Preedasutthijit and Yuan Come From Behind to Claim Srixon International
Friday 3rd October, 2014
Kanyalak Preedasutthijit (Thailand), and Kevin Yuan (The Australian) have added their names to a star-studded list of Srixon International Winners after superb final rounds on Friday.
Heading into the final round, with serious winning chances down to three, the Girls Division at the Srixon International always looked like it was headed for a close finish, and that is exactly how it played out at a beautiful Maitland Golf Club. For most of the round, Shelly Shin (Concord) appeared in complete control, and when the players made the turn into the back nine, Shin had maintained a three shot advantage. That was wiped out in one go, when an uncharacteristic triple bogey on the par three 11th hole saw a tie at the top once more. Shin bounced back like she always does, with birdies at 12 and 14, but Preedasutthijit wouldn't go away, and a birdie of her own on the 15th saw the lead back down to one. It stayed that way until the 18th, and when Shin missed a par putt on the final green, the Girls title was headed for a playoff. After two pars on the first playoff hole, the talented Thai put her foot down, hitting her approach shot to within two feet for a tap in birdie, and the title.
In the Girls 17 Years and Over Division, Canadian Alyssa Getty continued the theme of playoff wins for the International competitiors, with a par on the first playoff hole enough to beat Jess Lasky (The Australian). Celina Yuan (The Australian) added another victory to her impressive resume, with a commanding nine shot win leaving her lost for words.
Kevin Yuan has had a fantastic junior career, but his performance in the final round of the Srixon International Junior Classic on Friday was undoubtedly the best yet. Heading into the final round five shots behind overnight leader Chris Park (Queensland), and on a day where difficult pin placements made birdies and even pars hard to come by, Yuan was near flawless. Birdies on the first and third came either side of one of only two bogies for the day, and the five shot overnight deficit turned into a two shot victory. Park battled away gamely, finishing in second and claiming the Boys 16 Years Division in the process, whilst Sarit Suwannarut finished in third and was the only other player under par for the event.
Thirty six hole leader Cameron John fell away over the final two rounds, but was still far too good for his rivals in the Boys 15 Years Division, finishing three shots clear of the second of Thailand golfers, Suradit Yongcharoenchai.
It was a fantastic week for the team from Thailand, with the team also claiming honours in the International Teams Challenge.
Girls Championship - Par 72
280 (-8) - Shelly Shin (Concord GC) Kanyalak Preedasutthijit (Thailand)
**Kanyalak Preedasutthijit (Thailand) won with a birdie on the second playoff hole.
286 (-2) - Eunice Kim (Queensland)
289 (+1) - Kirsty Hodgkins (Queensland)
Girls 15 Years
Scratch - Celina Yuan (The Australian GC) 293
Nett - Grace Lee (Ryde Parramatta 14) 288
Girls 16 Years
Scratch - Shelly Shin (Concord GC) Kanyalak Preedasutthijit (Thailand) 280
**Kanyalak Preedasutthijit (Thailand) won with a birdie on the second playoff hole.
Nett - Eunice Kim (Queensland +1) 290
Girls 17 Years
Scratch - Alyssa Getty (Canada) Jess Lasky (The Australian) 304
**Alyssa Getty (Canada) won with a par on the first playof hole.
Nett - Anna McHugh (Cronulla 9) 299
Boys Championship - Par 71
277 (-7) - Kevin Yuan (The Australian)
279 (-5) - Chris Park (Queensland)
282 (-2) - Sarit Suwannarut (Thailand)
Boys 15 Years
Scratch - Cameron John (Victoria) 284
Nett - Bryce Roach (Cumberland 6) 285
Boys 16 Years
Scratch - Chris Park (Queensland) 279
Nett - Junghyeon Park (Strathfield 12) 273
Boys 17 Years
Scratch - Kevin Yuan (The Australian GC) 277
Nett - Alex Lising-White (Pymble GC 5) 284
Shin and Park Take Final Round Srixon Leads
Thursday 2nd October, 2014
The 2014 Srixon International Junior Classic at Maitland Golf Club is headed for an exciting finish, with plenty of golfers still in contention at the end of a difficult round three.
Chris Park (Queensland) fired a third round 68 to turn a one shot deficit into a two shot lead, sitting at nine under par after the third round. In second place is Sarit Suwannarut (Thailand), who bounced back from a double bogey on the 12th with four birdies in a row from the 13th hole to post one under par 70. Overnight leader Cameron John (Victoria) and Kevin Yuan (The Australian) sit in a tie for third at four under par. Minwoo Lee (Western Australia) had an even par round of 71, but stood out with two eagles on the 4th and 15th holes, to sit in a tie for 6th.
Shelly Shin (Concord GC) leads the Girls Division after a third round 70, and takes a three shot lead into the final round at 10 under par. Shin's closest competitors are Thailand's Kanyalak Preedasutthijit who fired a 73 and Queenslander Eunice Kim, who ground out a 74. In the Girls 15 Years and Under Division, Celina Yuan holds a seven shot lead after a third round 73, highlighted by four birdies in a row from the seventh.
