Monica Johnson and Josh Gadd Champions at Campbelltown
(Monday 12th June, 2017)
15 Year Old Monica Johnson (Moore Park) has won the 2017 Macarthur Junior Masters Girls Division with a birdie on the first playoff hole. The youngster made three birdies in a five hole stretch on the back nine to force her way to the top of the leaderboard and looked to have the title wrapped up! Overnight leader Kelsey Bennett (St Michaels) wasn't done with yet, and recovered from a slow start with three back nine birdies herself to force extra holes. But it was Johnson who stole the show on the first playoff hole, draining a 15 foot birdie putt to win her first JNJG Junior Masters title.
It wasn't all bad news for Bennett, finishing on top in the 16 Years and Over Division which sees her qualify for the Bonville Champions Trophy. Concord pair Sophie Yip and Claire Shin once again battled it out in the Girls 13 Years and Under Division, with Yip coming from behind to finish two shots clear at Campbelltown. Kareela junior Sophia Perkins was dominant in the Girls Stableford Division, winning by 8 points after backing up yesterday's 40 points score with 37 points on Monday.
Whilst the Girls Division was a nail-biter, overnight leader Josh Gadd (Concord) cruised to a five shot victory in the Boys Division. After an opening round 64 yesterday, Penrith junior Gadd was never really threatened on day two, carding an even par 70 that included five birdies, two bogies, and a triple bogey on the par three 4th hole. ACT Junior David Howard (Belconnen Magpies) finished second at one under par in what was his best JNJG tournament, two shots clear of pre-tournament favourite Josh Armstrong (The Lakes).
In the Boys 14/15 Years Age Division, Aidan Powter (St Michaels) revelled in the wet conditions firing a second round level-par 70 to win by five shots. Powter had four birdies and four bogies on the final day, to defeat a trio of players including Josh Bell (Bonnie Doon), Tom Heaton (The Australian) and Josh Robards (Newcastle) who continues to have a fantastic JNJG Masters season.
At Camden Golf Club, a playoff was required to separate Jye Halls (Mollymook) and Riley McClung (Branxton) after the pair finished locked at three over par. A par on the second playoff hole was enough for McClung to win his first JNJG Junior Masters event, with Toronto pair Jake Riley and Jacob Dundas finishing 3rd and 4th only one and two shots back. The Boys Stableford Division was dominated by the Harry's, with Harry Gourlay (Bankstown) defeating Harry McKerihan (Long Reef) by three points after finishing on an incredible 83 stableford points for the two rounds.
JNJG would like to thank all the staff and volunteers at both Camden and Campbelltown Golf Clubs for their support of the 2017 JNJG Macarthur Junior Masters. It was the first time we had trialled running the event across two golf courses and we hope everyone enjoyed their weekend despite some awful weather in the build up.
Girls Final Results - Click Here
Boys Final Results - Click Here
Boys Results - Camden - Click Here
Gadd Leads after 64 at Campbelltown
(Sunday 11th June, 2017)
Western Sydney junior Josh Gadd (Concord GC) has taken the lead at the Macarthur Junior Masters after an opening round six under par 64. The Penrith 17 year old reeled off seven birdies in a near faultless display, with his only bogey coming on the par three 6th hole courtesy of a three-putt. Gadd takes a four shot lead into the final round, with Brad Doherty (Oatlands) sitting in second place after a bogey free 68, which on any other day would have been the headline act! Doherty picked up a birdie on the 13th hole (his 4th) before making 12 striaght pars, but managed to jag a second birdie on the difficult 8th hole. Joining Gadd and Doherty in the final group will be David Howard (Belconnen Magpies) and Jackson Hall after both boys managed level par 70's in the long and wet conditions.
The Boys 14 and 15 Years Division once again promises to be a tight contest, with three players sharing the lead and a whopping nine players within three shots of the lead! Josh Robards (Newcastle) continues to improve and once again finds himself on top of the leaderboard, joined by Jeff Fan (Avondale) and Aidan Powter (St Michaels). Only one shot back is 12 year old Jeffrey Guan (Bexley), who performed admirably after stepping up two age divisions to contest the tournament at Campbelltown.
