Garner and Park Snatch South Coast Title
(Sunday 28th August, 2016)
Jordan Garner (Castle Hill) and Hannah Park (NSW GC) have won the 2016 South Coast Junior Masters in dramatic fashion, winning the respective boys and girls divisions by a single shot at Catalina Country Club. In an extremely close contest, it wasn't until the very final putt that Garner was able to claim his second JNJG Junior Masters title of the year, after winning earlier in the year at the Illawarra JM, whilst it was back to back titles for Park, outlasting a brave Kara Williams who finished second on her 15th birthday.
Garner started the final round trailing overnight leaders Harry Doig (NSW GC) and Josh Gadd (Concord) by two strokes, but it was the final player in the group, South Korean visitor Jang Hyun Lee (Penrith) who was the most consistent on the front nine and had taken the outright lead as the players finished the front nine. Doig fell out of contention with five bogies in an eight hole stretch around the turn, and when both Gadd and Garner made bogey on the difficult 10th, it looked like an international win was on the cards.
The three leaders traded birdies on the 12th, 13th and 14th holes, the lead swapping and changing in the process, and when the two NSW State Junior Team members made birdie on the 17th hole, Lee, Garner, and Gadd were all tied for the lead standing on the 18th tee. It was Garner's miraculous second shot out of the trees on the 17th hole to set up a tap in birdie that proved the difference, with the Central Coast product taking that momentum to the last and made another birdie, to win the tournament by a single stroke. Gadd made an incredible par putt on the final hole to finish outright second, whilst Lee was gallant in finishing third and claimed the 14-15 Years Division by five shots. Bart Carroll (Wagga Wagga) played his final 10 holes in even par to upset Jeffrey Guan (Bexley) and win the 13 Years and Under Division, his first ever JNJG Title, by two shots. It was a great weekend and reward for the kids from Wagga, with an incredible 9 players making the trip up from the Riverina to play in the event.
In the Girls Division, NSW GC member Hannah Park defended her 2015 title, defeating Kara Williams (Avondale) by just one shot. Overnight leader Casey Cook (Tura Beach) got off to a slow start in the final round on a cold morning, fading to finish in a Tie for 6th.
Park also started slowly with three bogies in the opening four holes, and birthday girl Williams took full advantage, opening up a handy lead when she managed a birdie on the Par 5 6th. The tournament had quickly turned into a race in five, but Chloe Thornton (NSW GC) just couldn't make the birdies in the final round when needed to keep in touch, finishing in 5th place four shots off the lead. Playing ahead of the final group, Avondale pair Grace Kim and Bella Kil were making a charge and joined the leaders late on the front nine, but a disasterous stretch for Kim, where she dropped five shots in four holes, ended her chances. Kil kept grinding away, but couldn't get on terms with the girls in the final group, matching Kim with a second round 75 and a share of 3rd.
That left Park and Williams to battle it out, Park trying to defend her 2015 title and Williams looking for her maiden JNJG Junior Masters victory. With only seven holes to play, Williams had managed to edge her lead out to two shots, but showing real fight which has seen her claim multiple victories on the JNJG tour this season, Park responded with three birdies in a five hole stretch to take the title. Williams finished second overall and took out the 14/15 Years title, collecting her prize to a rendition of Happy Birthday from the packed clubhouse, whilst Sophie Yip (Concord) edged out the ever improving Claire Shin (Bankstown) to claim the 13 Years and Under crown.
It was also a great day for the locals, with Catalina CC member Emily Dickinson recording impressive scores of 44 points and 42 points over the two days to win the girls Stableford Division.
The JNJG Tour heads into Major Season now, with the Fayde Junior Matchplay and Srixon International fast approaching. JNJG Tour Calendar and Tournament Registrations for both events can be found be clicking here.
Close Contest at Catalina
(Saturday 27th August, 2016)
It looked like an even and competitive field in the leadup to the 2016 South Coast Junior Masters, and the opening round provided just that with both Boys and Girls Divisions close after the opening round at Catalina Country Club.
