Junior Week of Golf—July 2010 | Juniors in Tasmania | 2010 Program for ACT-Monaro Junior Weeks of Golf | 2009 Fairbairn Junior Jack Classic | Junior Week of Golf—July 2009 | ACT Juniors in Alice Springs | ACT 2009 Junior Team for National Championships | 2009 DGA Junior & Colts Classic | Junior Week of Golf—October 2008 | Juniors do well at Cessnock | Luke Humphries Captain of NSW Boy's Team | Junior Week of Golf 2008 | Junior Golf Stars | Giant killers | ACT Junior team | 2008 Junior District Program | ACT ‘State’ Squad | ACT Development Squad | R.C.G.C Junior Open 2007 | Junior Week of Golf 2007

Junior Week of Golf—July 2010

ACT-MONARO JUNIOR WEEK OF GOLF JULY 2010
[Report: M J Jackson, Junior Promotions Officer, 11/07/2010]

The largest field ever (76 juniors) contested last week’s Junior Week of Golf at three of the districts premier courses --   Royal, Gungahlin Lakes and Federal.  The weather for the three rounds was mixed.  Days 1 and 3 were sunny but cool, with some frosty greens that tested the early playing groups; Tuesday at Gungahlin was a little overcast and drizzly, so players had to contend with ample water both on the course and from the clouds.  Although the majority of the field came from golf clubs around Canberra the field also included players from Cabramatta, Cootamundra, Young, Temora and Wagga Wagga.   In addition to these handicapped club golfers, 9 aspiring cadet (non-handicapped) golfers played a nine-hole competition on days 2 and 3 after the main field had hit off.
The main field was split into two equally sized divisions – a lower handicapped group (h/c under 15) who played a Stroke Competition (with gross and nett prizes) and a higher handicapped division (h/c 16+) who played a Stableford Competition.

Division 1: Jordan Ayre (h/c 3) from Royal Canberra proved he is currently the best junior in the ACT-Monaro District with 3 consistent gross scores of 77, 76 and 72 to record a total of 225 and take out the Butch Brown Memorial Trophy from last year’s winner Kacper Gancarz (Yowani), who finished 10 shots behind Jordan. Gungahlin Lakes junior Sean Crilley and Federal’s Nick Fuller took out the minor placings with total scores of 239 and 241shots.    Division 1 also included a Nett Competition, where players handicaps insured a closer contest than the Gross Event.  The first two places were only separated by 4 stokes -- Yowani’s Ryan Herbert (h/c13) won this event with a 3-round score of 211 (rounds of 68, 71, 72) closely followed by Theo Theodosiou (RCGC) and Haydn Turner (Gungahlin Lakes) both with a scores of 215. 

Division 2: As is usually the case; this event was dominated by junior golfers with high handicaps, especially by those from Leigh Hunter’s stable at Fairbairn Golf Club.  However, it was one of the three golfers from Capital Golf Club – Jessica McManus (h/c 35) – who was the clear winner with rounds of 42, 40 and 41 for a total of 123 Stableford points. Three additional girls Charelle Leefe (Gungahlin Lakes), Madeleine Hunter  (Fairbairn) and Chloe Thornton (Fairbairn) took 2nd to 4th places with scores of 117, 113 and 113 points, respectively.  The highest score for a boy in this Division was 112 for Jake Barrett (h/c 21) from Federal Golf Club, who finished 5th.

The results from this event, together with results from other recent competitions around the District, will assist the ACT’s JPO Jim Jackson to select the new ACT Junior Golf Training Squad.  The results also will be used by the coordinator of the ACT’s Secondary Schools Golf Program (Steve Walding, Yowani), to select his team of 6 to represent the ACT at the 2010 Secondary Schools Championships in Port Macquarie in August. 

The DGA sincerely thanks the three golf clubs for access to their courses and for assistance in running the events on the respective days.  Jim also thanks Gary Jones (JDO) for his assistance in running the event.

