Playoff Drama as Australian Girls Amateur Champion Wins at Lynwood
Friday 17th April, 2015
A playoff was needed to decide the 2015 Western Sydney Junior Masters Boys Championship, after three players were locked at four under par at the end of the tournament. James Conran (Duntryleague) and Corey Rae (Cromer) fired matching 67s to finish the tournament at four under par, and that was enough to join overnight leader Jordie Garner (Pennant Hills) who managed an even par 70 on day two to also end at four under par.
Conran fired a superb 7 iron on the first playoff to within 6 feet, and when Garner missed the green and Rae's long birdie putt slid agonisingly wide, The Duntryleague member was left with a 6 footer for the title, which he calmly made. It was heartbreak for the second time in a week for Rae, who shared the lead at the Northern Rivers Junior Masters last weekend before he lost out to a birdie on the final hole, whilst Garner picked up the 14 and 15 Years Division despite the playoff loss.
It was almost a FIVE man playoff, with Joe Kim (Castle Hill) and Brandon Biddle (Concord) also at four under par before bogies on the 17th saw them drop out of a share of the lead. They settled for a share of fourth at three under par.
There were also some outstanding performances in the Nett Division, with Blade Gadd (Penrith) finishing at 11 under par for the two rounds to win the 14 and 15 Years Division. It was the 14 year olds best performance in a JNJG event, finishing in the Top 10 Overall for the first time. Gadd defeated Jackson Hall (Port Kembla) by a single stroke, after the seven handicapper had his first ever under par round on day two.
The Boys 13 Years and Under Division appeared to be over with overnight leader Aidan Powter in complete control halfway through the back nine. Tom Heaton (Port Kembla) wouldn't go away, and when Powter stumbled in the closing stages, Heaton pounced. A miraculous birdie on the 17th hole was followed up by a 40 foot birdie putt on the final green (9th hole for them after a backnine start) to force a playoff. The two went down the 10th, and a par was enough for Powter to claim the title. Ethan Chambers (Avondale) finished in third, with Kaine Andres (Everglades) having his best JNJG tournament so far to finish fourth.
In the Girls Division, Celina Yuan (The Australian) has capped off a fantastic week by winning the 2015 Western Sydney Junior Masters. Yuan came from behind with a two under par 68 on day two to record a four shot victory over big improver Danni Vasquez (Bonnie Doon). It wasn't all smooth sailing for Yuan, and after back to back bogies on the 14th and 15th the margin was back to one shot! But showing all the qualities that made her the Australian Girls Amateur Champion in Adelaide last week, Yuan responded when under pressure with two birdies to close out the win.
Vasquez ended up claiming the 14 and 15 Years Girls Division by three shots from Grace Kim (Avondale) and overnight leader Bella Kil (Avondale). Chloe Thornton responded well on day two after a slot start in the first round with a 69 on day two to round out the top five. Belinda Ji (Concord) was the best of the younger brigade, finishing in outright sixth and claiming the Girls 13 Years and Under Division.
Boys Overall - James Conran (Duntryleague) Corey Rae (Cromer) Jordie Garner (Pennant Hills) 136. *Conran won on the first playoff hole.
Boys 13 Years and Under - Aidan Powter (St Michaels) Tom Heaton (Port Kembla) 143. *Powter won on the first playoff hole.
Boys 13 Years and Under Nett - Josh Fuller (Muswellbrook 14) 131.
Boys 14 and 15 Years - Jordie Garner (Pennant Hills) 136.
Boys 14 and 15 Years Nett - Blade Gadd (Penrith 7) 129.
Boys 16 Years and Over - James Conran (Duntryleague) Corey Rae (Cromer) 136. *Conran won on the first playoff hole.
Boys 16 Years and Over Nett - Brandon Biddle (Concord 1) 135.
Boys Stableford - Kyle Homan (Leonay 22) 81 points.
Girls Overall - Celina Yuan (The Australian) 138. Danni Vasquez (Bonnie Doon) 142.
Girls 13 Years and Under - Belinda Ji (Concord) 150.
Girls 13 Years and Under Nett - Sophie Yip (Concord 11) 145cb.
Girls 14 and 15 Years - Danni Vasquez (Bonnie Doon) 142.
Girls 14 and 15 Years Nett - Sarah Johnson (Kiama 10) 135cb.
Girls 16 Years and Over - Celina Yuan (The Australian) 138.
Girls 16 Years and Over Nett - Lucy Harris (Muirfield 5) 141.
Girls Stableford - Christine Shin (Castle Hill 22) 63 points.
Bogey Free Garner Leads at Lynwood Whilst Bella Kil's It
Thursday 16th April, 2015
Jordie Garner (Pennant Hills) has backed up an impressive performance at the Boys Australian Amateur with his first ever bogey free round to lead the 2015 Western Sydney Junior Masters at Lynwood after the opening round. He had to be at his best, with an incredible NINE boys breaking par on the opening day where the only thing as hot as the temperatures were the scores!
Garner was mistake free en route to an opening round of 66 (-4), and takes a one shot lead into round two from Western Sydney local Mark Hancock (Stonecutters Ridge). Hancock started with nine straight pars, before a bogey on the 10th snapped him into action, rebounding with four birdies of his own in the following five holes. A shot further back at two under par were Brandon Biddle (Concord), Brad Doherty (Oatlands), and Billy Watson (Long Reef), with Watson's round including six birdies. Also joining the boys under par after the opening day were James Gleeson (Dubbo), Corey Rae (Cromer), Joe Kim (Castle Hill) and James Conran (Duntryleague). Kim and Conran both had the outright lead at different stages at minus three before slipping on the back nine.
