Jumping for Jye!! Pickin Cruises at Charlestown
(6:00pm - Friday 13th July, 2018)
Local favourite Jye Pickin has dominated his rivals to win the the 2018 NSW Boys Championship by an astonishing 13 strokes.
After opening rounds of 69-68 which saw Pickin lead from early on, the Charlestown local and home town favourite was never in trouble. Pickin fired rounds of 70-69 over the final two days to finish at 12 under par, leaving his rivals in his wake.
The 17 Year Old, playing in his final JNJG event, had hundreds of Charlestown GC members watching on Friday and he didn't disappoint. Birdies on the 4th and 5th all but put the event beyond doubt and despite a bogey on the 9th, Pickin headed to the back nine with a double digit lead. Playing with the freedom of the trophy wrapped up, Pickin rolled in another three back nine birdies, much to the home crowd's enjoyment, to finish the tournament at 12 under par.
It was an impressive week for Pickin, who in addition to the NSW Boys Championship trophy claimed the JNJG State Age 17 Years title by 22 shots! That wasn't the end of the prize-giving, with the home-town favourite also winning the 36 Hole Country Junior Championship, Junior Club Champion of Champions, and was a member of the Newcastle DGA side which won the Inter-District Teams Championship.
Queenslander pair Louis Dobbelaar and Lewis Hoath finished a distant second, tying at 289 (+1). Final round playing partner Mitch Varley (Queensland) closed with a 74 to finish in solo fourth a further three shots back, whilst the next NSW Junior home was 13 Year Old Jeffrey Guan (The Australian), recording an incredible 5th place finish overall.
Guan claimed the 13 Years JNJG State Age Title by nine strokes, with Jye Halls (Mollymook) also impressing to finish in the top 15 overall. The Boys 14 Years Division was taken out by Ali Rachid (Kogarah), with Lachlan Chamberlain (Federal) claiming back to back JNJG State Age Titles with a win in the 15 Years Division. Harrison Crowe (St Michael's) edged out the impressive Isaac Outridge (Coolangatta Tweed Heads) by a single stroke in the Boys 16 Years Division, with Outridge playoff-forcing putt sliding just by the edge on the final green.
Final Boys Scores - Click Here
Hye Flies Home with 65!!
(6:00pm - Friday 13th July, 2018)
Unheralded Queenslander Hye Park has come from the clouds with a final round eight under par 65 to claim the 2018 NSW Girls Championship by four strokes.
Starting the day in third position, five shots behind overnight leader Monica Johnson (The Australian), Park needed a fast start on Friday and got just that. The softly-spoken 15 year old picked up birdies on the first and second, before dropping a shot on the third to temporarily stall the momentum. Park gained that shot back on the sixth and then made another birdie after a brilliant approach shot on the ninth to make the turn at three under par and found herself only two shots back.
At this point in time she was trailing not only overnight leader Monica Johnson, but fellow Queenslander Cassie Porter who had joined Johnson at minus two. But the two leaders could do nothing but watch in awe as Park turned it on. Birdies on the 11th and 15th took Park into a share of the lead, but she wasn't finished yet. Another birdie on the par five 17th put the trophy within reaching distance, and the crowd cheered loudly when the eventual champion holed out for eagle on the last to win by four shots.
Porter leap-frogged Johnson on the back nine with a final round 72 to finish in solo second, with Johnson finishing third and claiming the Girls 16 Years JNJG State Age title as consolation.
Amber Thornton (Queanbeyan) had her best JNJG result with an impressive victory in the Girls 17 Years Division, whilst it was another first-time winner in the Girls 15s with Yeleen Son (Ryde Parrmatta) coming from behind to win.
Charlotte Perkins (Cronulla) was too consistent for her rivals, defeating friend and regular competitor Brielle Mapanao (Castle Hill) by four shots. The Girls 13 Years State Age Title was taken out by recent US Amateur qualifier Sophie Yip (Concord), running away with the age divisional title by 18 shots.
