Crazy Chu Comeback and Glory for Garner at Wollongong
(Monday 25th April, 2016)
Amy Chu (The Australian) and Jordie Garner (Pennant Hills) have claimed the 2016 Illawarra Junior Masters with nail biting victories on a perfect ANZAC weekend at Wollongong Golf Club.
Starting the final round four shots adrift of overnight leaders Doey Choi (Concord) and Belinda Ji (Concord), Chu needed a quick start an unbelievably, she got anything but. Five pars and a bogey saw the 16 year old as many as five strokes adrift as she closed out the front nine, before three birdies in four holes around the turn rocketed her into contention. Two further birdies on the 14th and 15th took her to the top and saw her post a 67 on day two, and a one under par total for the tournament. That proved too good for her rivals, with Bella Kil (Avondale) picking up the 14/15 Years Division and finishing in solo second, one shot behind Chu. Overnight leaders Doey Choi and Belinda Ji were next, with Ji claiming the 13 Years and Under Division by two strokes. The Girls Stableford Division was taken out by another Concord member, with Alyssa Wikana recording 41 points on day two to finish with 75 points in total.
Jordie Garner (Pennant Hills) went wire to wire in the boys division, but his two stroke victory wasn't quite as straight forward as it would appear. Garner made a double bogey on the 2nd, and when playing partner Brad Doherty (Oatlands) picked up a birdie on the 4th, Garner was playing catch up. On the back of a hot flat stick and some clutch putting, Garner took back control of the tournament with birdies on the 4th, 8th, 11th and 15th, and despite a late bogey on the 16th, he hung on for a two stroke victory. Sharing second was Josh Armstrong (The Lakes) and Doherty, who finished the tournament locked together at -4. The only other under par players were 14/15 Year Olds Harrison Crowe (St Michaels) and Jackson Hall (Wollongong) who finished locked together at -1. A birdie on the first playoff hole by the Wollongong local was enough to take out the age division title, with Hall claiming his third consecutive JNJG Masters victory.
The 13 Years and Under Division was a battle of the Jeff's, with Jeff Fan (Avondale) defeating Jeff Guan (Bexley) by two strokes. There were also some incredible Nett Scores in the Boys age groups, with Isaac Fan (Cronulla) claiming the 13 Years and Under Nett Division at -12, Nick Andersen (Avondale) the 14/15 Years Nett Division at -12, and Ian Choi (Strathfield) the 16 Years and Over with a score of -8. Another local, Eddie Ward (Port Kembla) took out the stableford event with a whopping 84 points over the two rounds.
Like always, a BIG thank you to the Wollongong Golf Club, it's staff and volunteers for all the help over the two days. We'll see you all at the next two JNJG events, the North Coast Junior Masters at Kew and the Macarthur Junior Masters at Campbelltown (click the tournament names for more info).
(Sunday 24th April, 2016)
NSW State Team Member Jordie Garner (Pennant Hills) has fired a remarkable five under par 65 on a beautiful day at Wollongong Golf Club to lead after the opening round of the 2016 Illawarra Junior Masters.
Garner started with a birdie on the first before dropping a shot on the third. His round was kick started on the fourth when he pitched in from short of the green for an eagle two! Making the turn at one under par, the 16 year old picked up shots on the 11th, 14th, 16th and 17th to finish the opening round with a one shot lead. In second place was youngster Brad Doherty (Oatlands), who fired his first ever bogey free round, a four under par 66.
In total, there were seven boys who finished the opening day in red figures, including 14/15 Year Old Divisional Leaders Jackson Hall (Wollongong), Luka Brucic (Federal), and Jye Pickin (Avondale) who shot matching one under par 69's.
There were also some impressive Nett Scores on a perfect scoring day, with Isaac Fan (Cronulla) firing a round of the day Nett 61. Ian Choi (Strathfield) was also impressive with a Nett 64 whilst Andy Li (Concord) and Nick Anderson (Avondale) finished with matching Nett 65s to lead their respective age divisions.
Not to be outdone, the Girls Divisions also provided some fantastic scores with Concord pair Doey Choi and Belinda Ji on top of a packed leaderboard after a one under par 70s. They hold a one shot lead over a group of FOUR players, meaning six girls will head into the final round within one shot of the lead. The girls also produced some impressive Nett Scores on the opening day, with Bankstown duo Ko Eun Lee and Claire Shin (playing in her first ever round without a caddy), finishing with three under par Nett 68s.
Incredible Field Assembles in the Illawarra
(Thursday 21st April, 2016)
A capacity field, one of the strongest on the Jack Newton Junior Golf Tour so far this year, will descend on Wollongong Golf Club this ANZAC Day Long Weekend for the 2016 Illawarra Junior Masters. More than 170 players, many of whom fresh off impressive performances at the recent Australian Boys and Girls Championships and Junior Interstate Series, will take on a picturesque golf course that for the last two years has been host of the NSW Junior Championships.
Winning NSW State Team Members Jordan Garner (Pennant Hills) and Josh Gadd (Concord), the Penrith junior who went through the Series undefeated, will look to add the Illawarra Junior Masters crown to their recent Australian Junior Interstate Title. One of the best performed NSW juniors at the Australian Boys Championships last week was youngster Jye Pickin (Avondale), who will be looking to back up his top 10 finish and claim his first major JNJG title. The interstate visitors from the ACT will also be hard to beat, with Josh Armstrong, Luka Brucic and Lachlan Chamberlain coming in after good individual Interstate Series results.
The Girls field is also incredibly strong, with three members of the winning NSW Girls team backing up at Wollongong. Doey Choi (Concord), Amy Chu (The Australian) and Belind Ji (Concord) will tee off in the marquee groups on Sunday, whilst Grace Kim (Avondale), who also finished under par and inside the Top 20 in Tasmania will be staking an early claim for selection in the 2017 team.
Play begins on Sunday just before 6:30am, and the opening round draw and divisional results can be found by clicking the links below.
