Jye Halls, Camilla Kim win South Coast Junior Masters
(1:00pm - Sunday 28th August 2022)
Two junior golfers at very different stages of their junior careers have claimed the 2022 South Coast Junior Masters at Catalina Country Club.
Far South Coast resident Jye Halls (NSW GC), playing one of his final JNJG Masters Series Events before turning 18 proved too strong in the Boys Division as he defeated fellow local Oscar Woolridge (Catalina) by four shots.
After starting the final round two shots back, Halls began with two birdies in his opening six holes to move into the lead by one. He left the door open to Matt Fullerton (Lynwood) and Oscar Woolridge with two bogeys and a double to start the back nine. Halls bounced back with a birdie and then two more on the 16th and 17th to shoot a final round 73.
A valiant effort by Woolridge who finished strong recording three birdies in his last eight holes to claim victory in the Boys 14/15 Years Division. Harry Gourlay (Mollymook) went one better than his last Junior Masters start as he claimed victory with a par on the 1st playoff hole. Charlie Kerr (Wollongong) had two very impressive rounds to win the U11 Boys Division.
In contrast, Girls Champion Camilla Kim (Lynwood) doesn't turn 12 until September, becoming one of the youngest winners in JNJG History claiming an overall Masters Division title at just 11 years of age.
Kim began the morning with eight straight pars and a birdie to put early pressure on overnight leader Sophia Perkins (Australian GC). A faultless opening nine put her in firm position at the top of the Girls Division. Perkins brought the lead back to two shots with back to back birdies on the 6th and 7th. However, Kim's superb performance to claim her first Junior Masters title in the overall Division is one to remember with a final round 72. Perkins played well to hold on and claim victory in the Girls 16/17 Years Division.
Local hope Sophie Eppelstun (Catalina) shot an impressive even par, 72, highlighted by a chip in to make eagle on the 6th and cruise to victory in the Girls 14/15 Division whilst Sophie Tong (Killara) won the U11 Girls division by one shot in a tight finish.
Fullerton Goes Low as Perkins Finishes Strong
(8:00pm - Saturday 27th August 2022)
Matthew Fullerton (Lynwood) and Sophia Perkins (Australian GC) will both take two shot leads into the final round after a sensational day’s play at Catalina CC on the NSW South Coast.
After leading the first group off at 10am this morning, Matt Fullerton made the turn with 4 birdies under his belt. Looking to increase the gap at the top of the leaderboard with birdies on the 11th and 12th to move clear of the lead. Before a pair of bogeys halted his charge leaving him to shoot an impressive 68 with a two-shot lead going into the final round.
Local hope, Oscar Woolridge (Catalina), had plenty of birdies to show on his card and will hope his home course knowledge can help him reel back the frontrunner Fullerton. Another local from up the coast, Jye Halls (NSW GC) also made it to red figures and will be one to keep an eye on only two shots back.
A Lynwood duo atop the leaderboard was looking likely until Perkins stormed home with back-to-back birdies to move two shots clear of Camilla Kim (Lynwood) in the Girls Division. After an unfortunate lost ball on 17, Perkins managed to stay composed and finish strong with three birdies in her last seven holes firing a round of 75. Kim played a consistent round and will be wanting to continue her good form and put early pressure on the leaderboard.
At a point where seven girls were within two shots of the lead, the Girls division always provides for an entertaining spectacle as you can never rule anyone out!
Play begins early on Sunday morning with a 7:30am shotgun start.
2022 South Coast Junior Masters
(1:00pm - Wednesday 24th August 2022)
Almost 100 Juniors return to the beautiful South Coast of NSW after Covid-19 claimed another event during the 2021 calendar year.
Catalina Country Club will host the 2022 South Coast Junior Masters this weekend.
What is shaping up to be an exciting weekend of golf, with several local Juniors making up the field. We are in for some entertaining golf across the two days and hope that the weather can provide another few days of sunshine!
Play begins at 10:00am on Saturday. Followed by a shotgun start at 7:30am on Sunday morning.