Final Girls Scores - Click Here
Pickin Cruising, Girls Contest to go Down to the Wire
(3:45pm - Friday 13th July, 2018)
Jye Pickin is cruising to the NSW Junior Championship title, with another impressive final round display. In the Girls Division, it's a three-way go with Queenslanders Cassie Porter and Hye Park chasing down Monica Johnson (The Australian).
Live Scores - Click Here
Pickin, Johnson Underway in Final Round
(12:00pm - Friday 13th July, 2018)
NSW pair and overnight leaders Monica Johnson and Jye Pickin are on the course and the final round of the NSW Junior Championship is underway!! Can the two blues hang on or will the strong Queensland contingent chase them down?
Live Scores - Click Here
Pickin and Johnson Flying Flag for NSW
(5:30pm - Thursday 12th July, 2018)
Jye Pickin (Avondale) has extended his lead in the NSW Boys Championships to seven shots after a third straight under par round. Monica Johnson (The Australian) is clinging to a two shot lead in the NSW Girls Championships, with Queenslander Cassie Porter making a charge. Pickin and Johnson are flying the flag for NSW, with Queenslanders filling three of the top four positions on both the boys and girls leadearboard.
Round Three Video - NBN NEWS
It's looking like a local victory for home-town favourite Jye Pickin, after the Charlestown and Avondale junior carded a third round 70 on the difficult Charlestown layout. Pickin got off to a hot start for the third straight day, birdies on the first, fourth and seventh opening up a handy lead. Bogies on the ninth and 11th gave the chasing pack some hope, but Pickin responded with a birdie on the 14th to re-establish the seven shot lead.
The best of the chasing pack was Queenslander Lewis Hoath. Hoath climbed up the leaderboard with a one under par 71, a round that could have been even better after being four under par through 10 holes. Pickin will be fighting off a Queensland trio on Friday, with Queensland pair Louis Dobbelaar and Mitch Varley joining Hoath in the final group in pursuit of the local favourite.
Monica Johnson (The Australian) will look to close out a wire to wire victory on Friday, after a third round 77 left her two shots in front with one round to play. Johnson dropped four shots in three holes around the turn, but steadied with an ever par back nine, the more difficult of the two nines, to maintain her advantage. Queenslander Cassie Porter backed up her course record 69 at Belmont on Wednesday with a two under par 71 in the third round.
Porter was the only girl to break par on a difficult day, with Hye Park (Queensland) and Lion Higo (Queensland) playing their way into the final group after rounds of 73 (Ev) and 74 (+1) respectively. Park sits at three over par for the tournament, trailing leader Johnson by five strokes, with Higo a further three strokes back.
Play begins at Charlestown at 7:10am on Friday, with the leading Girls and leading Boys groups hitting the course around midday.
Leaderboard - Click Here
Round 4 Charlestown GC Draw - Click Here
Pickin Extends Lead to Five, Johnson Leads by Four
(3:00pm - Thursday 12th July, 2018)
Overnight leaders Jye Pickin and Monica Johnson are on the course and the third round of the NSW Junior Championships is underway! Watch their opening tee shots on the JNJG Facebook Page be clicking here.
Through nine holes on moving day, Pickin has extended his lead to five strokes whilst Johnson leads by four after a sloppy finish to her front nine.
Live Scores - Click Here
Tight Contest at Belmont for Plate Titles
(2:30pm - Thursday 12th July, 2018)
With all players who missed the 36 hole cut on Wednesday moving into the Plate Division, there was plenty to play for at Belmont Golf Club on Thursday during the third round of the JNJG State Age Championships. The round of the day belonged to Queenslander Sam Slater, who bounced back from his missed cut in the NSW Junior Championships to be the only player to break par on his way to a 70.
