Byron Bay Junior Open
The final event on the Northern Rivers Order of Merit schedule attracted almost 60 starters and the competition for the final Order of Merit vouchers meant that all the “guns” were present. Players from Ballina, Coraki, Coolangatta-Tweed Heads, Grafton, Kyogle, Lismore, Mullumbimby, Murwillumbah, Ocean Shores, Yamba and the host club of Byron Bay were up bright and early on a glorious Spring Day. Santa also turned up with lots of lolly bags for all the players and their siblings.
In a hot field of Junior Boys, Alex Hunt (Murwillumbah) scorched the field with a 2 under par round of 68. This effort was good enough to lift Alex up into 2nd place in the OOM Junior Boys competition and was a great effort considering that Alex is currently undertaking his HSC exams. Par rounds of 70 were also recorded by Jay Mackenzie and Kyle Underwood both of whom are from the Ballina Golf Club. A young boy from the host club, Conor Whitelock was good enough to take advantage of his home track and shoot a great round of 74 off the stick (nett 65) to win the Junior Boys nett prize. Callen Stubbs (Coolangatta-Tweed Heads) also had a great round to finish with a nett 66.
Unfortunately, only one girl participated in the Junior Girls Division and Maddy Trew (Murwillumbah) took home the lollies.
The Order of Merit competition in the Cadet Boys Division has been hotly contested throughout the year and one of the numerous good young players from Coolangatta-Tweed Heads, Jack Ross, scorched the field at Byron Bay with a great round of 38 shots. Even off the red tees, this is a remarkable effort from a young boy who will develop into a great young golfer. However, the tight tussle between Ethan Walker (Coraki) and Cameron Harlen-Robertson (Lismore) going right down to the wire. Whilst not having his best day at Byron Bay, Cameron was able to just hold on and beat Ethan by 1.3 points in the year long competition. Zane Lowe (Yamba) had the best nett round of the day finishing with nett 26.
The Cadet Girls Division at Byron Bay was taken out by Elly Petersen (Coolangatta-Tweed Heads) with a great score of 51 shots. Elly has been a consistent performer all year and she also took out the WGNR Order of Merit prize for 9 hole girls. The best nett score for the Cadet Girls was recorded by Frankie Payne (Ballina).
Fifteen players competed in the Tyro 5 hole competition and all were rewarded with gifts from Santa as well as having a great day out.
Further information about Junior Golf on the Northern Rivers can be obtained from Gerard Wilkinson – Mobile 0419 708 676.
