Juniors Enjoy a Week of Golf in the ACT Monaro

ACT Monaro Junior Week of Golf

As has been the case for many years now the ACT Monaro District Golf Association (DGA) held it’s annual July School Holiday Junior Week of Golf. This year the Women’s District Association, the Central Southern Golf Association (CSGA) supported and assisted with the event by contributing prizes and providing personnel.

Gail Goiser, DGA Junior Promotions Officer (JPO) was the tournament organiser supported by Jim Jackson (DGA Captain), Tony Brown (DGA President), Sue Harrison (CSGA JPO), and Shirley Walsh (CSGA Treasurer). Significant support was also provided by host golf clubs, Murrumbidgee Country Club, Belconnen Magpies Golf Club, Yass Golf Club and Federal Golf Club. Incorporated in the tournament were the Murrumbidgee Junior Open and Yass Junior Open.

Tournament sponsors included the ACT Monaro DGA, CSGA and Drummond Golf Fyshwick. Mr George Dashwood of Yass Nursery was the major sponsor of the Yass Junior Open.

The four-day tournament hosted a number of interstate visitors from Cromer, Russell Vale, Moruya, and St. Michaels golf clubs. Players represented local clubs including Gold Creek, Federal, Royal Canberra, Gungahlin Lakes, ADF Fairbairn, Queanbeyan, Yowani, Capital, Belconnen Magpies, Yass, Cooma and Murrumbidgee.

The tournament format involved Division 1 playing stroke with a handicap range of 10 or better, Division 2 playing stableford with a handicap range of 11-36, and sub-junior playing stroke with no Golf Australia handicap. Approximately 25 players competed in each division with not all players playing all four days. A total of nine sub-juniors played a modified nine holes at Murrumbidgee, Belconnen Magpies and Federal.

Players and Officials were most appreciative of the generosity of all clubs and sponsors. ACT Monaro juniors are indeed lucky to have such a dedicated team and supportive golfing community. The next Junior Week of Golf will be held in the October ACT School Holidays. We hope that all are able to participate.

Results

Day 1: Murrumbidgee Junior Open

We had the best of the weather at Murrumbidgee with a 9am start. After a -4 degree frost and early fog, a clear, sunny sky eventuated with no sign of a breeze all day. A number of players sported shorts, skirts and shirts while others covered up with a jumper. The course was reported to be in excellent condition. Players were provided with a sandwich for lunch.

There were 9 girls and 41 boys compete over the 18 hole events. Tan and Minh Nugyen, Christopher and David Lafferty and Callun Robertson played the nine-hole short course in the sub-junior event.

Daily prizes were:

Boys

Best Gross Jakub Gancarz 70

Runner Up Joshua Hunter 75

Best Nett Amber Thornton 71

Runner Up Lachlan Ingram 72 c/b

Best Stableford Jordan Thompson 48

Runner Up Ryan Chew 46

Girls

Daily Prize Chloe Thornton

Best Stableford Cassandra Linares

Day 2: Belconnen Magpies Golf Club

Day 2 saw a later and warmer start to the day with some cloud cover enduring. Conditions for play were good and the course had a good coverage of grass on the fairways and in the rough. Paul Thorne, the local JPO, was on hand and assisted with organisation of players, lunches and sub-juniors. Belconnen Magpies provided a BBQ with cheeseburgers and bacon and egg rolls for players. Bottled water was also available.

There were 9 girls, 43 boys that competed at Belconnen. Oliver Hammond, Mikayla and Alicia Von Renouard, Minh and Tan Nugyen enjoyed playing a modified 6 holes in the sub-juniors event.

Daily prizes were:

Boys

Best Gross Corey Rae 73

Runner Up Josh Armstrong 75 c/b

Best Nett Brett Levier 74 c/b

Runner Up Luke Corcoran 74 c/b

Best Stableford David Howard 45

Runner Up Alex Childs 38

Girls

Daily Prize Amber Thornton

Best Stableford Taylah Ellems

Day 3: Yass Golf Club

The day at Yass was a big day out for all. Forty-six players and officials travelled to Yass at no cost on a Roger’s Coach. Early pick up points were from Capital Golf Club and Gungahlin Lakes. The trip from Gungahlin took about 40 minutes and all golf bags and accessories easily fitted into the luggage compartment underneath. Only one player missed the bus due to sleeping in and he soon arrived at Yass ready to play.

Upon arrival the weather was calm and cool with cloud building. Fortunately for the first group, they got around quickly and were the only ones not to get wet and blown by the rain and strong winds that arrived, as they were finishing. The rain was icy and made conditions very difficult. Hands were numb and clubs were flying with slippery grips. It took quite a few hot chocolates to warm up.

The players enjoyed sausage sandwiches and flavoured milk for lunch provided by Yass sponsor, Mr Dashwood of Yass Nursery, as well as a generous array of prizes.

It was a pleasure to visit the Yass Golf Club and experience the country feel. The course has no bunkers or water, however the domed greens and undulations ensured a tough challenge for competitors. The course was in super condition with smooth greens. There were 8 girls, 41 boys that participated. A number of local sub-juniors played some holes with their parents.

Daily prizes were:

Boys

Best Gross Joshua Hunter 70

Runner Up Josh Armstrong 71

Best Nett Luke Corcoran 68

Runner Up Lachlan Ingram 69

Best Stableford Daniel Kemp 36

Runner Up Jay Macdonald 34

Girls

Best Gross Madeleine Hunter 76 c/b

Runner Up Stefanie Hall 76

Best Stableford Eleanor Bance

Day 4: Federal Golf Club

The final day promised to be a challenge with a stiff cold breeze and a picture of snow on the hills. Fortunately when down in the gully we were protected from the wind and the club-house afterwards was cosy and warm. The course was in excellent condition with speedy greens, especially on the downhill. Lunch included sausage sandwiches.

Lachlan Chamberlain on a handicap of 12 had an eagle on the 2nd hole.

Day 4 saw 8 girls and 38 boys participate. Sub-juniors were Callun Robertson, Mikayla and Alicia Von Renouard, and Anjana Muralithar from Belconnen Magpies and played 9 modified holes.

Prize Winners:

Boys

Best Gross Joshua Hunter 70

Runner Up Kris Cole 73

Best Nett Dean Lord 72

Runner Up Trent Britton 73 c/b

Best Stableford Riley Willcox 44

Runner Up Isabelle Hawes 41

Girls

Daily Prize Isabelle Hawes

Best Stableford Isabelle Hawes

The Junior Week of Golf Overall Champions were: