A huge field of more than 250 players from around the world arrived on the NSW Central Coast for the 3 day 2016 NSW Junior Championships at Shelly Beach and Toukley GC held from July 5th to 8th. The Illawarra Academy had Ten athletes competing, with Jackson Hall and Tom Heaton (Wollongong GC), Jake and Jamie Raey (Kiama GC), Luke Taylor (Gerringong GC), Che Saniford (Shoalhaven Heads GC), Kelsey Bennett (Mollymook GC), Danni Vasquez (Bonnie Doon GC), Cassidy Graham (Links Shell Cove) and Selena Bosevski (Port Kembla GC). Play began at both courses from 7:00am on Tuesday morning before the players swap courses for the second round and vie to make the 36 Hole Cut. Once the field was cut, the top half of players played their final two rounds at Shelly Beach, with the bottom half of the field who miss the cut competing for the Championship Plate at Toukley. Well that was the plan, until the weather said lets do it differently. Play was suspended at 3:15pm at Shelly Beach Golf Club due to heavy rain, bringing a premature end to the third round of the NSW Junior Championships. It was the second weather delay of the day, after 1 hour and 20 minutes was lost just after 9:00am, once again due to heavy rain. 63 players managed to complete the third round, with a further 88 players still out on course when the heavens opened. As a result, the 2016 NSW Junior Championships at Shelly Beach Golf Club was reduced to a 54 hole event. All players who were yet to complete their third round resumed play at 7:30am on Friday morning. The final groups had 13 holes of golf to play, to decide the Champions. The final round of the JNJG State Age Championship Plate at Toukley Golf Club went ahead as planned. Kelsey Bennett shot rounds of 84, 88, 87 (+35) to finish T24th in the NSW Junior Girls Championship, T6th in the 16 Years Girls Cup Scr, 8th in the 16 Years Girls Cup Nett and 6th in the NSW Girls Junior Championships Danni Vasquez shot rounds of 93, 81, 85 (+35) to finish T24th in the NSW Junior Girls Championship, T6th in the 16 Years Girls Cup Scr, 9th in the 16 Years Girls Cup Nett and 8th in the NSW Girls Junior Championships. Cassidy Graham shot rounds of 88, 92, 89 (+45) to finish 35th in the NSW Junior Girls Championship, 7th in the 15 Years Girls Cup Scr and Nett, and 11th in the NSW Girls Country Junior Champioships. Selena Bosevski shot rounds of 95, 94, 94 (+59) to finish 42nd in the NSW Junior Girls Championship, 3rd in the 12 Years Girl Cup Scr, T2nd in the 12 Years Girls Cup Nett and T14th in the NSW Girls Country Junior Championship. Jackson Hall shot rounds of 81, 75, 77 (+19) to finish T32th in the NSW Junior Boys Championship, 3rd in the 15 Years Boys Cup Scr, T5th in the 15 Years Cup Nett and T13th in the NSW Boys Country Junior Championships. Tom Heaton shot rounds of 74, 85, 79 (+24) to finish T53th in the NSW Junior Boys Championship, T2nd in the 14 years Boys Cup Scr, 7th in the 14 Years Boys Cup Nett and 20th in the NSW Boys Country Junior Championships. Jake Raey shot Rounds of 87, 80, 83, 83 (+46) to finish 7th in the 17 Years Boys Plate Scr, 4th in the 17 Years Boys Plate Nett and 41st in the NSW Boys Country Junior Championships. Jamie Raey shot rounds of 89, 80, 81, 80 (+43) to finish 5th in the 16 Years Boys Plate Scr, 2nd in the 16 Years Boys Plate Nett and T45th in the NSW Boys Country Junior Championships. Luke Taylor shot rounds 84, 90, 82, 86 (+55) to finish T10th in the 16 Years Boys Plate Scr, T14th in the 16 Years Boys Plate Nett and T56th in the NSW Boys Country Junior Championships. Che Saniford shot rounds of 80, 87, 82 (+34) before having to withdraw from the rest of the Tournament.
