Steph Sneaks Home Whilst Jay-Walks to the Title
(Sunday 3rd April, 2016)
Steph Kyriacou (St Michaels) has claimed her maiden JNJG title with a nail-biting playoff victory in the Girls Division at the Peter O'Malley Junior Masters, whilst Jay Mackenzie (Ballina) has run away with the Boys Division to win by a record 10 shots at the Bathurst Golf Club.
The biggest JNJG Junior Masters Event of the Year, which attracted more than 170 families to the region from all over New South Wales was played on a golf course presented in brilliant condition. In their acceptance speeches, both Kyriacou and Mackenzie thanked the green staff at Bathurst for presenting the course in such magnigicent condition, with the greens "the best I've ever putted on in a Jack Newton Junior Golf Tournament". This added to the vibe of the entire tournament, with both players and parents alike enjoying the hospitality of all the staff and volunteers at the golf club, with planning already taking place around a date in 2017 that will hopefully increase the tournament field up towards the 200 player mark.
After starting early Sunday Morning on the 10th Hole, 15 year old and overnight leader Kyriacou was never headed in the final round. It wasn't without some nerves however, with a final hole bogey on the Par 5 9th hole sending the tournament to a playoff with Avondale's Grace Kim. Kyriacou composed herself, making a par on the difficult 18th hole ater earlier making a birdie on it to hang on for the win. The girls cleared out late in the final round, with third place shared by 13 Years and Under Winner Belinda Ji (Concord) and 16 Years and Over Champion Danni Vasquez (Bonnie Doon). There was success for the locals in the Stableford Division, with Bathurst member Casey Thompson putting together round of 41 points and 40 points for an 11 shot victory!!
The win of Jay Mackenzie (Ballina) in the Boys Division of the Peter O'Malley Junior Masters was completely different, winning by a record margin at Bathurst Golf Club. Mackenzie fired a second consecutive four under par 67 to defeat Josh Armstrong (The Lakes) by 10 shots. Starting the final round with a three shot lead, Mackenzie had an early blemish on the 5th, but that was his last mistake, storming to the title with five birdies in the final 11 holes to emphatically claim the win. Third place overall and the 13 Years and Under Division was taken out by an impressive newcomer and ACT resident Lachlan Chamberlain (Federal). The 13 year old backed up his opening round of 71 (even par) with a 74 to defeat Bart Carroll (Wagga Wagga) by five strokes. It was a good weekend for the Wagga Wagga kids, with Will MacAskill and Max Jenkins running 1st and 2nd in the Stableford Division with 85 and 81 points respectively.
There was more local success in the 14/15 Years Division, with Bathurst GC Member Ben McCrossin taking out the Nett Event from good friend Ben Mackey. McCrossin finished on -3 for the tournament, winning by two strokes. Wollongong member Jackson Hall did the Bathurst Double, claiming the 14/15 Years Division whilst also being a part of the winning Illawarra Academy of Sport Team in the JNJG Academy Challenge. A big thank you to all Academies for supporting the Academy Challenge.
JNJG Academy Challenge - Final Results
441 - Illawarra Academy of Sport 1 (Tom Heaton, Jackson Hall, Luke Taylor, Dannie Vasquez)
451 - South East Regional Academy of Sport 1
451 - Western Sydney Academy of Sport
452 - Northern Inland Academy of Sport
458 - South East Regional Academy of Sport 2
462 - Hunter Academy of Sport 2
467 - Illawarra Academy of Sport 3
469 - Illawarra Academy of Sport 2
470 - Hunter Academy of Sport 1
471 - Western Region Academy of Sport
472 - South West Sydney Academy of Sport
A big thanks must go to the Bathurst Golf Club, all of it's staff, Board Members, Club Members, and tournament volunteers for a wonderful weekend. The weather was perfect and the course presented in magnificent condition.
And finally, a big thank you to Peter O'Malley and Titleist for their on-going support of this event, the biggest Junior Masters on the JNJG calendar.
Final Results - Click Here
Ballina's Jay Mackenzie Leads After Hot Start
(Saturday 2nd April, 2016)
NSW State Junior Team member Jay Mackenzie has taken a commanding lead after the opening round of the 2016 Peter O'Malley Junior Masters. The 17 year old from Ballina started in incredible fashion, pitching in from 30m short of the green for a birdie at the first before making an eagle at the par five second. He added three further birdies to finish with a four under par 67 and a three shot lead. Chasing Mackenzie all day was playing partner Josh Armstrong (The Lakes), who mixed four birdies with three bogies on his way to a one under par 70. New Brighton member Jason Perkin had the outright lead midway through the opening round, birdies on 7, 9, 10 and 11 also getting him to four under par. He finished the round at even par after some late bogies and will be joined in the final group by Brad Doherty who finished at +1.
The Boys 14 and 15 Years Division promises to be a tight one, with an incredible SEVEN players separated by only one shot. With the leaders too far back to contend Mackenzie for the overall title, Luka Brucic (Federal), Clayton Small (Maitland) and Oli Payne (Port Macquarie) will have the age division prizes as their focus after opening with a 74 to share the lead. A shot further back was Ethan Chambers (Bonnie Doon), Jackson Hall (Wollongong), Tom Heaton (Wollongong), Adam Thorp (Belconnen Magpies).
