2018 Junior Golf State of Origin
Historic Draw as NSW and QLD Finish 15-15
(Friday 12th January, 2018)
NSW and QLD have played out a thrilling draw in the 2018 State of Origin at Pelican Waters Golf Club in what was a fitting end to the closest State of Origin contest in the 19 year history of the event.
After the Mixed Foursomes and Fourball contests both finished 3-3 on Thursday, NSW took a narrow lead into the final round of Singles after winning the round three foursomes 4-2. But Queensland responded in fighting fashion, winning the Singles by a score of 7-5 to stop NSW winning it's 10th series in a row.
NSW got off to a perfect start with Claire Shin defeating Caitlin Vanderkruk 3&2. Shin flew out of the blocks early, winning three of the first four holes and never surrended that lead, despite the impressive Queenslander fighting all the way to the end. Just as impressive was fellow 12 Year Old Billy Dowling, far too good for NSW rival Jake Riley 5&4. The match was in the balance through seven holes, before the gritty Dowling won four of the next five to take control.
The 13 Years contest was also split 1-1, with the injured Justice Bosio providing the biggest upset of the tournament. After withdrawing from the morning foursomes match with a hip injury and spending the morning on the physio table, the tall Queenslander only decided to play in the singles match moments before her allocated tee time. Putting the injury behind her, she picked up three holes in a row deep into the back nine, two of them with birdie, to defeat Sophie Yip 3&2. In the Boys 13 Years Division, Jeffrey Guan got another victory over big-hitting opponent Kaito Chiu 4&2. Despite giving up 40 or 50m to Chiu off the tee, Guan's wedge and iron play proved too consistent in the singles to give NSW another precious point.
And just as NSW edged closer to victory, Queensland struck back. Lion Higo defeated Annika Rathbone in another tight contest 2&1. Incredibly, the two 14 year old girls had been down the 18th hole in all three of their previous matches, so another tight and close contest was no surprise. Blaike Perkins had it a little bit easier against Jacob Dundas in the Boys 14 Years Match, closing it out with back to back birdies on the 15th and 16th to give Queensland the momentum and level the contest at 12-12.
NSW edged back in front when Yerin Kim defeated Hannah Reeves 4&2 in the Girls 15 Years Match. After winning four of the opening six holes, Kim was never troubled as the temperature rose on the Sunshine Coast. The temperature wasn't the only thing that was hot, with Queenslander Elvis Smylie the hottest player on the course after a sizzling front nine. Tom Heaton (NSW) made par on the opening seven holes and whilst that could sometimes be good enough to lead, he found himself 5 down. Smylie picked up another hole on the 9th and despite cooling down on the back nine, still cruised to a 3&2 victory.
The points were shared yet again in the 16 Years Division, with Karen Kim (QLD) proving too good for NSW opponent Monica Johnson, whilst NSW answered back with Harrison Crowe proving too good for Bailey Ittensohn (QLD). And when NSW captain Jye Pickin picked up his fourth point of the tournament, the only player to finish with a perfect 4-0 record, NSW had reached the magical 15 point mark and only needed another half to win the contest.
It all came down to the Girls 17 Years match between Danni Vasquez (NSW) and Sarah Wilson (QLD) which was up and down all day long. Only two holes all day were squared, and when Vasquez won the 15th and 16 to fight back from two down the match was all sqaure on the 16th. But Wilson, who is the current Ladies Club Champion at Pelican Waters responded for the Queenslanders, winning the 17th and 18th holes with clutch pars to win the match 2up and make the event finish in a tie for the first time in history.
Singles Results - NSW 5 - 7 QLD
Final Score - NSW 15 - 15 QLD
Jack Newton Junior Golf and Junior Golf Queensland would like to thank host club Pelican Waters for a fantastic week at the first time of hosting. The tournament will return to NSW in January 2019 for the 20th running of the event.
Singles Matches Underway to Decide 2018 SOO
(Friday 12th January, 2018)
NSW are hanging on to a slender lead, but the Junior Golf Queensland team is fighting back!!
Follow all the live scores by clicking here.
NSW Take Narrow Lead into Singles
(Friday 12th January, 2018)
NSW will take a 10-8 lead into the final round of the 2018 State of Origin after winning the foursomes 4 matches to 2 on Friday morning.
An injury to Queenslander Justice Bosio meant the 12/13 Year Girls match went to NSW without a ball being struck. Jake Riley and Jeffrey Guan gave NSW a 2-0 morning lead, running away with their match on the back nine 4&3 against Billy Dowling and Kaito Chiu. It was a huge fightback by the NSW boys after being beaten by the same pair 6&4 on Thursday afternoon.