In the 13 Years and Under Division, played at Camden GC for the first time in 2017, Jake Riley (Toronto) leads after a fantastic score of 72 (+1). It's another close contest in that age division with RIley McClung (Branxton) only one shot back after a 73 and Ali Rachid (Bardwell Valley), Jye Halls (Mollymook) and Bowen Small (Maitland) all in contention after opening with matching 74's.
The Girls Division promises to be an exciting finish on Monday, with 11 players separated by only three shots after the opening day. Far South Coast junior Kelsey Bennett (St Michael's) and local South West Sydney girl Amy Chu (The Australian) share the lead after matching one over par 72's, with Victorian visitor Gabi Ruffels and Danni Vasquez (Bonnie Doon) only a shot back. 14/15 Years leader Monica Johnson (Moore Park) is in the next group at three over par, one shot clear of 13 Years and Under leader Claire Shin (Bankstown).
The Girls Division will have the benefit of a morning tee time on Monday, with the first group set to tee off at 7:00am.
Round 2 Draw - Campbelltown - Click Here
Round 2 Draw - Camden - Click Here
Round 1 Leaderboards - Click Here
Record Field Set for Wet Macarthur JM
(Friday 9th June, 2017)
A record field of more than 200 players will take to two golf courses in Sydney’s South West this June Long Weekend for the 2017 Macarthur Junior Masters. And as it always seems to happen at this time of year, the build up to the event has involved plenty of rain…..
Traditionally held at Campbelltown GC and limited to 150 players, the event has this year expanded and will also be played at Camden GC, allowing an additional 50+ juniors to take part. Two divisions will take place at Camden, with the 70 players in the Boys 13 Years and Under and Boys Stableford Divisions heading back to the course that hosted the NSW Junior Matchplay as recently as 2013. As always, an extremely strong Junior Masters field will contest the only Sydney 2-Day Event on the JNJG calendar, with a strong mix of local talent thrown in as well.
In the Boys Division, defending champion Josh Armstrong (The Lakes) will be looking to sign off from the junior ranks with another victory. The number 1 ranked Junior in Australia, who turns 18 later this month, shot rounds of 65-68 last year to defeat rising star Ethan Chambers (The Australian) by two strokes. Chambers is once again in good form, recently winning the Illawarra Junior Masters at The Links Shell Cove whilst North Coast Junior Masters Champion Jye Pickin (Avondale) will be looking to make it back to back Junior Masters titles after running away with the event at Kew last month. NSW state teams members Josh Gadd (Concord) and Harry Doig (NSW GC) will be looking to win in what could very well be their final JNJG Junior Masters event before turning 18, whilst the next crop of young guns including Harrison Crowe (St Michaels), Tom Heaton (The Australian) and Aidan Powter (St Michaels) will be out to ensure the older boys don’t have it all their own way.
The Girls Division is once again very competitive, with NSW State Team players Amy Chu (The Australian) and Belinda Ji (Concord) up against Victorian visitor Gabi Ruffels, who added the JNJG Junior Masters event to her calendar before she jets off to compete in the USA later this month. When you throw in 2017 Peter O’Malley Junior Masters Champion Sophie Yip (Concord) and 2017 North Coast Junior Masters Champion Yuka Lin (The Lakes) into the field, alongside Avondale pair Bella Kil and June Song, Concord pair Yerin Kim and Claire Shin and 17 year olds Casey Cook (Tura Beach) and Kelsey Bennett (St Michaels), you’ve got a starting list of players who are all familiar with being at the top of a JNJG leaderboard.
Play begins early on Sunday morning with the Boys Divisions teeing off from 7:00am at Campbelltown. The Boys competing at Camden get a sleep in with play starting at 11:15am, the same time as the Girls Divisions start play at Campbelltown.
Round 1 Draw – Campbelltown – Click Here
Round 1 Draw – Camden – Click Here
Tournament Leaderboards – Click Here