Local South Coast product Casey Cook (Tura Beach) has taken the lead in the Girls Division, her first ever First Round Lead in a JNJG Event, after opening with a one over par 73. After starting on the 10th, three early birdies saw Cook make the turn at two under par, and was joined at the top by Avondale pair Kara Williams and Bella Kil who also made the turn at -2. The second nine proved more difficult for the girls, with players dropping shots throughout, but it was the 16 year old from the South Coast who was left in front. Cook will take a one shot lead into the second round over Kara Williams, who is tied with defending champion Hannah Park (NSW) in second after the girls shot matching 74s on Saturday. There are another three girls a shot further back, with Chloe Thornton (NSW GC), Grace Kim (Avondale) and Bella Kil (Avondale) all firing three over par 75s which will make the final round a tight and tense one!
After a recent victory in Canada at the Maple Leaf Junior Tour International Players Championship, NSW GC member Harry Doig continued his good form to take a share of the lead at the South Coast Junior Masters. Three birdies in the first four holes saw Doig fly out of the blocks, but at the end of the day he was joined on top by playing partner Josh Gadd (Concord), the two boys finishing the only players under par after signing for a 71. One shot back was South Korean visitor and Penrith GC member Jang Hyun Lee, the +3 handicapper having three back nine birdies in his even par 72. Joining the boys in the final group will be NSW State Team member Jordan Garner (Castle Hill), after the 17 year old recovered from a horrible start (+4 through 6) to card a 73.
There were also some good scores in the stableford division on the opening day, with local girl Emily Dickinson (Catalina) breaking 100 for the first ever time on her way to an amazing 44 points! Silka Solomon (Yowani) sits second in the Girls Division after having 40 points, a score matched by the Boys leader Max Jenkins (Wagga Wagga).
Play begins on Sunday at 7:20am with a shot gun start, and all players need to register on course by 7:00am. There will be a BBQ breakfast available for parents and players to purchase breakfast and it will be ready by 6:15am.
Round One Results - Click Here
Round Two Draw - Click Here
Class Field to Compete at Catalina
(Thursday 25th August, 2016)
One of the strongest JNJG Junior Masters fields of the year will tee off on Saturday morning at the Catalina Country Club, battling it out for the 2016 South Coast Junior Masters. A near capacity field of 120 players, including many of the states top players, will make the trip to the NSW Far South Coast for the event, on a golf course that for the first time in many years, isn't going to be underwater for the 36 Hole Tournament.
Whilst Corey Jones won't be here this year to defend his title, Harry Doig (Ryde Parramatta / NSW GC) will be. The 2015 South Coast Junior Masters Runner Up heads into the event with a lot of confidence after a recent victory on the world stage, claiming the International Players Championship on the Maple Leaf Junior Tour in Canada. He returns to a course that he has fond memories of, and had this to say after his win in Canada recently. "The South Coast Junior Masters at Catalina is probably my favourite Junior Masters Event on the JNJG Calendar. The golf course is fantastic and really suits my game, and of all the bus trips we go on with the JNJG team, Catalina is the most fun. I hope I can bring back some of the form I showed in Canada and pick up another Junior Masters victory to help my standings in the JNJG Masters Points Race."
Trying to stop Doig will be NSW Junior State Team members Josh Gadd (Concord) and Jordie Garner (Castle Hill), whilst Brad Doherty (Oatlands), Clayton Small (Maitland), Jones Comerford (Bonnie Doon) and Billy Watson (Long Reef) are all looking for their first Junior Masters victory of the year. In the younger age divisions, Jackson Hall (Wollongong) will look to continue his stellar 2016 season with another Masters Victory, but will come up against stiff competition from JNJG rookie Jang Hyun Lee (Penrith GC), the Korean playing his first ever JNJG event as the lowest handicapper in the field, playing off +3.
It's also going to be a very close contest in the girls event, with an incredible 9 girls entering the tournament on a handicap of scratch or better. 2015 Champion Hannah Park (NSW GC) will be back to defend her title, whilst runner up Amy Chu (The Australian) will be looking to go one better in 2016. When you add in Steph Kryiacou (St Michael's) and Grace Kim (Avondale), who recently finished 1-2 at the Canadian International Players Championships on the Maple Leaf Junior Tour, and NSW Junior Champion Belinda Ji (Concord), the Girls may just very well pip the boys in terms of quality!!
Play begins just before 10:30am on Saturday, and the draw can be found by clicking here.
There will be live results all weekend from the Catalina Country Club, and you can follow the results by clicking here.