In the Age Divisions who are now competing for the JNJG State Age Plate Titles, Brij Ingrey (Newcastle) and Bowen Small (Maitland) share the lead in the 13 Years Division. Rowan Harrison (Murrumbidgee) had the best score of the day in the 14 Years to take a one shot lead into the final round, whilst Eddie Ward (Port Kembla) is the low NSW Junior and leads the 15 Years after a 75 on Thursday. The 16 and 17 Year Divisions remain close, with Harry Wilde (Castle Hill) and Blade Gadd (Concord) holding one shot leads heading into the final round.
Play begins on Friday at 7:20am, with the plate presentation to take place at Belmont GC at 1:30pm.
JNJG State Age Plate Leaderboard - Click Here
Belmont GC Round 4 Plate Draw - Click Here
Pickin, Hawes Dominate 36 Hole Events
(7:00am - Thursday 12th July, 2018)
The job may not be over yet for local Jye Pickin (Avondale), but a fantastic start to the 2018 NSW Junior Championships has seen the Charlestown GC member claim three trophies already this week. Played in conjunction with the opening two rounds, the NSW Country Junior Championships, NSW Junior Champion of Champions, and Inter-District Teams Championship trophies were decided on Wednesday, with Pickin claiming all three!
Pickin won the Country Junior Championships by eight strokes over Isaac Outridge (Coolangatta Tweed Heads), whilst his margin over Jye Halls (Mollymook) and Harrison Crowe (St Michaels) in the Junor Champion of Champions was a whopping 10 shots. To top it off, Pickin teamed up with Makenzie Toole (Belmont), Josh Robards (Newcastle) and Harry Cleare (Nelson Bay) to lead the Newcastle DGA to a five shot win over the ACT Monaro in the Inter-District Teams Championship.
In the Girls Division there was also success for Royal Canberra's Isabelle Hawes. After a fantastic even par 74 in the second round, Hawes joined Pickin with the Country Junior Championship / Junior Champion of Champions double, defeating Amber Thornton (Queanbeyan) by two strokes. A further two shots back was Makensie Toole (Belmont), flying home with a three under par 71 on her home course before falling just short.
NSW Boys Country Junior Championship - Click Here
NSW Girls Country Junior Championship - Click Here
NSW Boys Champion of Champions - Click Here
NSW Girls Champion of Champions - Click Here
Inter-District Team Results
Total Score (round 2 score in brackets)
+7 - Newcastle (M Toole -3, J Pickin -4, H Cleare +4, J Robards +2)
+12 - ACT Monaro (I Hawes 0, L Chamberlain +6, D Howard +5, A Maxwell +5)
+17 - Northern Rivers (J Harlen-Robertson +8, H Remfrey +5, I Outridge +2)
+32 - Hunter River (J Vesper +16, J Fuller +7, C Lamb +3, C Walton +3)
+33 - Illawarra (C Graham +11, E Ward +9, W Daibarra +5, J Hall +1)
+33 - Far South Coast (J Halls -3, H Peterson +8, J Dickinson +6)
+45 - Central West (E Murray +12, L Jones +2, B Davis +16, C Jackson +8)
+53 - Central Coast (A Boyd +11, K Phillips +4, K Andres +6, D Pedzikiewicz +22)
+54- Lower North Coast (P Hollis +8, M Laws-Farrell +28, O Payne +4, F Murray +8)
+61 - New England / North West (A Abrahamsen +15, T Cooper +14, A Hughes +9)
+63 - Riverina (J Currie +20, B Carroll -1, T Morris +6, H Currie +32)
+108 - Blue Mountains (C Ritchie +14, M Mashall +30, T Large +23)
Pickin Pounces on Lead
(4:00pm - Wednesday 11th July, 2018)
Home-town hero Jye Pickin has fired a four under par 68 at Charlestown Golf Club to take the lead in the NSW Boys Championship. Trailing overnight leader Louis Dobbelaar (Queensland) by two strokes, Pickin started slowly with a bogey on the first hole of the day. But that must have woken the local up, who reeled off three birdies and a spectacular eagle over the next five holes to seize control of the tournament. Two birdies and two bogies on the back nine saw the 17 Year Old sign for the low round of the week at Charlestown and head into the final 36 holes with a two shot lead.
