Siblings Star at South Coast Junior Masters
(1:00pm - Sunday 25th August 2024)
For the first time in JNJG history, two siblings have claimed a JNJG Masters Series Title as South Coast locals Sophie Eppelstun and younger brother Bill Eppelstun won the 2024 South Coast Junior Masters at Club Catalina.
Not since Kevin and Celina Yuan won the 2014 Sydney Week of Golf have two siblings dominated a tournament like the Eppelstun's did, flying around their home course over the weekend to record impressive victories.
For 17-year-old Sophie, playing one final JNJG event before turning 18 next week, the come-from-behind victory was delivered with a new personal best on her home track. Five birdies, without dropping a single shot, saw the future Ohio State College Golfer sign for a final round five under par 67 and a comfortable four shot victory.
Overnight leader Kortni Houston (Gungahlin Lakes) impressed once again at JNJG Tour level, finishing at four over par in outright second, one shot clear of Zoe Arcus (Cromer). Not to be out-done by her older siblings, Bronte Eppelstun (Catalina) also impressed, finishing alone in 4th position.
As Sophie cruised home in the Girls Division, the Boys Division was going down to the wire.
With back-nine birdies on the 12th and 14th, overnight leader Bill Eppelstun opened up what appeared to be a match-winning lead, however, in the space of two holes, a four-shot swing turned the tournament on it's head. First, Eppelstun found trouble on the difficult par-4 15th hole, making an untimely double bogey which saw the lead cut to two. Moments later, a pair of eagles by closest challengers Matt Fullerton (Lynwood) and James Domazetovski (NSW GC) saw the lead vanish and we had a three-way tie at the top!
Eppelstun responded with a birdie on the 17th to take the outright lead once again, and then trying to force a birdie on the final hole, both Fullerton and Domazetovski dropped shots, leaving the local with two putts from 10-feet on the final green to take the title. The 16-year-old only needed one, rolling the par putt in for his first JNJG Title.
Fullerton and Domazetovski filled the minor placings, with another local, Keith Tompsett (Catalina) finishing alone in fourth place in his best JNJG performance so far.
Capacity Field at Catalina for South Coast Junior Masters
(2:00pm - Friday 23rd August 2024)
A capacity field of 120 juniors will head South to Club Catalina this weekend to compete in the Jack Newton Junior Golf South Coast Junior Masters.
Among the full field of talented kids will be reigning girls champion Mimi Thomsen of The Australian GC. Fresh off the back of representing NSW at the School Sport Australia Championships in Canberra, Thomsen was a late entry as she looks to go back to back in 2024.
Hometown hero and Catalina local Sophie Eppelstun will be looking to sign off from her Junior Career with a win, the NSW State Team Representative turning 18 next week. She'll face stiff competition from the ever improving Zoe Arcus (Cromer) and JNJG Masters Specialist Kiara Connolly-Jackson (Kooindah Waters).
The Boys Division will be equally as strong, with a number of the leading candidates looking for that all important victory to secure a spot at the Bonville Champions Trophy. An impressive 10 players will tee off in the tournament on plus-figure handicaps, with Jamie Smith (Cromer), Matt Fullerton (Lynwood) and local hope Bill Eppelstun (Catalina) three of the lowest.
All the action will get underway at 8:30am on Saturday morning.
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