Ocean Shores Junior Open Golf Day - March 22nd
A great round of 70 (2 under par) from Queenslander Josh Capes was good enough to win the Ocean Shores Junior Open Day. The Junior Girls Open Event was won by another Queenslander, Min Kweon with a great round of 74. On a day of overcast weather and occasional drizzle, we were also pleased to conduct the Gary Rydge Memorial Cadet event for up-and-coming 9 hole golfers.
A record field of 113 players from Ballina, Casino, Coraki, Coolangatta-Tweed Heads, Murwillumbah, Ocean Shores, Byron Bay, Lismore, Yamba, Iluka, Kyogle, Rachael Hetherington Range and a large contingent from clubs in South East Queensland made sure the day was competitive as well as an opportunity to make new friends.
The Junior Boys event produced some magnificent golf with 26 of the 69 starters playing off single figure handicaps. Based on the slope system, Ocean Shores is the “toughest” golf course in the Northern Rivers and was sure to prove a test for the young golfers. Josh Capes is a regular visitor to the Greg Norman Junior events in the Northern Rivers, and his great score in difficult conditions will give him confidence going into the National Junior Championships in Adelaide next month. The best of the Northern Rivers golfers was Kyle Underwood (Ballina) with a score of 73 closely followed a shot further back by Alex Hunt (Murwillumbah).
The Junior Boys nett event was a hot affair with 14 players recording scores below their handicap. The winner, Luis Cheon from Queensland, who had a great nett score of 60 closely followed by another Queenslander, Shean Sewo with a nett 62. The best of the Northern Rivers golfers was Reilly Wunderlich (Yamba) with a fantastic score of 63. Other Northern Rivers players shooting a score better than their handicap included Nathan Campbell (Coraki), Callen Stubbs (CTH) and Kyle Underwood (Ballina).
Eight of the 19 girls contesting the Junior Girls event were off handicaps of 9 or lower – another high quality field. The winner, Min Kweon from Queensland holding off sisters Eloise Taylor and Isabelle Taylor also from Queensland. The best of the Northern Rivers girls was Madeline Trew (Murwillumbah) with a score of 78. The Junior Girls nett event was won by Eloise Taylor with a fantastic score of 62, 10 shots better than her handicap of 14. The best of the Northern Rivers girls in the nett event was Charlize Spain (Coraki) with a score of 72.
An amazing field of 25 golfers turned up for the Cadets 9 hole event. This is only the third year that Ocean Shores have included this event in their Open Day and the field was young and enthusiastic.
The winner of the Cadet Boys event, and the recipient of the Gary Rydge Memorial Trophy for the best gross score, was Connor Whitelock (Byron Bay) with a great score of 48. Connor is now a regular participant in the NRDGA Order of Merit series and this was one of his best rounds. Connor’s score was two shots better than Will Ross (CTH) and Tyrelle Roberts (Casino). Great scores in the Cadet Boys nett competition were recorded by Matthew Kearns (Ocean Shores) who’s score of 24 was far too good for Braden Howlett (Kyogle), Callum Howell (Ballina) and Cameron Harlen-Robertson (Lismore). The Cadet Girls event was won by Emily Martin (Murwillumbah) on a count back from Jenna Carter (Yamba). The Cadet Girls nett event was won by Maddison McKee.
For more information on Northern Rivers Junior Golf contact Gerard Wilkinson on 0419 708 676 (gerard@jnjg.com.au) or Andrea Glavocih on (02) 6686-5411 (ricsavservices@bigpond.com).
