Jye Pickin and Yuka Lin win Maiden JNJG Titles at Kew
(Sunday 21st May, 2017)
Jye Pickin (Avondale) has cruised to his first JNJG Junior Masters Title, with a resounding nine shot victory at Kew Country Club. The NSW Junior State Team member was on another level, firing rounds of 67-66 to finish at seven under par and run away from closest competitor, fellow NSW State Junior Team member Josh Gadd (Concord).
The Girls Division was much closer, with Yuka Lin (The Lakes) defeating Yerin Kim (Concord) in a playoff to win her first JNJG Title, after five players battled it out down the stretch on Sunday.
Pickin recorded three birdies and an eagle in each round and whilst that was quite impressive, the fact he only dropped three shots over the 36 holes on a course where no other player broke par in either round was even more so. Gadd tried hard to close the gap but was left to rue a slow start in round one (+5 through 11 holes) and couldn't get close enough to apply any pressure. Brad Doherty (Oatlands) had another Top 5 finish at a Junior Masters, whilst he was joined in the Top 5 by local playersReid Brown (Wingham / Pymble) and Ben Morgan (Kew).
In the Boys 14/15 Years Division, Josh Robards (Newcastle) won a 3-way playoff over Harry Cleare (Nelson Bay) and Isaac Outridge (Coolangatta Tweed) to win his second JNJG Junior Masters Age Division Title of the year. Robards shot rounds of 75-74 to finish on 149, but the playoff hole was where all the drama happened!!
With Cleare and Outridge hitting good tee shots, Robards hit a cold-top off the tee, barely going 50m and not even making the fairway. After a good recovery, he was laying two where the others had hit their drives but applied the pressure with a brilliant approach to within four feet. And that proved to be the winning shot, as when Outridge failed to get up and down from left of the green and Cleare couldn't make a par after going long, Robards knocked in the putt for an incredible par and the win. In the Boys 13 Years and Under Division, Queensland visitor Will Martell was far too good, winning by seven shots.
With Pickin cruising in the Boys Division, an exciting finish loomed in the girls. As many as five girls were still in contention deep onto the back nine but one by one they dropped off.
Claire Shin (Concord) played fantastic all week but dropped five shots late on to fall out of contention, with Sophie Yip (Concord) finishing two shots ahead of her to win the Girls 13 Years and Under Division. June Song (Avondale) recovered from a triple bogey on the 10th and had a chance to join the playoff on the final green, but her putt caught the lip and stayed out. In the end, Yuka Lin (The Lakes) and Yerin Kim (Concord) finished joint at the top, with Lin making a triple bogey seven on the final hole which allowed Kim into the playoff. But to the youngsters credit, she composed herself and made a crucial up and down on the first playoff hole to also win her first major JNJG event.
In the Girls 16 Years and Over Division, Shannon Lee (Bankstown) claimed her first JNJG Junior Masters title with a two shot victory.
Boys Championship - Par 140
133 - J Pickin (Avondale)
142 - J Gadd (Concord)
143 - B Doherty (Oatlands)
16-17 Years
Scr: J Pickin (Avondale) 133.
Hcp: T Luck (Avondale 10) 140
14-15 Years
Scr: J Robards (Newcastle) I Outridge (Coolangatta Tweed) H Cleare (Nelson Bay) 149
*Robards won on the first playoff hole.
Hcp: H Cleare (Nelson Bay 6) 137
13 Years and Under
Scr: W Martell (Queensland) 151
Hcp: B Xu (St Michael's 19) 135 cb
Boys Stableford: O Huynh (Moore Park 26) 76 points
Girls Championship - Par 142
153 - Y Lin (The Lakes) Y Kim (The Lakes)
154 - J Song (Avondale)
*Lin won on the first playoff hole.
16-17 Years
Scr: S Lee (Bankstown 6) 166.
Hcp: B Griffin (Queensland) 156.
14-15 Years
Scr: Y Lin (The Lakes) Y Kim (The Lakes) 153
*Lin won on the first playoff hole.