Below are the results for the ACT DGA Junior Week of Golf July 2010:

Day 1 Results | Division 1 Gross results | Division 1 Nett results | Division 2 stablford points results

Day 2 Results | Division 1 Gross results | Division 1 Nett results | Division 2 stablford points results

Day 3 Results | Division 1 Gross results | Division 1 Nett results | Division 2 stablford points results

Total 54 hole Results | Division 1 Gross results | Division 1 Nett results | Division 2 stablford points results

ACT JUNIORS IN TASMANIA APRIL 2010

Australian Boys’ Amateur Championship.
All team members of State/Territory sides are automatically entered into this event.  It was played between 14th and 16th April on the picturesque, par-72, Launceston Golf Club.  Despite warm, sunny and calm playing conditions the six ACT juniors struggled with the tree-lined fairways and fast tricky greens.  Only Jordan Ayre (a 2 to 3 handicapper from RCGC) qualified for the four rounds of the championship; the other 5 missed the cut after two rounds.  Jordan shot four steady rounds of 77, 78, 77 and 75 to finish in 45th   place on   307 shots (19 over par).  The winner was 14-year-old Anthony Murdaca from South Australia who finished 8 under the card with a total of 280.  NSW’s Jake Higginbottom (6 under) and Queensland’s Maverick Antcliff (2 under), were the only other players under par so took the minor placings.  A total of 69 boys played the four rounds after a cut was made at a score of 156.

Australian Boys’ Interstate Team matches.
The Interstate Series followed the stroke-play event on the same course and the weather continued to be unseasonably warm and pleasant.  The ACT team put in a much better performance than in last year’s event at Alice Springs  and lifted it’s placing from last in 2009 to 6th this year, with strong wins against NT and SA and a draw with WA. The team could well have finished a little higher as it was very unlucky to loose the match against Victoria on the penultimate day.  The second, third and fourth ACT players were all looking like potential winners with three holes to go, but all faded and the result finished in Victoria’s favour.  
Individual player results from the seven rounds are shown in the following table:

The undoubted star for the ACT was 11-year old RCGC junior Ryan Ruffels.  He upstaged several older and more experienced players with his accurate driving and excellent short game. He won 4 and squared 1 of the 7 games he played.  

As he turns 18 before next year’s event, Conner Deck will drop out of the current team. This will leave ACT with a more experienced side for next year, and there are several Development Squad players pushing for spots in the team.  

Results for all of the State Sides and Final Standings are shown in the following tables:

Junior and Colts Classic, RMC, 15th January 2010

Forty golfers (36 boys and 4 girls) competed in the 2010 Junior and Colts Classic at RMC on Friday morning 15th January, under ideal golfing conditions – warm and sunny with little wind and receptive greens. The field was split into two equal-sized divisions playing mainly for honor and prestige, but also for lots of gift vouchers from Pete’s Golf Connection.

View the Results as a PDF. Division 1 gross results. Division 2 Stableford results.

Division I was a stroke competition for players with handicaps less than 12.  The gross competition in Division I was won decisively by ACT’s number 1 junior, Kacper Gancarz (Yowani Country Club), with a score of 67 (one under the card).  According to his playing partners, Kacper’s short game and putting were hot.  Leading Colt was Cameron Haines (Federal), who finished in second place with score of 71, closely followed by Nathan Willett (Gun Lakes) on a count-back from Joshua Armstrong (Gold Ck), both with scores of 72.  Three players, all on scores of 64 strokes, shared the prizes in the nett competition.  Count-backs were needed to decide the final order — 1st  Sean Crilley (hc 9),  from Gun Lakes, 2nd Tayce Cheshire (hc 7) from Cootamundra, with Dylan Wallace (hc 10) from Yowani in 3rd place.    