One of the best rounds on the opening day was Penrith youngster Blade Gadd, the seven marker recording his best ever score of 71 for a nett score of 64 and a two shot lead in the Boys 14 and 15 Years Nett Division. He leads Joshua Hourmouzis (Avondale), who also impressed with a Nett 66.
The Boys 13 Years and Under Division didn't tee off until the afternoon, but St Michael's Aidan Powter wasted no time in flying up the leaderboard with an eagle at the first. The 13 year old played outstanding golf, and further birdies on the 5th and 7th saw him grab a share of the overall lead at four under. A couple of birdies on the back nine slowed his progress, but when he picked up a birdie on the difficult 18th, he signed for a 67 which gave him a share of second, and the lead in the Boys 13 Years and Under. Powter was challenged all day by Tom Heaton (Port Kembla), with the youngster one under par himself until a bogey on the last left him with a 70. The boys are in the top 10 overall and have the advantage a morning tee time tomorrow to potentially post a number and see if the older boys can chase it down!
It wasn't only the boys who took advantage of favourable conditions at Lynwood, with Avondale junior Bella Kil tearing the front nine (her back nine) to pieces to storm to the lead. Kil needed only 30 strokes to finish with a 68, the best round of her short career, to take a two shot lead of recent Australian Girls Amateur Champion Celina Yuan (The Australian). Yuan, who only got back from the Australian interstate series last night, had three birdies to go with three bogies to finish in outright second at even par. Two of the biggest improvers in JNJG events join Yuan and Kil in the final group, with Danni Vasquez (Bonnie Doon) and Lucy Harris (Muirfield) impressing on the opening day. Belinda Ji (Concord) was solid as always in the opening round to lead the Girls 13 Years and Under Division from Monica Johnson, with the Moore Park golfer putting together the best round of her JNJG career.
The draw swaps around on day two, with the 13 Years and Under Boys and all Girls Divisions getting the advantage of the cooler morning conditions.
Boys Overall - Jordie Garner (Pennant Hills) 66. Mark Hancock (Stonecutters Ridge) Aidan Powter (St Michaels) 67.
Boys 13 Years and Under - Aidan Powter (St Michaels) 67.
Boys 13 Years and Under Nett - Josh Fuller (Muswellbrook 14) 66.
Boys 14 and 15 Years - Jordie Garner (Pennant Hills) 66.
Boys 14 and 15 Years Nett - Blade Gadd (Penrith 7) 64.
Boys 16 Years and Over - Mark Hancock (Stonecutters Ridge) 67.
Boys 16 Years and Over Nett - Brandon Biddle (Concord 1) 67.
Boys Stableford - Victor Georgiev (Cammeray 24) 40 points.
Girls Overall - Bella Kil (Avondale) 68. Celina Yuan (The Australian) 70.
Girls 13 Years and Under - Belinda Ji (Concord) 73.
Girls 13 Years and Under Nett - Monica Johnson (Moore Park 5) 69.
Girls 14 and 15 Years - Bella Kil (Avondale) 68.
Girls 14 and 15 Years Nett - Michelle Oh (Strathfield 11) 66.
Girls 16 Years and Over - Celina Yuan (The Australian) 70.
Girls 16 Years and Over Nett - Lucy Harris (Muirfield 5) 67.
Girls Stableford - Christine Shin (Castle Hill 22) 33 points.
Tournament Preview
Wednesday 15th April, 2015
It's only April but already we are up to our fourth Junior Masters event of the series. Hard to believe the year is going so fast but the 2015 Western Sydney Junior Masters looks to be another promising event with over 150 juniors taking part. It is the second year we have held the event at the Lynwood Country Club, replacing the Wollongong Junior Masters. With NSW State Junior and Subaru State Age Championships being held at Wollongong this year and last year we had to find an alternate option and we were lucky enough to score two days at the beautiful but challenging Lynwood Country Club.
Leading the charge for the Overall Boys title this year are Joe Kim (Castle Hill), Corey Rae (Cromer) and James Conran (Duntryleague). Rae recently recorded his best finish in a Junior Masters event, finishing runner up to Riley Taylor at the Northern Rivers Junior Masters in Ballina. He finished just 1 shot behind Riley and also recorded his lowest ever score with a 4 under par 68 in round 1. James comes off a win in the 16 Years and Over Division at the Wagga Wagga Junior Masters. All three boys will have to watch the 14 and 15 Years Division as Josh Gadd (Penrith), Jordie Garner (Pennant Hills) Harry Doig (Ryde-Parramatta) and Chris Fan (Avondale) will be hot on their heels hoping to claim their first Junior Masters Victory.
In the Girls Overall it will be a battle amongst the NSW Interstate and Development Girls. Current Australian Junior Girls Amateur Champion Celina Yuan (The Australian) will be hoping to secure her first Junior Masters title of the year. But she will have to watch out for fellow NSW teammate Amy Chu (Bonnie Doon) as well as Development team members Chloe Thornton (NSW), Danni Vasquez (Bonnie Doon) and Hannah Park (Dunheved) who will be hoping to topple the recently crowned national champion.
Play gets underway tomorrow with the morning field teeing off at 6.44am while the afternoon field gets underway at 11am. Click here for the draw for round 1.
The draw for Friday will be posted at the completion of round 1 and posted on the JNJG website but starting times will be the same as Thursday.
We would like to wish all of our players the best of luck for the event. To keep up with how each player is performing make sure you follow the live scoring here.
