Taylor and Trew Triumph at Northern Rivers Junior Masters
(Monday 13th April, 2015)
Riley Taylor (Casino) and Maddie Trew (Coolangatta Tweed) have been crowned the first ever Northern Rivers Junior Masters Champions, after nail-biting victories at Ballina Golf Club.
Heading into the final round with a share of the lead, Taylor recovered from two bogies in the opening two holes to win by one stroke from Sydney visitor Corey Rae (Cromer). Rae actually led by as many as two strokes as players made the turn, with Kyle Underwood (Ballina) and Lucas Higgins (Queensland) making it a four-horse race. Higgins flew out of the blocks, with four birdies in the first six holes putting him right in contention, before two double bogies mid-round ended his charge. Underwood was flawless on the back nine and didn't drop a shot, but couldn't get the birdies he needed to bridge the gap to Taylor and Rae.
As the players approached the 18th hole, Taylor and Rae found themselves in a share of the lead at two under par, and it was Taylor who made the clutch play when he needed it, picking up a birdie on the final hole to claim a one-stroke victory. Underwood finished a shot further back in third, with Higgins and local Jay Mackenzie (Ballina) finishing in a tie for fourth. Harrison Crowe (St Michael's) finished sixth, whilst claiming the 13 Years and Under division with rounds of 74 and 76.
Starting the final round with a comfortable three shot lead, Trew didn't have it all her own way in the second round and when the leading girls made the turn, there were five players within two shots of the lead. Trew was joined in the share of the lead by Hannah Park (Dunheved) and Eleka Moore (Ballina), with Grace Kim (Avondale) and Stephanie Kyriacou (St Michael's) only two shots back. The girls fought it out on the back nine, and three birdies in five holes saw Trew retake the lead, defeating Moore by a single stroke. Kyriacou finished in outright third, whilst claiming the 14 and 15 Years Division, with the 13 Years and Under title going to Queenslander Isabella Artcheua.
Boys - Riley Taylor (Casino) 141. Corey Rae (Cromer) 142. Kyle Underwood (Ballina) 143.
Boys 13 Years and Under - Harrison Crowe (St Michael's) 150.
Boys 13 Years and Under Nett - Harvey Remfrey (Ballina) 140.
Boys 14 and 15 Years - Kyle Underwood (Ballina) 143.
Boys 14 and 15 Years Nett - Lewis Hoath (Queensland) 145.
Boys 16 Years and Over - Riley Taylor (Casino) 141.
Boys 16 Years and Over Nett - Eric Chun (Queensland) 138.
Boys Stableford - Riley Wunderlich (Yamba) 76 points.
Girls - Maddie Trew (Coolangatta Tweed) 151. Eleka Moore (Ballina) 152.
Girls 13 Years and Under - Isabella Artcheua (Queensland) 176.
Girls 13 Years and Under Nett - Amy O'Connor (Queensland) 154.
Girls 14 and 15 Years - Stephanie Kyriacou (St Michael's) 155.
Girls 14 and 15 Years Nett - Ashlee Selwood (Murwillumbah) 155cb.
Girls 16 Years and Over - Maddie Trew (Coolangatta Tweed) 151.
Girls 16 Years and Over Nett - Annabelle Elina (Pennant Hills) 145.
Girls Stableford - Emily Poynton (Iluka) 78 points.
Hot Start to Inaugural Northern Rivers Junior Masters
(Sunday 12th April, 2015)
Sydney visitor Corey Rae (Cromer) and Northern Rivers local Riley Taylor (Casino) have fired matching four under par 68s to share the lead after the opening round of the 2015 Northern Rivers Junior Masters at Ballina Golf Club.
Rae, a long time Jack Newton Junior Golf competitor, had the round of his Jack Newton Junior Golf career which included six birdies, whilst current Northern Rivers Order of Merit champion Taylor bounced back from a missed cut at the Australian Junior Boys Championship in Adelaide last week with five birdies of his own, including birdies on all four of the courses par fives.
Hot on the heels of the leading pair is home town hero and local favourite Kyle Underwood (Ballina), who also managed six birdies in his round of two under par 70. That was enough to give the local a five shot lead in the Boys 14 and 15 Years Division and find himself in the final group for the second round. Joining the trio in the final group was Queenslander Lucas Higgins, despite a triple bogey on the opening hole of the tournament! Higgins responded well to storm back into contention with an eagle on the first (his 10th) to kick start his round. That was backed up with birdies on the third, fifth, and sixth, before a sloppy finish left him at one over par after the opening day.
The youngsters proved they're up to the challenge, with 13 year old Harrison Crowe (St Michael's) in a tie for fifth overall, and leading the 13 Years and Under Division after opening with a two over par 74. Crowe managed three birdies to take a one shot lead over another local, with Harvey Remfrey (Ballina) snapping at his heels after a 75.