Trailing by two strokes is Jeffrey Guan (The Australian), the 13 year old once again impressing on the big stage. After coming close to claiming the Illawarra Junior Masters only a few months ago, Guan backed up his opening round 70 with a three under par 69 at Belmont to hop right into contention. Guan made six birdies on Wednesday, with his round matched by 13 year old playing partner Jye Halls (Mollymook) who also fired a 69.
Overnight leader Louis Dobbelaar (Queensland) dropped back to four under par with a 73 on day two, with a trio of Queenslanders a further three shots back. Ben Stieler, Mitch Varley and Lewis Hoath are the only other players under par, sitting at one under par through 36 holes.
The cut for the NSW Boys Championship fell at 158 (+14).
Boys Results - Click Here
Round 3 Charlestown Draw - Click Here
Round 3 Belmont Plate Draw - Click Here
THE CUT
The 36 Hole Cut for the NSW Boys Championship has been made, with 65 players finishing at 158 (+14) or better. All the cuts for the individual JNJG State Age Divisions can be found below.......
- NSW Boys Championship - 158 (+14)
- JNJG State Age 13s - 165 (+21)
- JNJG State Age 14s - 168 (+24)
- JNJG State Age 15s - 158 (+14)
- JNJG State Age 16s - 158 (+14)
- JNJG State Age 17s - 159 (+15)
Johnson Extends Lead on Record Low Scoring Day
(4:00pm - Wednesday 11th July, 2018)
Monica Johnson (The Australian) has extended her lead in the NSW Junior Championships on a day where course records tumbled on the new Belmont layout. Johnson backed up her opening three under par round at Charlestown with another three under par round to extend her lead to a whopping six strokes. Johnson leads Victorian visitor Kay Bannan who matched the tournament leader with a three under par 71, her round highlighted by seven birdies.
Defending Champion June Song (Avondale) rocketed up the leaderboard with a four under par 70, a round which was potentially a course record for 30 seconds. Playing partner Cassie Porter came to the last hole (the ninth) also at four under par, before a birdie gave her a five under par 69 and the course record all on her own.
Local girl Makensie Toole (Belmont) also impressed her host club members on Wednesday, a three under par 71 keeping her in contention for the Girls 17 Years State Age Division.
The 50-strong girls field shifts back to Charlestown GC on Thursday and Friday for the final 36 holes.
Girls Results - Click Here
Round 3 Charlestown Draw - Click Here
Round 3 Belmont Plate Draw - Click Here
Round Two Underway as the Cut Looms
(9:00am - Wednesday 11th July, 2018)
Round two of the NSW Junior Championships is underway at both Charlestown GC and Belmont GC in perfect conditions once again. Louis Dobbelaar (Queensland) and Monica Johnson (The Australian) take two shot leads into the second round, as all players scramble to try and make the 36 hole cut.
We managed to catch up with home-town favourite Jye Pickin (who shot a three under par 69 at Belmont yesterday) as he walked down the third fairway today!
See what he had to say on the JNJG facebook page now - Pickin Interview During Round 2
Live Scores - Click Here
Louis Lights up Belmont
(3:30pm - Tuesday 10th July, 2018)
Queenslander Louis Dobbelaar has taken a giant first step towards claiming back to back JNJG Major titles with a superb opening round 67 in the 2018 NSW Boys Championship. After drawing Belmont for the opening round with the rest of the 15-16-17 Year Old boys, Dobbelaar took advantage of benign conditions on the traditionally windy layout to shoot to the top of the leaderbord. Dobbelaar got off to a fast start with birdies on 10 and 11 (his opening two holes), but bogies on 12 and 14 slowed the 16 Year Old down. From that point on, the 2017 JNJG International Champion was faultless, picking up five birdies to take the lead at five under par.
