Park Comes from Behind to Conquer Catalina
Hannah Park (NSW GC) was the standout golfer on the second day of the South Coast Junior Masters, coming from three shots behind to win her fourth Junior Masters of the year. Park recorded six birdies on the second day to fire a four under par 68 and win by two strokes from overnight leader Amy Chu (The Australian). Stef Hall (The Australian) finished third after a second round 75, whilst Kirsten Convoy had an impressive 73 to claim the Girls 16 Years and over. The 13 Years and Under title was taken out by Monica Johnson (Moore Park) who qualified for the Bonville Champions trophy for the first time after rounds of 78 and 76.
Local product Faith Ralston (Catalina) led after the opening round, and backed that up with 44 points on day two to win the Girls Stableford division by a whopping 17 shot win.
Corey Jones held on down the stretch from a fast finishing Harry Doig (Ryde Parramatta) to win his first Junior Masters event by two shots. Jones had four birdies and four bogies in the second round, finishing with back to back bogies to hang on for victory. Doig was clutch on the greens throughout, with 20 footers dropping regularly on his way to back to back under par rounds. Recovering from a slow start, Doig played his final 12 holes in three under par to overtake Jordan Garner (Pennant Hills) who finished a shot back in third after three late bogies.
Luke Ferrier (Pennant Hills) and Adam Naaman (Liverpool) booked their ticket to the Bonville Champions trophy with victory in the 14/15 Years and 13 Years and Under, Ferrier needing a birdie on the first playoff hole to defeat the ever improving Carter Nepia (North Ryde) after the pair finished locked on at three over par for the tournament.
The locals again dominated the stableford division, with Mollymook pair Jye Halls and Lachlan Barr finishing on 75 points. One of the highlights of the tournament was Angus McMahon (The Vintage), with the 19 handicapper finishing a record 16 under par in the Boys 13 Years and Under Nett.
Final Results
Boys Overall - C Jones (Pymble) 139 (-5).
Boys 13 Years and Under - A Naaman (Liverpool) 150.
Boys 13 Years and Under Nett - A McMahon (The Vintage 19) 128.
Boys 14 and 15 Years - L Ferrier (Pennant Hills) C Nepia (North Ryde) 147. Ferrier won on the first playoff hole.
Boys 14 and 15 Years Nett - L Brucic (Federal 4) 141.
Boys 16 Years and Over - C Jones (Pymble) 139.
Boys 16 Years and Over Nett - E Chun (Dunheved 4) 137.
Boys Stableford - J Halls (Mollymook 25) 75 Points c/b.
Girls Overall - H Park (NSW) 141.
Girls 13 Years and Under - M Johnson (Moore Park) 154.
Girls 13 Years and Under Nett - J Song (Avondale 3) 149.
Girls 14 and 15 Years - H Park (NSW) 141.
Girls 14 and 15 Years Nett - K Williams (Avondale 7) 145.
Girls 16 Years and Over - K Convoy (The Australian) 148.
Girls 16 Years and Over Nett - B Robards (Belmont 12) 140.
Girls Stableford - F Ralston (Catalina 45) 83 Points.
Jones and Chu Kick Clear at Catalina
Corey Jones (Pymble) and Amy Chu (The Australian) have opened up narrow leads after the opening round of the South Coast JM at Catalina Country Club.
After a week of heavy rain which saw more than 300mm of rain dumped on the 27 hole layout, some long hours from the green staff meant the tournament began without delay on Saturday morning, with the tournament being played on holes 10-27, with much of the front nine still under water.
Despite the heavy rain, the course and greens were presented in fantastic condition and Jones took full advantage, making four birdies and a hole out eagle in the opening 12 holes to get to six under par. The 16 year old Central Coast product overcome some ill heath, and after a superb up and down on the final hole led by one stroke from fellow Central Coast junior and Pennant Hills Member Jordan Garner, who fired a bogey free round of 68. Also shooting under par rounds were Harry Doig (Ryde Parramatta) 70, Izzy Melia (Charlestown) 71, and Luke Ferrier (Pennant Hills) 71, who incredibly started with 17 straight pars, before making a birdie on the final hole.
The boys were shown up however by a JNJG rookie playing his first ever JNJG Tour event, with Angus McMahon (The Vintage) finishing with a Nett 62!!! The 19 marker shot an incredible one over on the front nine, on his way to the best round of his life.