Girls Championship - Par 72
206 (-10) - Shelly Shin (Concord GC)
209 (-7) - Kanyalak Preedasutthijit (Thailand)
211 (-5) - Eunice Kim (Queensland)
Girls 15 Years
Scratch - Celina Yuan (The Australian GC) 217
Nett - Grace Lee (Ryde Parramatta 14) 213
Girls 16 Years
Scratch - Shelly Shin (Concord GC) 206
Nett - Kanyalak Preedasutthijit (Thailand 0) 209
Girls 17 Years
Scratch - Alyssa Getty (Canada) 230
Nett - Tori Threlfo (Belmont 11) 223
Boys Championship - Par 71
204 (-9) - Chris Park (Queensland)
206 (-7) - Sarit Suwannarut (Thailand)
209 (-4) - Kevin Yuan (The Australian GC) Cameron John (Victoria)
Boys 15 Years
Scratch - Cameron John (Victoria) 209
Nett - Bryce Roach (Cumberland 6) 209
Boys 16 Years
Scratch - Chris Park (Queensland) 204
Nett - Junghyeon Park (Strathfield 12) 200
Boys 17 Years
Scratch - Kevin Yuan (The Australian GC) 209
Nett - Alex Lising-White (Pymble GC 5) 214
Full List of the Third Round Results
Tight at the Top at Srixon International
Wednesday 1st October, 2014
Cool but sunny skies greeted the players for round two at the 2014 Srixon International at Maitland Golf Club. Perfect early morning conditions allowed the players to attack the course on the opening holes, but by mid-morning, strong winds swept the Maitland layout, which in turn made scoring difficult as the day went on.
It didn't stop Victorian Cameron John surge to the top of the leaderboard after a five under par 67. Teeing off in the more difficult afternoon conditions, John recovered from a slow start to drain eight birdies, particularly impressing on the back nine coming home in a four under par 31! John will take a one shot lead into the third round.
The best of the morning players was Thailand's Sarit Suwannarut, who matched his opening round of 68 with another three under par round to surge up the leaderboard. Joining Suwannarut in a tie for second are Queenslander Chris Park, and The Australian Golf Club member Kevin Yuan after matching second round 69's.
Mattias Sanchez (Victoria) moved into outright fifth after the second round, firing his second successive under par round to sit at minus three. Sanchez is one shot clear of overnight leader Blake Windred (Monash CC) who had a roller coaster second round, with five birdies offset by five bogies and two double bogies, which saw him sign for a 75.
It is even tighter in the Girls Division, with Kanyalak Preedasutthijit (Thailand) and Shelly Shin (Concord) sharing the lead at eight under par. Shin got off to another fantastic start, turning in four under par to get to 10 under par for the tournament, before faltering slightly on the back nine. Preedasutthijit was solid throughout, only dropping one shot for the day, and a birdie - birdie - birdie finish saw her grab a share of the lead. Eunice Kim (Queensland) matched the Thai's round of the day with a 67, her round including an awesome eight birdies. Celina Yuan sits at even par for the tournament and holds a five stroke lead in the Girls 15 Years Division.
The shot of the day belonged to Concord member Jason Hong, who holed out from the fairway on the par four 1st for an eagle two, which helped him to an even par 71 and sits safely inside the top 10.
Girls Championship - Par 72
136 - Shelly Shin (Concord GC) Kanyalak Preedasutthijit (Thailand)
137 - Eunice Kim (Queensland)
Girls 15 Years
Scratch - Celina Yuan (The Australian GC) 144
Nett - Madeleine Nurdi (St Michaels 4) Grace Lee (Ryde Parramatta 14) 143
Girls 16 Years
Scratch - Shelly Shin (Concord GC) Kanyalak Preedasutthijit (Thailand) 136
Nett - Eunice Kim (Queensland +1) 139
Girls 17 Years
Scratch - Alyssa Getty (Canada) 153
Nett - Anna Mchugh (Cronulla GC 9) 148
Boys Championship - Par 71
135 (-7) - Cameron John (Victoria)
136 (-6) - Sarit Suwannarut (Thailand) Chris Park (Queensland) Kevin Yuan (The Australian GC)
139 (-3) - Mattias Sanchez (Victoria)
140 (-2) - Blake Windred (Monash CC)
Boys 15 Years
Scratch - Cameron John (Victoria) 135
Nett - Bryce Roach (Cumberland 6) 138
Boys 16 Years
Scratch - Sarit Suwannarut (Thailand) Chris Park (Queensland) 136
Nett - Junghyeon Park (Strathfield 12) 136
Boys 17 Years
Scratch - Kevin Yuan (The Australian GC) 136
Nett - Alex Lising-White (Pymble GC 5) 138
Full List of the Second Round Results
Shin Breaks Own Course Record on Opening Day
Tuesday 30th September, 2014
Shelly Shin (Concord GC) has gone one better than her own course record at Maitland Golf Club, to lead the Srixon International after the opening day's play. Shin recovered from two bogies in her opening three holes, storming home with nine birdies, including six on the back nine to fire the impressive six under par 66.