After the round, Dobbelaar spoke with JNJG Territory Manager Luke Grinham. Watch it on the JNJG Facebook page here - Louis Lights up Belmont
Lurking only two shots behind the leader is home-town favourite Jye Pickin (Charlestown). Pickin also broke 70 on the opening day, finishing fast with back to back birdies on the 6th & 7th (his 15th & 16th) to climb up what is turning out to be a packed leaderboard. One shot behind Pickin is a host of players including Josh Bell (Bonnie Doon), Ben Steiler (Queensland), Lachlan Chamberlain (Federal) and 13 Year Old superstar Jeffrey Guan who joined the older boys at -2 after shooting 70 at Charlestown.
Guan's round of 70 was the only under par round in the Boys 13 & 14 Year olds who played at Charlestown on Tuesday, with all players now swapping courses ahead the second round on Wednesday.
The shot of the day belonged to Catalina's James Dickinson, the 15 Year Old recording the first hole in one of the tournament on the par three 13th at Belmont GC.
NBN News Round 1 Video - Click Here
Boys Leaderboard - Click Here
Fast Finishing Johnson Takes Control
(2:00pm - Tuesday 10th July, 2018)
Monica Johnson (The Australian) has shot to the lead at the NSW Girls Championship after an incredible finish to her opening round at Charlestown Golf Club. The 16 Year Old NSW State Junior Team member was cruising along at level par on a day when many struggled, before her putter finally caught fire late on the back nine. Johnson picked up birdies on the 15th, 17th and 18th holes to take the lead, finishing with a three under par 70. Johnson was quite excited by her opening round, and you can see her post round interview on the JNJG Facebook page here - Fast Finishing Johnson Takes Control.
Lion Higo (Queensland) was also impressive on day one, carding a one under par 72 to be two shots back. 15 Year Old Higo, no stranger to the top of a JNJG leaderboard having won the 2016 Ballina Junior Masters as a 13 year old picked up five birdies on the difficult and long Charlestown course. The two girls have broken away from the rest of the field, with Amber Thornton playing in her final NSW Junior Championship ending the day in outright third after back to back birdies saw her finish with a 75.
NBN News Round 1 Video - Click Here
Girls Leaderboard - Click Here
NSW Junior Championship Underway!
(8:00am - Tuesday 10th July, 2018)
The 2018 NSW Junior Championship has got underway in perfect conditions at Charlestown GC and Belmont GC in the Newcastle district. Live Scores will be rolling in throughout the day at both venues.
NSW Boys Leaderboard - Click Here
NSW Girls Leaderboard - Click Here
Draw Revealed for NSW Junior Championship
(3:00pm - Monday 9th July, 2018)
The draw is now out for the opening two rounds of the NSW Junior Championships. Players will play 18 holes at both Charlestown and Belmont over the first two days, before the 36 hole cut is made on Wednesday night.
Round 1A Draw - Charlestown GC - Click Here
Round 1B Draw - Belmont GC - Click Here
Round 2A Draw - Charlestown GC - Click Here
Round 2B Draw - Belmont GC - Click Here
Charlestown, Belmont Ready for NSW Junior
(2:30pm - Thursday 5th July, 2018)
Charlestown GC and Belmont GC will host the 2018 NSW Junior Championships and JNJG State Age Titles next week with the tournament set to get underway on Tuesday 10th July 2018.
After a change in format which has seen the increasingly popular 12 Years and Under Age Division moved to a stand alone event in the second week of the school holidays, a strong field of 220 players will be looking to add their name to the NSW Junior Championship Trophy this year.
Two-time Boys defending champion Jed Morgan (Queensland) has exited the junior ranks since his dominant victory on the Central Coast last year, meaning the NSW Boys Champion will be lifting the trophy in 2018 for the very first time.