Twenty golfers with handicaps of more than 13 fought out the honors in Division II, playing a Stableford competition.  Sweet-swinging, Fairbairn’s 10year old Chloe Thornton took out the 1st prize with an impressive score of 43 points.  Then prizes for 2nd to 5th place were decided by count-backs as all players were on 40 points – Joshua Cohen (Moss Vale), Jaryd Larter (Gungahlin Lakes), Theo Theodosiou (Royal), Hope Cohen (Moss Vale) and Mitch Perry (Gungahlin Lakes).  Mitch could probably consider himself a bit unlucky as he scored an impressive 24 points on the front nine, but the 16 points he then scored on the back 9 was never going to be too good in the count-back. 

Two Titleist Pro V golf balls were awarded for NTP’s to each of the players that hit good shots into the six Par 3’s at RMC—2nd Tayce Cheshire;  5th Scott Pigram;   7th Jaryd Larter;   11th Dylan Wallace;   14th Nathan Willet and 16th Madeleine Hunter.   

This event was a JNJGF Age Qualifying Points Event, and the results from Division I should assist ACT Junior Golf Management in selecting the team for the up-coming Australian Junior Championships in Launceston in April 2010.

M J Jackson, ACT-Monaro JPO, and Event Organizer.

Photos at RMC (click on photo to view larger photo)

Exciting Challenge for Encourage Junior Pennant Players

The Jack Newton Junior Golf Foundation (JNJGF) have instigated an annual event for junior golfers in NSW that play in DGA Encourage Junior Pennant Competitions.  The first event will take place in late January 2010 at the Newcastle Golf Club. The winning Encourage Junior Pennant Teams from the ACT-Monaro and Central Coast DGA’s have been invited to challenge the top two Encourage Junior Teams from the Sydney Metropolitan Pennant Competition.  The inaugural event will be held on Monday 18th and Tuesday 19th January 2010 on the same venue and at the same time as the Junior State of Origin Challenge between NSW and Queensland (the Newcastle Golf Club).  Therefore, the lucky Encourage Junior Team members will have a chance to observe the best juniors representing NSW and Queensland that will be playing in the State of Origin challenge.

The JNJGF will be covering most of the costs associated with this Encourage Junior Challenge.

As winners of the ACT-Monaro DGA 2009 Encourage Junior Pennant Competition the Gungahlin Lakes Golf Club will be representing the ACT-Monaro DGA in this event.

I wish the team the best of luck and from personal experience I can advise them that Newcastle Golf Club is a great golf course and a fair challenge of golfing ability.

With this as an added inducement I trust ACT Monaro DGA Golf Clubs will encourage their younger golfers to commit to the 2010 DGA Pennant match play competition.

Jim Jackson, ACT-Monaro DGA, Junior Promotions Officer.    

2010 Program for ACT-Monaro Junior Weeks of Golf

JULY Junior Week of Golf
Mon 5th July -- Royal Canberra Golf Club
Tues 6th July -- Gungahlin Lakes Golf Club
Thurs 8th July -- Federal Golf Club

OCTOBER Junior week of Golf
Wed 29th Sept -- Capital Golf Club
Thurs 30th sept -- Murrumbidgee Country Club
Fri 1st Oct -- Queanbeyan Golf Club

ACT-Monaro Junior Week of Golf October 2009

Photos at Yass (click on photo to view larger photo)
Phil Ferreira (Gold Creek) unleashes a big drive down the 17th hole at Yass	New boy to the DGA Ryan Ruffels (RCGC) splits the fairway on the 14th hole at Yass	Madelaine Hunter (Fairbairn), Hope Cohen (Moss Vale) and Chloe Thornton (Fairbairn) adjusting swings for the steep downhill tee shot on the 15th hole at Yass.

Despite some rather inclement weather 40 keen junior golfers, from the ACT and surrounding districts, took part in the ACT-Monaro DGA’s October Junior ‘Week’ of Golf which was held at Capital, Queanbeyan and Yass Golf Clubs.  For the first time this event was part of the JNJGF Age Qualifying Series, and attracted players from Dunheved, Pennant Hills and Young.   In addition to these handicapped club golfers, 12 aspiring cadet (non-handicapped) golfers played a nine hole competition each day after the main field had hit off.