Queensland fought back in the 14&15 Years matches, winning both to level the contest at 8-8. Lion Higo and Hannah Reeves defeated Annika Rathbone and Yerin Kim on the final hole, whilst Blaike Perkins and Elvis Smylie did it a little easier against Jacob Dundas and Tom Heaton, holding off the NSW pair to win 3&2.
But the NSW captains, the 16/17 Year Olds, took control and gave NSW the lead and a bit of breathing space for the first time, winning both of the matches in the older divisions. Monica Johnson and Danni Vasquez came from behind to beat Karen Kim and Sarah Wilson 2up but the drama was happening in the the NSW boys game. Harrison Crowe and Jye Picking were on fire early, but after building a 7up lead through the opening 10 holes, Queensland came charging back. Bailey Ittensohn and Ben Stieler fought hard to take the match all the way to the 17th before NSW finally closed it out.
Foursomes Results - NSW 4 - 2 QLD
Total Score - NSW 10 - 8 QLD
The first match of the Singles begins at 11:00am local time, with live scoring to begin shortly.
Live Scores - Click Here
State of Origin Going Down to the Wire
(Friday 12th January, 2018)
After an exciting and tense opening day, the 2018 State of Origin will be decided this afternoon at Pelican Waters GC on the Sunshine Coast of Queensland. NSW and QLD shared the honours on the opening day, both winning 6 games each as the evenly matched sides battle it out for the Charlie Earp Bowl.
The round three Foursomes matches are underway, whilst the afternoon Singles will begin at 11:00am local time.
Live Scores - Click Here
Teams Can't be Split at State of Origin
(Thursday 11th January, 2018)
After the second round of fourball matches, Jack Newton Junior Golf and Junior Golf Queensland remained locked together at 6 matches all. After the morning Mixed Foursomes saw the honours shared at 3-3, the same scoreline in the afternoon has set up an exciting final day between two evenly matched teams.
The 12/13 Years Division were split at 1-1 in the afternoon, with Billy Dowling and Kaito Chiu registering the first win for Queensland with a 6&4 thumping of Jake Riley and Jeffrey Guan. The young Queensland team combined perfectly, running away with the match on the back nine. Claire Shin and Sophie Yip replied for NSW, taking their match against Caitlin Vanderkruk and Justice Bosio 1up on the 18th.
NSW edged ahead for the first time when 14 & 15 Year Olds Annika Rathbone and Yerin Kim pulled off a come from behind win over Lion Higo and Hannah Reeves. Trailing deep into the back nine, the NSW girls picked up birdies on the 15th, 16th, and a clutch birdie on the difficult 18th hole to win the match 2up. The lead didn't last long, with Queenslanders Blaike Perkins and Elvis Smylie making too many birdies for NSW rivals Jacob Dundas and Tom Heaton to finish the match 3&2 on the 16th.
The best performance of the day came in the final match, with Harrison Crowe and Jye Pickin picking up a comfortable win for NSW, 5&4. Crowe and Pickin combined for eight birdies to beat Bailey Ittensohn and Ben Stieler on Thursday afternoon, making four birdies in a row to start the back nine. Karen Kim and Sarah Wilson replied once more for Queensland, winning the final three holes of the match to defeat Monica Johnson and Danni Vasquez, 3&2.
Fourball Results - NSW 3 - 3 QLD
Total Score - NSW 6 - 6 QLD
Live Scores - Click Here
Honours Even after Exciting Opening Round
(Thursday 11th January, 2018)
Jack Newton Junior Golf (NSW) and Junior Golf Queensland have squared the opening round of mixed foursomes matches after an amazing morning at the 2018 State of Origin. On a morning when the momentum swung dramatically in both directions, it was probably fitting that the two teams head into the afternoon locked at 3-3.
12 Year Olds Caitlin Vanderkruk and Billy Dowling won the final two holes to give Queensland the first point of the series, defeating NSW pair Claire Shin and Jake Riley 1up. The Queensland team were as many as 3 down early on the front nine, taking the lead for the first time on the 18th green when the final putt went in.
Sophie Yip and Jeffrey Guan responded for NSW in the 13 Years match, defeating Justice Bosio and Kaito Chiu 4&3. The match was in the balance through 8 holes, but four wins on the bounce around the turn gave the Blues a lead they never relinquished. The winning team were an incredible two under par through 15 holes playing Mixed Foursomes, quite unbelievable at just 13 years of age!!