And home-town favourite Jye Pickin is aiming to do just that, playing in his final Jack Newton Junior Golf Event before turning 18 later this year. "Jack Newton Junior Golf has been great for me over the last six years," Pickin said. "I have gained so much experience in the pressure situations which has helped me get better in every tournament I have played, and what better way to finish my career then competing against the best junior golfers from around the country on my home course."
The 17 year old has been working hard at his game, highlighting this tournament in his schedule the moment the host clubs were announced. "Once I heard that the NSW Junior was coming to Newcastle and could be played at Charlestown and Belmont, I couldn't wait. This event is always one of the strongest on the JNJG calendar and to be able to play in an event like this on two courses I've grown up playing all my life will hopefully help me this week." Pickin is right about the strength of the event, with players from every State and Territory in Australia travelling to Newcastle to take part.
But despite having plenty of local knowledge that many of his competitors this week won't have, Pickin was happy to share his secrets ahead of the tournament. "In a 72 hole tournament like this you have to try and stay patient and if you do that, the birdies will come. Around these two courses, the confidence you get from staying out of trouble and making comfortable pars will be when the birdies really start to roll in."
Pickin will be up against a stellar field, including six players currently ranked in the Top 20 on the Golf Australia Order of Merit including Queenslanders Louis Dobbelaar and Lewis Hoath, Frank Vucic (South Australia), and Pickin's NSW Junior Team mates Harrison Crowe (St Michaels) and Corey Lamb (Concord).
In the NSW Girls Championship, defending champion June Song will be aiming to become the first girl since Justine Lee in 2008/2009 to claim back to back titles. The 16 Year Old has claimed she took a lot out of her breakthrough victory in 2017, using the win as a springboard into the NSW Junior Girls State Team. "Winning this tournament last year, i really learned more about my game and myself as a person. The support I've received from the important people around me has been incredible and has helped me find different ways to improve my golf," Song said.
Not resting on her laurels, the Avondale junior has been working hard in the leadup to this year's tournament to give herself every chance of defending the title. "My two coaches, Mark and Ben Paterson, have been working on my short game as that has been the weakest part of my game this year. "I was lucky to get an extra week school holidays this year which meant I could get some extra practice in," she smiled.
Using those Avondale GC connections, Song has also had the opportunity to practice this week with former JNJG International Junior Classic Winner and JNJG Junior of the Year Harrison Endycott. Endycott, currently playing on the Latino PGA Tour in South America had been back home practicing, giving his fellow club member some helpful hints as she tries to win a tournament he finished fourth in back in 2012. "Having Harrison back around the club this week has been great. I got a chance to play and practice with him and he showed me some different drills and games I could play and it has really helped my chipping in a short amount of time."
Song will also be up against a stellar field, headlined by Queensland trio Cassie Porter, Isabelle Taylor, and Hye Park. Taylor, who dominated a similar lineup to win the Queensland Girls Title at Bargara last week comes in with great confidence, whilst 15 year old Porter made a name for herself at this even in 2017 when she was a gallant runner up. There will also be a host of NSW girls looking to keep the title at home, headlined by 13 Year Old Sophie Yip who recently qualified for the 2018 Womens US Amateur.
Played in conjunction with the opening two rounds, the NSW Junior Championship and JNJG State Age Titles also play host to the NSW Club Junior Champion of Champions, NSW Boys and Girls Country Junior Championships, and NSW Boys and Girls Inter-District Junior Championships. The 36 hole country events give some of the best talent in regional NSW a chance to shine, whilst the Champion of Champions sees all of the NSW Junior Club Champions pitted against each other for the only time in 2018.
The tournament week actually begins on Monday with the 2018 NSW Junior-Am to be played at Merewether Golf Club, before the tournament itself gets underway on Tuesday morning with play to begin at 8:00am at both Charlestown GC and Belmont GC.
Round 1 Draw - Available Monday at Tournament Registration
Tournament Leaderboards - Click Here
