Two hundred and seventy eager junior golfers converged on the Illawarra region last week for the annual Subaru NSW Junior Golf Championships. In conjunction with the Golf NSW and as part of the Jack Newton Junior Golf Tour, the second of the year’s four majors saw some of the best juniors from across the country battle it out for the title of the NSW Junior Boy or Girl Champion. This year The Links Shell Cove and Wollongong Golf Club hosted the four-day event, from 30th June to 3rd July. The format of play for the first two days saw competitors play one round at each course. A cut was then made after 36 holes with the top half going on to contest the Championship Cup playing their final two rounds at The Links Shell Cove, while those who miss the cut played off for the Championship Plate at Wollongong. Up for grabs at this event were not only the overall State Championships but also Age Championships, Country Junior Championships, Champion of Champions and the Inter-District Teams Championship. In the field of 270, 44 juniors were playing off plus figure handicaps so the standard of golf was phenomenal. The IAS was very well represented with 8 scholarship athletes competing, with 6 taking home silverware. Stef Hall was the best of the IAS athletes shooting 301 (71,74,79,77) to claim the Girls 15 years Cup Scratch and Nett Championships. Dani Vasquez was close behind shooting 311 (73,77,80,81) and as the same competitor cannot claim the Scratch and Nett Championships Dani was crowned the Cup Nett Champion. Stef finished tied for 5th in the NSW Girls Championships and won the NSW Country Girls Championship and the Girls Champion of Champions. Cassidy Graham finished with 352 (82,88,95,87) to claim the Girls 14 Years Plate Scratch Title. Sarah Johnson finished with 338 (79,87,94,78) to claim the Girls 15 Years Plate Nett Title. Thomas Heaton continued his great year, shooting 307 (75,74,80,78) to claim the Boys 13 Years Cup Scratch title by 9 shots. Jackson Hall had a great championships shooting 296 (76,73,74,73) to finish first in both the Scratch and Nett championships for the Boys 14 Years however as with Stef he could only be crowned the Scratch Champion.