Hcp: P Hollis (Kew 13) 146.
13 Years and Under
Scr: S Yip (Concord) 155.
Hcp: M Laws-Farrell (Port Macquarie 17) 147.
Girls Stableford: M Naaman (Liverpool 26) 80 points.
Final Leaderboards - Click Here
Check out the media coverage from NBN News: http://www.nbnnews.com.au/2017/05/21/pickin-wins-north-coast-junior-masters/
Pickin Leads at Kew after HOT Finish
(Saturday 20th May, 2017)
NSW Junior State Team Member Jye Pickin has taken the lead at the North Coast Junior Masters after an incredible finish to the opening round. The 16 Year Old finished Eagle - Birdie - Par with a chip-in thrown in over his final three holes to shoot a three under par 67 and take a four shot lead into the second round. He leads from Northern Rivers junior Isaac Outridge (Coolangatta Tweed) who led the field for most of the day before a couple of dropped shots late saw him sign for a one over par 71. Joining them in the final group are big guns and two of the pre-tournament favourites in Reid Brown (Wingham) and Josh Gadd (Concord), whilst youngster Harry Cleare (Nelson Bay) produced his best ever round in a JNJG competition, sharing third after opening with a 72.
In the Girls Division, 12 Year Old Claire Shin (Concord) leads a packed leaderboard by one shot, with five players within three shots and still in contention to win on Sunday. Shin shot an opening round 76 and will be joined in the final group by Yuka Lin (The Lakes), Yerin Kim (Concord), and June Song (Avondale).
It was a difficult day for most players on the wet course, with Harry Cleare's round of 72 (nett 66) the standout!
Players are reminded that there will be bacon and egg rolls for breakfast in the morning available at the course (the kids get them free with their food and drink voucher) and that all players need to arrive and register before 7:00am.
Round 2 Draw - Click Here
Round 1 Results - Click Here
Record Field at Kew for North Coast JM
For the first time in the event’s short history, more than 100 players will head to Kew Country Club this weekend for the 2017 North Coast Junior Masters. With two-time defending champions Corey Rae (now 18 years old) and Hannah Park (NSW State Team commitments) missing the event, two new names will go on the JNJG Junior Masters Trophy with the tournament being held on the Lower North Coast for the third successive year.
Whilst the boys event sees a strong contingent of some of the state’s best junior golfers, Reid Brown (Wingham/Pymble) and Oli Payne (Port Macquarie/Concord) will be hoping that local knowledge can go a long way as they strive for victory. Payne will be looking for back to back Junior Masters Titles after recently winning the 2017 Illawarra Junior Masters, whilst Brown will be looking to add his name to the trophy after earlier this year taking out his Age Division at the first JNJG Major of the year, the Harvey Norman Week of Golf. Throw in NSW State Team Members Josh Gadd (Concord) and Jye Pickin (Avondale), ACT State Team Members David Howard (Belconnen Magpies) and Lachlan Chamberlain (Federal), regular JNJG contenders Clayton Small (Maitland) and Brad Doherty (Oatlands) and local hope Ben Morgan (Kew) playing in one of his final JNJG events, the Boys Division looks like going right down to the wire.
Whilst Park won’t be back to defend the Girls Division, one player who may be able to step up into her shoes is June Song (Avondale). After finishing runner up as a 12 year old and third last year as a 13 year old, the 14 Year Old has course form on her side as she looks to claim a maiden JNJG Junior Masters title. 12 Year old Sophie Yip (Concord) has already won one Junior Masters Event this year at Bathurst, whilst fellow young guns Claire Shin (Concord), Yuka Lin (The Lakes) and Yerin Kim (Concord) will also be looking to win an overall title for the first time.
Play gets underway on Saturday at midday with a shot-gun start for all players, whilst it's an early 7:30am start on Sunday morning for round two.
Live scoring will be taking place at the event like normal, with regular updates taking place all day.
Round One Draw – Click Here
Tournament Leaderboards – Click Here
