi (Concord) and Celina Yuan (The Australian) were tied for the lead at one stage, before a three shot swing on the par 4 6th saw Choi take control of the tournament. The NSW Amateur Champion leads by four shots from Yuan, with Amy Chu (Bonnie Doon) two shots further back in third place.
Windred and Choi Take Final Round Leads
(Friday 5th December, 2014. 9:50am)
Blake Windred (The Australian) and Doey Choi (Concord) will take narrow leads into the final round of the 2014 Bonville Champions Trophy. After heavy storms caused an early end to round three, players headed back onto the course on Friday morning to complete their third rounds, and Windred took control. Birdies on the 14th, 17th and 18th saw the Newcastle local sign for a third round 67, and take a two shot lead heading into the final round. Jason Hong (Concord) remains in second position at -2, whilst they’ll be joined in the final group by the tournament surprise packet Luke Ferrier (Pennant Hills), who is at one under the card. It’s not just down to the final group however, with Josh Armstrong (Gold Creek), Isaac Noh (The Australian), Mitch Gannon (Bonnie Doon), and Kevin Yuan (The Australian) all within four shots of the leader.
It’s just as close in the girls Division, with the final three-ball of Doey Choi (Concord), Celina Yuan (The Australian), and Amy Chu (Bonnie Doon) separated by only four shots. Choi will take a one shot lead into the final round at +4, whilst Yuan begins the day at +5 and Chu at +8. Chloe Thornton has recovered from a slow start to the tournament to post good back to back rounds, and sits in fourth position.
Play resumed at 6:45am on Friday morning after weather delays on Thursday meant four hours of play was lost. The leading groups headed out onto the course at 9:40am after the cut was made, with all those players who missed the cut, caddying for the those who made the cut.
Live scoring will be done throughout the final round, so follow all the action by clicking here.
Early Start on the Final Day After Storms Roll Through Bonville
(Thursday 4th December, 2014. 9:30pm)
Juniors got an early taste of what it’s like to be on a professional golf tour, after a stop start weather affected third round at the Bonville Champions Trophy. A two hour weather delay just after 2pm meant players were confined to the walls of the clubhouse, waiting for the storm to pass. Just after 4pm a small window of opportunity presented itself, with players getting out on the course to play another six holes, before more lightning and thunder brought an early end to the round three action.
Play will resume at 6:45am on Friday morning, with the cut to be made and the final round action to begin once the leading groups finish their third round, at approximately 8:45am.
When play does resume, and exciting finish looms, with both Boys and Girls Divisions set to go down to the wire.
Jason Hong (Concord) will take a two shot lead into the final days play, after consistent golf in difficult conditions on Thursday afternoon left him at three under par with six holes to play in his third round. Hong started the third round with a birdie to get to five under par, before two bogies saw him drop back to three under. It took Blake Windred (The Australian) 45 holes to finally kick start his tournament, but a brilliant hybrid and sliding ten footer for eagle on the par five tenth hole saw him under par for the first time, and right into contention heading into the final days play. Tied for second with Windred is fellow Australian GC member Kevin Yuan, looking to claim his third JNJG major of the year after wins at the Harvey Norman Week of Golf and Srixon International. It’s not just a three horse race, with Luke Ferrier (Pennant Hills), Josh Armstrong (Gold Creek), and Mitch Gannon (Bonnie Doon) at even par for the tournament, and Isaac Noh (The Australian) at +1.
After a day which saw the lead change hands plenty of times, Doey Choi (Concord) will take a two shot lead into the final days play. Choi sits on top at +2, and leads from Amy Chu (Bonnie Doon) and Celina Yuan (The Australian), who both had the outright lead at different stages on the opening two days play. Chloe Thornton (NSW GC) has had a tournament to remember, with her four under par back nine in round two seeing her break par for the first time in her career. Her round of 71 included five birdies! It remains a mystery as to who will make the cut in the girls, with Coffs local Amelia Mehmet-Grohn, Grace Kim (Avondale), Madeleine Nurdi (St Michaels) and Belinda Ji (Concord) fighting out for the final two spots.