The main field was split into two equally sized divisions – a lower handicapped group (h/c under 16) who played a Stroke Competition and a higher handicapped division (h/c 16+) who played a Stableford Competition.

Results | Results for Day 1 | Results for Day 2 | Results for Day 3

Division 1 Kacper Gancarz (hc 3) from Yowani proved he is currently the best Junior in the ACT-Monaro District with 3 consistent gross rounds of 77, 74 and 74 to record a total of 225 and take out the Butch Brown Memorial Trophy from Conner Deck from MCC (11 shots further back). Queanbeyan junior Ben Wilkie and Gold Creek’s Phil Ferreira tied for third place on a score of 248 strokes.  Division 1 also included a Nett Competition, which was more closely contested than the Gross Event.  The first two places were only separated by 1 stoke - Kacper’s younger brother Jakub Gancarz (hc12) won this event with a 3-round score of 216 (71, 77, 68) closely followed by Sean Crilley (Gun Lakes, 14) on 217; Nick Fitzpatrick (Young, 11) finished third on 220.

Division 2 As is usually the case this event was dominated by junior golfers with high handicaps, in this case by those from Leigh Hunter’s stable at Fairbairn Golf Club.  Chloe Thornton (hc 35) was a clear winner with rounds of 37, 37 and 47 for a total of 121 points.  Madelaine Hunter, (hc 27) finished second with 117 points (36, 35, 46), while Joshua Hunter finished fourth on 109 points.  Jake Barrett from Federal spoilt the Fairbairn Trifecta by securing third place with 112 points.           

The results from this event, together with results from other recent competitions around the District, will assist ACT Junior Golf JPO and Manager Jim Jackson to selected new State and Development Training Squads.  The DGA sincerely thanks the three golf clubs for access to their courses and for assistance in running the events on the respective days.

2009 Fairbairn Junior Jack Classic

The inaugural Fairbairn Junior Jack Classic saw twenty eight juniors ranging from age 6 to 14 tee off on
Friday the 2nd of October 2009. For the majority of the juniors, it was with culmination of the ACT
School Holiday Program which is generously hosted by the Fairbairn Golf Club. The event attracted
juniors from as far a field as Parramatta, Ashlar, Catalina, and Moss Vale Golf Clubs. ACT/Monaro DGA
was represented by juniors from Fairbairn, Yowani, Federal, Tully Park and Royal Canberra Golf Clubs.
Fairbairn Golf Club juniors made up the majority of the field, which is a product of a club that is
proactively encouraging junior membership. A by product of the ACT School Holiday Program resulted
in new junior memberships for Fairbairn and some current junior members progressing towards
attaining their GA Handicaps.

The players and parents were greeted by a cool overcast day but luckily no rain. First to tee off were the
juniors with GA Handicaps ranging from 6 to 31 which saw some good results for the 18 holes. The Girls
GA Division (Gross) had Madeleine Hunter from Fairbairn in the lead on 96 with Grace Hallinan from
Yowani as the runner up on 100. Nett Girls GA Division had Chloe Thornton (65) from Fairbairn in first
place with Hope Cohen (80) from Moss Vale/Fairbairn as runner up. Only a small field contested the
Girls GA Division. In the near future they may face some more competition as other junior girls attain
their GA Handicaps.

A larger field of junior boys contested the Boys GA Division which had Ryan Ruffles (71) from Royal
Canberra as the winner by one shot over Ryan Herbert (72) from Yowani. Nikola Kajtez (62) from
Fairbairn took out the Nett Boys GA Division from Jake Barrett (63) from Federal. All competitors and
winners of the GA Handicap Division are to be congratulated for their sportsmanship and behaviour on
the day. Parents support is also an important part of junior development and they also are to be
congratulated.

It was most pleasing to see the fifteen juniors make up the field for the 9 Hole Cadets Division. Half
the field were competing in their first event. As the Junior Jack Classic was the culmination of the School
Holiday Program, the number of juniors participating in their first event was a great result. Justine
Thornton from Fairbairn headed Zoe Trungrove of Yowani with scores of 32 and 35 nett. In the near
future the Fairbairn Lady Members could see Justine out on the course as she is progressing towards her
GA Handicap.