The 13 Years and Under Boys went out in the more difficult afternoon conditions, but you wouldn't tell from the scores. Lachlan Chamberlain (Federal) fired an even par 71 to sit third overall and lead his age group by one from Bart Carroll (Bathurst). Playing partners Cameron Rios-Ceballos (Stonecutters Ridge) and Brock Speechley (Cronulla) also impressed, 13 year old Rios-Ceballos shooting a three under par 34 on the back nine for a 74 total.
The Girls Division promises to be an even affair, with nine players separated by only five shots. The player to catch is Stephanie Kyriacou (St Michaels) who was super consistent in opening with a 74. She leads Danni Vasquez by one shot, with the Bonnie Doon member searching for a hat-trick of wins and in outright second.
Not only are players vying for individual titles, but the JNJG Regional Academy Challenge is run in conjunction at this event and it's going to be a nail biting finish. The Illawarra Academy of Sport hold a two shot lead over the Northern Inland Academy of Sport, with the South East Regional Academy of Sport and Western Sydney Academy of Sport also in contention with one round to play.
JNJG Academy Challenge
218 - Illawarra Academy of Sport 1
220 - Northern Inland Academy of Sport
222 - South East Regional Academy of Sport 1
225 - Western Sydney Academy of Sport
231 - Western Region Academy of Sport
232 - Hunter Academy of Sport
233 - South East Regional Academy of Sport 2
236 - Hunter Academy of Sport
237 - South West Sydney Academy of Sport
237 - Illawarra Academy of Sport 2
237 - Illawarra Academy of Sport 3
A big thank you to all Academies for supporting the Academy Challenge.
Play begins at 6:21am on Sunday Morning. Don't forget that the clocks change overnight, so 6:21 is not as early as it seems!!!!
Round One Results - Click Here
Round Two Draw - Click Here
Huge Field set for Peter O'Malley Junior Masters at Bathurst
(Thursday 31st March, 2016)
The biggest Junior Masters event on the JNJG Calendar takes place this weekend, with more than 170 of the best junior from across the state taking part in the 2016 Peter O'Malley Junior Masters at the Bathurst Golf Club.
Defending Champion Josh Armstrong (The Lakes) returns to Bathurst, looking for his first victory of the New Year. He heads into the event as one of the favourites for the Boys Championship but faces stiff opposition from NSW State Junior Team Member Jay Mackenzie (Ballina), interstate visitor Tom Harvey (Queensland). A huge local contingent is set to take part in the event, with James Conran (Duntryleague) and Jones Comerford (Dubbo / Bonnie Doon) strong overall contenders to keep the trophy in the Western Region of NSW. In total, more than 140 boys are taking part, with 15 of these players playing in the Stableford Division, a division strongly represented by local Bathurst GC Juniors.
Whilst smaller in numbers, the Girls Division promises to be an even contest with a strong contingent of state and development players heading to Bathurst looking to claim the Girls Division of the Peter O'Malley Junior Masters. Belinda Ji (Concord) and Grace Kim (Avondale) head the younger brigade, aiming to upset tournament favourite Danni Vasquez (Bonnie Doon) who is looking to capture her third consecutive JNJG title after victories at the Harvey Norman Week of Golf and Wagga Wagga Junior Masters.
Run in conjunction with the Peter O'Malley Junior Masters is the JNJG Regional Academy of Sport Academy Challenge, with academies from all over NSW bringing teams of golfers in preperation for the Regional Academy Games that take place later in April. The local Western Region Academy of Sport will be well represented and looking to take out the Challenge on one of their home venue's.
The event is a fantastic opportunity for local residents to watch over 170 of the best junior golfers in the state take part. Play gets underway at 7:10am on Saturday morning, with an earlier 6:30am start on Sunday morning as a result of Daylight Savings ending.
Dates: Saturday 2nd & Sunday 3rd April, 2016.
Venue: Bathurst Golf Club.
Draw - Click Here
Results - Click Here
Change of Date for Peter O'Malley Junior Masters
(Monday 8th February, 2016)
Due to multiple events happening in the Bathurst area on the weekend of the 19th and 20th March resulting in all accommodation within a 50km radius of Bathurst Golf Club to be completely booked out, JNJG has decided to change the date of the 2016 Peter O'Malley Junior Masters. The tournament will now take place on Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd April, 2016.
Jack Newton Junior Golf had been made aware that there were other sporting carnivals and regional activities taking place in Bathurst on the original weekend and further investigation discovered that ALL accommodation in Bathurst and the surrounding suburbs had been completely booked out. With entries for the event not yet officialy open and many members yet to even think about booking accommodation, a decision has been made to reschedule the event in the best interest of not only our Junior Golfers and Parents, but also the Bathurst Golf Club.
The Peter O'Malley Junior Masters is the biggest Masters event on the JNJG calendar with a capacity field of over 180 players expected and it just wouldn't be fair to expect kids and parents to travel to Bathurst for the event and then have to stay at accommodation more than one hour from the venue.
We understand that some juniors and parents may have already booked accommodation and we're very sorry for those that have planned leave and holidays and put in to have that weekend free, but with a full field expected and entries not yet even open, this decision is going to benefit the majority of our members.
Jack Newton Junior Golf would also like to thank the Bathurst Golf Club and all of it's members for being so understanding and accommodating in making this change.
See you all at Bathurst on the first weekend of April!!