The 14 Years Match was turned on it's head abour four times throughout the 18 holes. Queenslanders Lion Higo and Blaike Perkins got off to a flyer, winning three of the first five holes to take control of the match. The NSW youngsters responded, with Annika Rathbone and Jacob Dundas winning five holes in a row to take the lead! When Rathbone birdied the 13th to give the Blues a 2up lead again, NSW looked home, but Higo and Perkins were clutch down the stretch, winning three holes in a row to take the match 1up.
Yerin Kim and Tom Heaton levelled it at 2-2 for NSW in the 15 Years Match, never trailing in their match against Hannah Reeves and Elvis Smylie. Kim and Heaton were cruising at 3up before the Queenslanders made some birdies and got back into the contest. Both teams had a chance to win the final hole, but ended up halving it in double bogies and NSW hung on for the win.
Queensland duo Karen Kim and Bailey Ittensohn got off to another fast start in the 16 Years, racing to a 4 up lead over the eratic Monica Johnson and Harrison Crowe. The NSW pair rallied, twice getting the match back to only a one hole margin before eventually going down 2&1 on the 17th hole.
NSW levelled the match for the third time on Thursday morning, with Jye Pickin and Danni Vasquez proving too good for Sarah Wilson and Ben Stieler in one of the best matches in State of Origin history! The teams combined for 12 birdies between them, with NSW stealing the win after birdies on 15, 16 and a clutch birdie on the 18th.
Mixed Foursomes Results - NSW 3 - 3 QLD
Total Score - NSW 3 - 3 QLD
SOO gets Underway with Mixed Foursomes at Pelican
(Thursday 11th January, 2018)
The 2018 State of Origin is underway at Pelican Waters, with the opening round of Mixed Foursomes starting in perfect sunshine in Queensland. Play began at 6:30am local time, with Claire Shin (NSW) and Caitlin Vanderkruk (QLD) hitting the opening tee shots straight down the middle.
Live Scores - Click Here
NSW Looking for Perfect 10 in State of Origin
(Tuesday 9th January, 2018)
The JNJG Team representing NSW will travel to the Sunshine Coast this week to take on Junior Golf Queensland in the 2018 Junior Golf State of Origin at Pelican Waters Golf Club.
Based on a similar format to famous team golf events the Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup, 24 juniors will compete against each other over two days in many different and testing golf formats. 6 Boys and 6 Girls have been selected to represent their state, with one boy and one girl from each age division from 12 Years through to 17 Years making up the team of 12 players.
The tournament begins early on Thursday morning with players pairing up with the opposite sex, competing in the opening round of Mixed-Foursomes. The second round of matches follows on Thursday afternoon, with a Same-Sex Fourball to close out the opening day of action.
The all important third round begins on Friday morning with the juniors remaining in the same pairings as round two, but this time playing Foursomes. It all comes down to the Singles matches played on Friday afternoon, with 30 points on offer over the two days and each state requiring 15.5 points to claim the Charlie Earp Bowl.
The JNJG team representing NSW are looking for a Perfect 10, after winning nine straight State of Origin contests. It wasn't smooth sailing in 2017 however, with the Blues forced to come from behind to defeat Junior Golf Queensland 16 points to 14 at Newcastle Golf Club.
JNJG (NSW) Squad
12 Years - Claire Shin (Concord) and Jake Riley (Toronto)
13 Years - Sophie Yip (Concord) and Jeffrey Guan (The Australian)
14 Years - Annika Rathbone (The Australian) and Jacob Dundas (Toronto)
15 Years - Yerin Kim (Concord) and Tom Heaton (The Australian)
16 Years - Monica Johnson (The Australian) and Harrison Crowe (St Michaels)
17 Years - Danni Vasquez (Bonnie Doon) and Jye Pickin (Avondale)
Junior Golf Queensland Squad
12 Years - Caitlin Vanderkruk (Keperra) and Billy Dowling (Southport)
13 Years - Justice Bosio (Caboolture) and Kaito Chiu (Brisbane)
14 Years - Lion Higo (Emerald Lakes) and Blaike Perkins (Bargara)
15 Years - Hannah Reeves (Hills) and Elvis Smylie (Southport)
16 Years - Karen Kim (Royal Pines) and Bailey Ittensohn (Brookwater)
17 Years - Sarah Wilson (Pelican Waters) and Ben Stieler (Brookwater)
Tournament Draw - Click Here
Leaderboards - Click Here