The girls also recorded some impressive scores on the opening day, with two girls from The Australian Golf Club leading the way. Amy Chu played incredibly steady golf, only dropping one shot on her way to a two under par 70. The 15 year old leads recent Australian APGC Representative Stef Hall by two shots, with Hall putting together a fantastic round of golf before dropping three shots in the final two holes to finish at even par.
One of the highlights of the day in the girls was local Catalina Country Club member Faith Ralston recording an impressive 39 points in the stableford division.
Round One Leaders
Boys Overall - C Jones (Pymble) 67 J Garner (Pennant Hills) 68.
Boys 13 Years and Under - A Naaman (Liverpool) 74.
Boys 13 Years and Under Nett - A McMahon (The Vintage 19) 62.
Boys 14 and 15 Years - L Ferrier (Pennant Hills) 71.
Boys 14 and 15 Years Nett - E Middleton (Wyong 11) 69.
Boys 16 Years and Over - C Jones (Pymble) 67.
Boys 16 Years and Over Nett - E Chun (Dunheved 4) 68.
Boys Stableford - L Barr (Mollymook 26) 41 Points.
Girls Overall - A Chu (The Australian) 70 S Hall (The Australian) 72.
Girls 13 Years and Under - B Ji (Concord) 74.
Girls 13 Years and Under Nett - M Johnson (Moore Park 7)71.
Girls 14 and 15 Years - A Chu (The Australian) 70.
Girls 14 and 15 Years Nett - S Hall (The Australian 1) 71.
Girls 16 Years and Over - K Convoy (The Australian) 75.
Girls 16 Years and Over Nett - B Robards (Belmont 12) 73.
Girls Stableford - F Ralston (Catalina 45) 39 Points.
Tournament Preview
Despite some very wet weather conditions over the past week 123 junior golfers from across NSW will be making their way to Batemans Bay tomorrow and Saturday for the 2015 South Coast Junior Masters. The event will take place this weekend at Club Catalina Country Club.
The South Coast is the seventh event in the Junior Masters Series for 2015 and promises to be a great display of talented NSW junior golfers.
Leading the charge for the Overall Boys title will be Pymble’s Corey Jones and Cromer’s Corey Rae. Rae has had a particularly good 2015 Masters Series with a number of runner up finishes as well as taking out the Overall Title at the North Coast event at Kew Country Club. Jones comes off an excellent showing at the School Sport Australia Golf Championships where he was named as the Australian School Boys Captain. Joining Jones in the Australian School Boys Team for his effort at the Championships is Pennant Hills junior Jordan Garner who will be looking to secure his first Junior Masters Title. Also one to watch will be Charlestown’s Izzy Melia who will have his eyes on the championship.
In the girls competition three times Junior Masters Champion Hannah Park (NSW) will be tough to topple as she hunts for that elusive fourth title. South Coast junior Stef Hall (The Australian) will be hoping her recent trip to Taiwan, as part of the Australian Team, will be a good warm up for her claiming victory at Catalina. Both these girls will have to watch for JNJG Development Squad members Amy Chu (The Australian) and Chloe Thornton (NSW) who will be eager to see their names in lights at the end of the weekend.
This event is a fantastic opportunity for golfers to watch over 120 of the best juniors in the state. Play gets underway from 10.40am on Saturday, with a shot gun start on Sunday at 7.15am. Good luck to all those competing this weekend, travel safely and enjoy the wonderful hospitality of the Far South Coast.
Players please note you have been sent an email confirming the details for the weekend:
Despite plenty of rain on the Far South Coast, the 2015 South Coast Junior Masters will be going ahead this weekend. The draw for the opening round of play has just been released and can be found on the JNJG website, or by clicking here.
For those who are unaware, Catalina Country Club is actually a 27-hole golf course, and whilst we would ideally play the Championship on holes 1-18, we may have to use a composite golf course of holes that are available to us. As soon as we make a decision on which holes will be in play for the tournament, we will let you know.
The course is going to be wet, but the green staff are doing everything they can to ensure the course is in as good a condition as possible. Preparing for a golf tournament is an extremely difficult job without Mother Nature making things worse, so be patient and remember everyone is faced with the same conditions.
Drive safe, and see you at Catalina on Saturday.
