Pickin Goes Back to Back as Yerin Wins Girls
(Sunday 20th May, 2018)
Jye Pickin (Avondale) has claimed back to back North Coast Junior Masters titles with a dramatic one shot victory over home town favourite Fletcher Murray (Kew).
After starting the final round in a four way share of the lead, Pickin quickly took control of the tournament with a birdie on the difficult par 4 second hole. Another birdie on the 10th, after seven straight pars in between, and it looked like Pickin was going to cruise to the title. But no one told Murray.
The 15 Year old local, cheered on by a number of Kew CC members out watching the leading groups, fought back from a disasterous double bogey on his first hole of the day to nearly pinch the trophy. Murray steadied after the poor start, making the turn at +2 before lighting it up on the back nine when everyone else was going backwards in the tough conditions. Birdies on the 11th, 12th, and a monster birdie putt on the 18th got the home-town favourite within one shot as the crowd cheered.
Pickin needed a par on the last to secure victory and he very nearly closed it out in style, his wedge shot into the final green dancing around the cup before spinning back to the front of the green. He calmly two putted his way to the title, leaving Murray in second place which was good enough to take out the 14/15 Years Division.
Sharing third was Isaac Outridge (Coolangatta Tweed Heads) and Jeffrey Guan (The Australian), with 13 Year Old Guan now placing in the top 3 in back to back JNJG Junior Masters events after a second place finish at last month's Illawarra Junior Masters. In the Boys 11 Years and Under Division, Max Fischer (Moore Park) made it a perfect five from five to start the season, defeating Jonathon Hong (Barnwell Park) by two shots.
Whilst the Boys Division was going down to the wire, Yerin Kim (Concord) was running away with the Girls Division, defeating fellow Concord member Claire Shin by a comfortable four shots.
The overnight leader started slowly with back to back bogies on the opening two holes, before getting into rhythm as the temperature warmed up. Keeping her nose in front throughout the front nine, Kim broke away from the pack with a birdie on the 10th and an even par back nine saw the finishing margin grow to four shots.
Shin's second place finish meant she took out the 12/13 Years Division, with Brielle Mapanao (Stonecutters Ridge) sneaking home to win the 14/15 Years Division. 36 Holes wasn't enough to decide the Girls 11 and Under Division, with JuEun Jang (Liverpool) defeating Nara Shin (Ryde Parramatta) in a playoff.
Final Scores - Click Here
Tight at the Top in Tense Final Round
(Sunday 20th May, 2018)
It's going to be an exciting finish at the North Coast Junior Masters, with many players in with a chance of taking the title on the final day.
Live Scores - Click Here
Packed Leaderboard at Kew on Tough Day
(Saturday 19th May, 2018)
On a perfect Autumn Saturday afternoon, four players share the lead in the Boys Division of the North Coast Junior Masters. In the Girls Division, Yerin Kim (Concord) leads Annika Boyd (Pymble) by one stroke.
Jeffrey Guan (The Australian), Jye Pickin (Avondale), Josh Robards (Newcastle) and Harry McMillan (Coffs Harbour) have shot matching 73s on the opening day to share the lead at the North Coast Junior Masters. The quartet of juniors lead local Kew CC member Fletcher Murray by just a single shot, with the 15 year old also confident he can take out the title on his home course. The leading four will be paired together on Sunday, with the boys teeing off just before 7:30am.
In the Girls Division, Yerin Kim and Annika Boyd have once again moved to the top of the leaderboard, cementing their dominance as the top two girls on the JNJG Junior Masters Series in 2018. Kim fired a 77 on Saturday with Boyd only one shot further back. Joining them in the final group on Sunday will be Concord pair Angelina Gong (79) and Claire Shin (81), whilst local girl Pyper Hollis (Kew) is also in contention only four shots back).
Play begins on Sunday morning with a shotgun start at 7:25am.
Round 1 Scores - Click Here
Round 2 Draw - Click Here
Pickin Looking for Back to Back Titles at Kew
(Tuesday 15th May, 2018)
NSW State Junior Team Captain Jye Pickin will defend his North Coast Junior Masters Title at Kew CC this weekend, looking to defeat a 100 strong field of quality junior golfers from around the state.
12 months ago Pickin was on another level, firing rounds of 66-67 to defeat a top quality field by nine strokes. Since that victory, Pickin has gone on to captain his state at the recent Interstate Junior Series and looks hard to beat again in 2018.
If someone is able to stop the 17 year old from defending his title, it could very well be one of the local North Coast stars. Oli Payne (Concord / Port Macquarie) and Fletcher Murray (Kew CC) have both impressed recently and were rewarded with positions in the 2018 JNJG Development Squad. Payne already has a JNJG Junior Masters Title to his name, whilst the ever-improving Murray gets the chance to win his first title on his home golf course.
Also in that Development Squad and competing at Kew this weekend looking to claim their first victories are Harry Cleare (Nelson Bay), Jeffrey Guan (The Australian), Isaac Outridge (Coolangatta Tweed Heads) and Joshuaa Robards (Newcastle), highlighting the strength of the Boys Division this weekend.
There will be no defending champion in the Girls Division, with 2017 Winner Yuka Lin (The Lakes) moving overseas earlier this year however the two most recent JNJG Junior Masters Winners are here and look set to fight it out once again. Annika Boyd (Pymble) was dominant in claiming the Peter O'Malley Junior Masters in March whilst Yerin Kim (Concord) was equally as impressive in winning the Illawarra Junior Masters just last month. The two 16 year old girls standout in this year's field, looking to become the first multiple winners in 2018.
The local contingent is also strong in the Girls Division, with Quedesha Golledge (Kew), Pyper Hollis (Kew), Madeleine Laws Farrell (Port Macquarie), Vanna Limeburner (Kew) and Ella Scaysbrook (Port Macquarie) all in contention for trophies in their age divisions.
Round one begins on Saturday at midday with a shot gun start, with the second round getting underway on Sunday morning at 7:30am.
Draw - Click Here
Leaderboard - Click Here