Play Back Underway at Bonville
(Thursday 4th December, 2014. 4:15pm)
After a near two hour delay due to storms, players are on the course to complete the back nine of the third round at the Bonville Champions Trophy. Concord duo Jason Hong and Doey Choi continue to hold a two shot lead, but there’s going to be plenty of challenges over the final 27 holes.
There are also plenty of eyes on the cut line, with Zinyo Garcia (NSW GC) giving himself a chance of playing on the final day after a very impressive start to the third round. Three birdies and no bogies have moved Garcia from outside the cut line to inside the cut line, with 10 holes to play.
Third Round Suspended Due to Storm
(Thursday 4th December, 2014. 2:30pm)
After Sydney was lashed with vicious storms on Wednesday afternoon, it was the North Coast’s turn on Thursday, causing play to be suspended at the Bonville Champions Trophy. All players had finished at least 8 holes in the third round when the storm struck, with the first groups playing the 12th hole.
Another announcement will be made at 3:30pm, in regards to the resumption of play.
Girls Steal the Show on Moving Day
(Thursday 4th December, 2014. 12:30pm)
The girls have upstaged the boys early on Thursday morning as players complete their second rounds at the Bonville Champions Trophy. Amy Chu (Bonnie Doon), Maddie Trew (Murwillumbah), and Chloe Thornton (NSW GC) have fired matching four under par 33’s on the back nine, to storm up the leaderboard. Chu turned an overnight four shot deficit into a one shot lead thanks to birdies on the 12th, 14th, 16th and 18th, to sit on top the leaderboard at even par through 36 holes. Her closest challenger remains overnight leader Doey Choi (Concord) after a second round one over par 73, whilst Celina Yuan remains in third place after consecutive 74s, just ahead of the big movers, Trew and Thornton.
There were also changes at the top of the boys leaderboard, with Concord’s Jason Hong firing the round of the day to take the lead. Hong finished strongly with birdies on the 14th, 16th and 18th, to post a two round total of four under par, and open up a two shot lead over Kevin Yuan (The Australian) and Austin Bautista (Bonnie Doon). It’s a crowded boys leaderboard, with Josh Armstrong (Gold Creek) and Mitch Gannon (Bonnie Doon) also under par for the tournament, a shot further back. Luke Ferrier (Pennant Hills) is at even par after two rounds, one shot ahead of two of the pre-tournament favourites, Isaac Noh (The Australian) and Blake Windred (The Australian), who got themselves back into contention in the second round after firing rounds of 69 and 70 respectively.
Players are back out on course for the third round which will be completed this afternoon before the cut is made ahead of tomorrow’s final round.
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Yuan and Choi Clear Out Early in Round Two
(Wednesday 3rd December, 2014. 6:15pm)
Kevin Yuan (The Australian) and Doey Choi (Concord) have opened up sizeable leads early in round two at the 2014 Bonville Champions Trophy. Playing the front eight holes for the second time which saw all players complete 26 holes on the opening days play, Yuan made three birdies to go with one bogey, to sit at five under par. His closest challenger is Jason Hong (Concord), who continued his brilliant ball striking to be at two under par for the tournament, and three shots behind. Round One leader Austin Bautista (Bonnie Doon), Mitch Gannon (Bonnie Doon), and big improver Luke Ferrier (Pennant Hills) are also under par for the event, sitting in a tie for third at -1 through 26 holes.
Choi extended her opening round lead to four shots early in the second round, with one birdie and one bogey leaving her at even par for the tournament. Her closest challengers Amy Chu (Bonnie Doon) and Celina Yuan (The Australian) went backwards in the opening eight holes, and are tied for second at four over par. The big mover late on day two was Antonia Gonzalez (Concord), who struggled early to be six over par through the opening nine holes. She turned that around and steadied the ship in the afternoon play, and remains at six over par after 26 holes.
