Central Coast Dominate the Bathurst Track
It was actually a track of a different kind that saw a record 30 young Junior Golfers from the Central Coast compete in last weekends JNJG Peter O'Malley Junior Golf Masters. It wasn't the world famous Mt Panorama Bathurst race track, it was on the Bathurst golf track that 25 juniors aged 10 to 17 arrived via Bus to compete. Representatives from all Central Coast golf clubs were aboard and ready to play 2 rounds over the Saturday and Sunday. An additional 5 elite players from the Toukley Golf Club including defending Girls Champion, Annika Boyd, arrived a little earlier with their supporting families for a course inspection and some fine tuning on their games.
It was the passionate Shelly Beach Golf Club Junior Development officer Mick Lamaro who put the fun golfing camp weekend together and was the hosting bus driver as well. In preparation for and to complement the golf, the kids were treated to a visit to the 3 sisters Katoomba on the way, a slow lap around Mt Panorama and 2 nights overnight accommodation at the Heritage Park Sheep and Cattle Drome Station.
The leaderboard domination and Central Coast presence was very noticeable with our boys and girls all arriving and playing in their Drummond Golf Sponsored Taylormade blue hats and with representation in every boys and girls age division. But the highlight was an amazing Toukley double victory at the top of the leaderboard after 36 holes with Annika Boyd going back to back to take out the overall girls division, whilst Keegan Phillips recorded his first Junior Masters overall victory in the boys division. Other top positions included Michelle Moon from Toukley 1st place in the under 15's, a record breaking 21 under par victory to Shelly Beach's Finlay Taylor in the under 13's and a podium finish for Everglades 13 year old Kory Botting competing in his first ever JNJG tournament. Luckily a support vehicle was on hand to help return all the prizes to the Coast with the bus already full with 25 juniors, 14 parents, travel bags and all the golf gear.
"It was very rewarding to witness the beautiful friendships form through this great game, the sportsmanship, Central Coast spirit and the amazing talent on hand," says Mr Lamaro. The victories were well deserved and a reward for all the hard work and practice, but it was the uniting of the kids from all Central Coast golf clubs that was most rewarding for all the event organisers and parents in attendance. We had young 11 and 12 year old's walking the course supporting and spectating our older kids who were in contention on the final day, whilst Annika kindly took time out from her warm up quickly on the final day to meet and encourage her new little Central Coast golfing admirers Brooke, Desiree and Ashley.
Junior golf across the Central Coast is growing rapidly thanks to these events and camps, fun, friendships, Junior Pennant and Encourage shield series, JNJG tournaments nearby, get into golf and Juniors on the move programs, extremely kind volunteers and coaching staff at the each of the clubs.
JNJG territory manager Mark Ingrey was on hand across the weekend to congratulate all the winners and commend all Central Coast clubs for their growing cadet and Junior golf development programs. "For the first time ever across the Central Coast we have over 15 Central girls alone competing each weekend" says Mark.
Mark went onto to say "that I have seen both Annika and Keegan grow and rise quickly through their chosen golf pathway's over the last 7 years with amazing results now achieved across the state and overseas."
Other camp highlights included the Sanitarium sponsored breakfasts, feeding the farm animals, the onsite putt putt and golf driving range.
To get your kids into golf in the great outdoors and off those distracting devices, why not contact your local Central Coast golf club to enquire more about upcoming school holiday coaching clinic programs , Friday afternoon Junior clinics, weekend cadet and junior competitions and more . To further grow the game, some clubs have waived or reduced Junior membership and fees, members have donated spare clubs -sets, setup second hand golf ball collection stations, offering to mentor or play a round with new juniors and friendly fun tuition.
How good is Golf on the Central Coast!!!!!!!!
Story and Photos Courtesy of Jason Millers