There were also some fantastic nett scores, including Isaac Outridge (Coolangatta Tweed) 68, Stuart Gibson (Ballina) 69 and Sam York (Bankstown) 69, whilst the boys in the Stableford Division also managed some impressive scores, with Daniel Abey (Queensland) leading after finishing with 40 points on day one.
Murwillumbah local and Coolangatta Tweed member Maddie Trew played solid golf throughout the opening round on her way to an even par 72, and a three shot lead in the Girls Division. Trew doesn't have it all her own way however, with the top six Girls only separated by six shots. Grace Kim (Avondale) sits in outright second and leads the Girls 14 and 15 Years Division after starting with a 75, one shot clear of Stephanie Kyriacou (St Michael's) and local girl Eleka Moore (Ballina). Laura Cummings (Cowra) and NSW Development Squad Member Hannah Park (Dunheved) are a shot further behind and still in contention heading into round two.
The Golf Course proved difficult for the girls on the opening day, with Trew the only girl to break her handicap on the opening day in the Stroke Division. Showing the girls how to do it were two of the Stableford Division, with Charlize Spain (Queensland) recording 38 stableford points, and Emily Poynton (Iluka) 36 points.
Round Two begins on Monday morning with a 7:00am SHOT-GUN start. All players need to register by 6:45am.
Round One Results - Click Here
Round One Results
Boys - Corey Rae (Cromer) Riley Taylor (Casino) 68. Kyle Underwood (Ballina) 70.
Boys 13 Years and Under - Harrison Crowe (St Michael's) 74.
Boys 13 Years and Under Nett - Isaac Outridge (Coolangatta Tweed) 68.
Boys 14 and 15 Years - Kyle Underwood (Ballina) 70.
Boys 14 and 15 Years Nett - Alex Whiteley (Queensland) 72.
Boys 16 Years and Over - Riley Taylor (Casino) 68.
Boys 16 Years and Over Nett - Corey Rae (Cromer) 65.
Boys Stableford - Daniel Abey (Queensland) 40 points.
Girls - Maddie Trew (Coolangatta Tweed) 70. Grace Kim (Avondale) 75.
Girls 13 Years and Under - Isabella Artcheua (Queensland) 91.
Girls 13 Years and Under Nett - Amy O'Connor (Queensland) 76.
Girls 14 and 15 Years - Grace Kim (Avondale) 75.
Girls 14 and 15 Years Nett - Stephanie Kyriacou (St Michael's) 72.
Girls 16 Years and Over - Maddie Trew (Coolangatta Tweed) 72.
Girls 16 Years and Over Nett - Eleka Moore (Ballina) 73.
Girls Stableford - Charlize Spain (Queensland) 38 points.
Tournament Preview
(Saturday 11th April, 2015)
Ballina Golf Club have welcomed JNJG for the inaugural Northern Rivers Junior Masters. It is the first time the Junior Masters Series has visited the beautiful Northern Rivers and with a fantastic field it promises to be a great weekend of junior golf.
Over 80 juniors have travelled from near and far to take part in the event which incorporates the 18 hole Ballina Junior Open (Saturday only). There is also a 3, 5 and 9 hole competition for our newest players to the game. About 40 keen players will be taking part in these fun events which are a great addition to the tournament.
Leading the charge in the Girls Overall Championship is two time Masters winner Hannah Park (Dunheved). Fresh off her victories at Wagga Wagga and Bathurst as well as a solid campaign at the Australian Junior Girls Championship, Hannah will be hoping to make it three from three in the Junior Masters Series. Chasing her down will be two local Northern Rivers girls, Maddie Trew (Murwillumbah) will be hoping to claim her first Junior Masters title. Both Hannah and Maddie will have their work cut out for them as Ballina junior Eleka Moore will be a tough opponent on her home course.
In the Boys Championship Ballina star Jay Mackenzie will be hard to beat but low marker for the tournament Lucas Higgins (Murwillumbah) will be putting up a fight. Rounding out the marquee group for the tournament is Darcy Carroll (Moree) and Jack Pountney (Moore Park/Coffs Harbour), both will be hoping it is their name is in lights on Monday afternoon. There are also a number of tough competitors from Sydney who have headed north to challenge for the title. Ethan Keane (Bonnie Doon), Brad Doherty (Oatlands) and Corey Rae (Cromer) will be bringing their 'A' game in the hopes of taking the silverware back to the big smoke.
Play gets underway tomorrow at 8.08am with a shotgun start for the final round on Monday. If you are in the area make sure you get out to Ballina Golf Club for an excellent weekend of junior golf. For the round one draw click here.