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Bautista and Yuan Tied at the Top After Opening Round
(Wednesday 3rd December, 2014. 2:00pm)
Good mates Kevin Yuan (The Australian) and Austin Bautista (Bonnie Doon) have fired matching 69s to share the lead after the opening round at the 2014 Bonville Champions Trophy. The pair carded five birdies and two bogies each to take a lead into the afternoon second round, with Mitch Gannon (Bonnie Doon) and Luke Ferrier (Pennant Hills) one shot behind. Ferrier jumped out of the blocks early, with birdies on 2,3,4 and 7 getting him to -4 and the outright lead, before some mid round trouble, including a double bogey on the 9th brought him back to the pack. Gannon was the complete opposite, after a steady start turned into a great opening round when his putter got hot and he played the final 10 holes in three under par. Jason Hong was a shot further back, after a round of tremendous ball striking, but 36 putts stopped what could have been a real impressive number.
Doey Choi (Concord) leads a congested Girls Division, after opening with an even par 72. Bogies on 5, 6 and 9 slowed Choi down on the front nine, but she responded beautifully with three back nine birdies to take the lead. Amy Chu (Bonnie Doon) had to wait until the 18th hole to record her first birdie of the round, but consistent play up until that point saw her sign for a one over par 73. A shot further back was Celina Yuan (The Australian), who ground out nine pars in a row on the back nine in difficult conditions to stay in touch with the leaders. Local hope Amelia Mehmet-Grohn (Coffs Harbour) had a frustrating day on the greens, but a birdie on the last was enough for her to sit in fourth position after the opening round.
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Luke Ferrier off to a Flyer at Bonville
(Wednesday 3rd December, 2014. 11:30am)
On Tuesday night, 44 of the best golfers in the state took part in the annual chipping competition, with Jack Newton himself getting on board, hitting a delightful chip which brought a round of applause from all the kids (click here for video). Isaac Noh (The Australian) and Maddie Trew (Murwillumbah) claimed the honours in the chipping comp, which earned them high praise from official judge and measurer, Jefferson Fan.
On Wednesday, play got underway at 8am in hot and humid conditions at Bonville Golf Resort for the 2014 Champions Trophy.
Luke Ferrier (Pennant Hills), fresh off being crowned the youngest ever Club Champion at Pennant Hills Golf Club started on fire, with birdies on the second, third, and fourth, catapulting him into the early lead. Luke was joined in red figures early on the front nine by Harry Doig (Ryde Parramatta) and Austin Bautista (Bonnie Doon), whilst a number of the pre-tournament favourites made solid starts to the tournament.
The girls event promised to be a tight affair, and early on it proved just that, and at one stage there were nine players within one shot of the lead!
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Tournament Preview
(Tuesday 2nd December, 2014. 5:00pm)
Forty four of the top golfers in the state have travelled to the Mid North Coast for the 2014 Bonville Champions Trophy, at the magnificent Bonville Golf Resort.
The tournament, made up of scratch winners of all ages at JNJG Tour events in 2014, is modelled on the successful Hyundai Tournament of Champions on the US PGA Tour, and has provided all juniors across New South Wales with motivation to improve their golf.
Pennant Hills hopeful Jordie Garner was looking forward to the event since his impressive performance at the 2014 Srixon International, declaring this the best event on the JNJG Calendar. “I really enjoyed the event in 2013. It was easily my favourite JNJG tournament so far. The staff at Bonville treats us like professionals, and every junior in New South Wales wants to win an event to try and qualify.”
Tuesday is the official practice round, before the tournament begins on Wednesday. Players will play 27 holes on Wednesday and Thursday, before a cut is made and the top half of both the boys and girls divisions qualify for the final 18 holes on Friday, and the right to be crowned Bonville Champions.