She had to be at her brilliant best to lead, with an incredible six girls shooting rounds of two under par or better. Thailand golfer Kanyalak Preedasutthijit fired five birdies in her round of 69 to sit in solo second, one shot clear of a host of golfers at minus two, including Virunpat Olankitkunchai (Thailand), Celina Yuan (The Australian GC), and Queensland pair Robyn Choi and Eunice Kim.
Tori Threlfo (Belmont GC) was one of the best of the local Newcastle / Hunter players on the opening day, her round coming to life in the closing holes with a birdie-birdie-birdie finish helping her to a three shot lead in the Girls 17 Years Nett Division.
Not to be outdone by the fantastic scoring of the girls, the boys played some terrific golf to set up a very exciting week of golf. Newcastle local Blake Windred (Monash CC) matched Shelly's round of golf with his own six under par round, a 65 on the Par 71 mens layout. Blake had 7 birdies and a lone bogey to take a two shot lead into the second round over Kevin Yuan (The Australian) and Chris Park (Queensland), who shot matching four under par 67s. Sarit Suwannarut was the best of the overseas contingent, finishing with a three under par 68, but it could have been more after starting with four birdies in the opening seven holes.
One of the early starters in the Boys 15 Years division was Corey Jones (Pymble), who flew out of the blocks, with four birdies in his opening six holes giving him the tournament lead, but it was the consitent Cameron John (Victoria) who was the best of the morning field after signing for a 69. In form Central Coast and Pennant Hills member Jordie Garner continued his recent run of good form, and sits one shot further back after a one under par 70.
One of the standout rounds of the day belonged to Cumberland GC member Jordan Ross, who defied his handicap of 9 to fire a one over par 72. This gave him the best Nett score of the day, an eight under par 63!
In a show of just how strong the Srixon International is this year, an incredible 18 players broke par on the opening day.
Round two is set to commence at 6:44am on Wednesday.
Girls Championship - Par 72
66 - Shelly Shin (Concord GC)
69 - Kanyalak Preedasutthijit (Thailand)
Girls 15 Years
Scratch - Virunpat Olankitkunchai (Thailand) Celina Yuan (Concord GC) 70
Nett - Madeline Nurdi (St Michaels 4) 70
Girls 16 Years
Scratch - Shelly Shin (Concord GC) 66
Nett - Kanyalak Preedasutthijit (Thailand 0) 69
Girls 17 Years
Scratch - Jess Lasky (The Australian GC) 74
Nett - Tori Threlfo (Belmont GC 11) 69
Boys Championship - Par 71
65 - Blake Windred (Monash)
67 - Kevin Yuan (The Australian) Chris Park (Queensland)
Boys 15 Years
Scratch - Cameron John (Victoria) 69
Nett - Ethan Keane (Bonnie Doon 3) 68
Boys 16 Years
Scratch - Blake Windred (Monash) 65
Nett - Jordan Ross (Cumberland 9) 63
Boys 17 Years
Scratch - Kevin Yuan (The Australian) 67
Nett - Alex Lising-White (Pymble 5) 68
Full List of the Opening Round Results
Thailand Dominate Long Drive Competition
Monday 29th September, 2014
If the Srixon International was a long drive compeition, there would only be one winner. On Monday, more than 70 players took part in the fun opening to the tournament with players hitting it as far as they could down the Par 4 10th hole at Maitland Golf Club, but many of the strongest locals were blown away by the power of team Thailand.
Virunpat Olankitkunchai comfortably won the Girls 15 Years Division whilst compatriot Suradit Yongcharoenchai tied for first with Jones Comerford (Dubbo GC - NSW) in the Boys 15 Years Division. Matilda Wheare (South Australia) claimed the Girls 17 Years Division with Lachlan Robinson (Monash CC - NSW) winning the boys.
The overall title in both boys and girls divisions were claimed by 16 year olds, the girls won by Robyn Choi (Queensland) with a drive of 285m! The boys event was hotly contested, eventually won by another Thai, Sarit Suwannarut, who FLEW his drive 305m and into the water over the back of the fairway.
Play begins just before 7am on Tuesday morning at Maitland Golf Club for the opening round.
Tournament Preview
Saturday 27th September, 2014
The 2014 Srixon International Junior Classic will once again be held at the wonderful Maitland and Kurri Golf Club's in the NSW Hunter Valley. This year, a capacity field of almost 300 golfers from around the world will take part in the tournament, with 180 players competing in the junior section (15-17 years) at Maitland, and 120 players competing in the sub-junior section (12-14 years) at Kurri.
There is a real international flavour to the event in 2014, with teams from Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Thailand and the United States flying in for the tournament, and they'll be facing some stiff opposition from Australia's best. Interstate players from Western Australia, South Australia, Queensland, Victoria and the Northern Territory have also made their way to the Hunter Valley, to tee it up alongside local New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory golfers.
The tournament gets underway on Monday with the official practice rounds, the Long Drive competition, and Tournament Registration.
To keep up to date with everything that's happening at Maitland Golf Club for the Srixon International Junior Classic, save the tournament information page as a favourite now!
Srixon International Junior Classic Tournament Information Page
