Whitelock Prevails in Playoff, Sahara Dominates Girls' Division
(10:00am - Monday 26th February 2024)
Royal Canberra's Harry Whitelock and Concord's Sahara Hillman-Varma have emerged as the victors of the 2024 Peter O'Malley Junior Masters at Parkes Golf Club.
The competition in the boys' division was intense, with three contenders tied for first place after two rounds. Whitelock found himself in a sudden death playoff against Bill Eppelstun from Catalina and Matthew Xu from Eastlakes.
On the second hole, Eppelstun was eliminated when he could only manage a par on the short par four 9th hole, leaving Whitelock and Xu to battle it out.
After six playoff holes, Whitelock secured the win with his third birdie of the playoff, marking his second victory of the year at just 16 years old, following his triumph at the Junior Webex Players Series – Sydney.
In the girls' division, Sahara Hillman-Varma dominated with a commanding lead.
Her rounds of 75 and 78 secured her the championship with a final score of plus four, a remarkable nine shots ahead of her closest competitors.
Jia You from Concord claimed second place with a score of plus 13, followed by Sophia Chau from Gungahlin Lakes in third with plus 18.
An exciting moment came when JNJG Rookie Max Wiggins of Ballina GC scored a hole-in-one on the 137m Par 3 17th hole.
Jack Newton Junior Golf would like to thank the staff, committee, and members of Parkes Golf Club for hosting a major JNJG event for the first time.
Young Golfers Gear Up for Peter O'Malley Junior
(3:00pm - Thursday 22nd February 2024)
Excitement is building as the Peter O'Malley Junior Masters kicks off this weekend at Parkes Golf Club. Around 80 young golfers from all over New South Wales and the ACT are ready to showcase their skills and chase victory.
All eyes will be on Harry Whitelock, the reigning champion from Royal Canberra GC. Freshly minted as a member of the Junior ACT State Team, Whitelock's stellar performance over the past year, including a commanding nine-shot victory at last year's tournament, has solidified his status as one to watch.
Joining him are fellow ACT Junior State Team members Blake Jones from Royal Canberra and Callan Robertson from Federal GC, each eager to make their mark.
Another standout contender is Jesse Linden, the 2023 Under 12 Boy of the Year from Newcastle GC. Linden's string of impressive victories in major events and historic qualification for the Drive Chip and Putt National Finals at Augusta National sets him apart as one top beat.
Blake Cranston of Toukley GC, victor in the under 13's division in 2023, is back for another shot at glory. Will he clinch the overall title this time?
In the girls' division, the absence of 2023 Champion Sienna Clarke leaves the field wide open for a new titleholder. Concord's Honey Kim and Penrith's Jessica Fog are among the top contenders, with Catalina's Bronte Eppelstun and Cronulla's Ivy Zhang also vying for victory.
It’s shaping up to be a weekend of fierce competition with weather conditions forecast to be hot and sunny.
Play will begin at 1:00PM on Saturday, February 24.