Lastly, in the 9 Hole Cadets Division, we had a close result with Christopher Ting from Fairbairn (32 Nett)
just ahead of Kent Kai (38 Nett) from Fairbairn. Overall the 2009 Fairbairn Junior Jack Classic was an
outstanding success which saw a number of juniors competing in their first Junior Jack Classic as well as
some of the juniors who should be moving up to the GA Divisions. To Bob Lightburn and all the
members of the Fairbairn Golf Club, thanks again for your hospitality and for allowing the juniors access
to the course.

JUNIOR WEEK OF GOLF—July 2009

Results:
Day 1 Division 1 | Division 2
Day 2 Division 1 | Division 2
Day 3 Division 1 | Division 2
Overall results

REPORT ON JULY 2009 JUNIOR WEEK OF GOLF
The largest field for years, more than 60 players, competed in the DGA’s Junior ‘Week’ of Golf last week.  Although dominated by Canberra junior golfers the field also included players from Goulburn, Braidwood, Yass and Wagga Wagga. They were blessed with good, but chilly, conditions at Royal, Murrumbidgee and Belconnen Golf Courses.  In addition to these handicapped club juniors, 20 cadet golfers — enthusiastic younger golfers without official GA handicaps — played a 9 hole competition on the Tuesday and Wednesday after the main field had hit off. 

The main competition was played in two divisions — a Stroke Competition in Division 1, for juniors with handicaps below 16 and a Stableford Competition in Division 2 for juniors with handicaps between 18 and 45. Current ACT representative player Conner Deck (MCC) recorded the number 1 junior placing in Division 1 (Gross) and was awarded the Butch Brown Memorial Trophy by winning two of the three rounds and achieving a cumulative score of  230 stokes (rounds of 81, 76, 73).  Not surprisingly, another representative player — Kacper Gancarz (Yowani) — came a close second with a total score of 233 (rounds of 81, 77, 75), whilst Patrick Smith (Tully Park) finished 3rd on 237 (rounds of 81, 81, 75). In addition to the Gross Competition, individual day prizes and an overall 54-hole prize were also awarded for the best three nett scores in Division 1.  The winners were James Day (Yowani, h/c 14) on 213, Taylor Breen (Queanbeyan, h/c 16) on 215 and Jacob Gancarz (Yowani, h/c 13 ) on 216. 

The Stableford Competition was also keenly contested and results were in doubt until the score cards from the last group in on Wednesday were submitted.  The top three players were only separated by 1 point – the final result had to be determined on a count back. The results were dominated by higher handicappers so the respective club handicappers will have some adjustments to make when they receive the results. Jake Barrett (Federal) playing off a handicap of 34, scored rounds of 30, 44 and 46 points for a total of 120; Joshua Hunter (Fairbarn, h/c 36) had rounds of 34, 41 and 45 for the same total number of points, and Lachlan Wall (Queanbeyan, h/c 24)faded a little on the final day with a 35 after opening rounds of 42 and 42 to score a total of 119.  

The Cadets’ Competition was no less keenly fought out, using a novel unofficial handicapping system devised by Leigh Hunter, the District’s Jack Newton JGF Junior Development Officer.  Eleanor Bance (Gungahlin Lakes) won the Day Comp at   Murrumbidgee from Liyi Cross and Amber Thornton and then on the Wednesday Rosie Whitten, Christopher Lennon and Harry Evans took the honours at Belconnen. This is the first time that a Cadet Competition has been run in conjunction with the Junior Week of Golf.  Based on the noise generated and enthusiasm shown by the cadets at the major prize giving on Wednesday at Belconnen this is likely to become a permanent fixture. 

My thanks to the members of three golf clubs concerned for allowing the juniors to use their courses and to Leigh Hunter for his unfailing enthusiasm in marshalling and organizing the cadets. 

Jim Jackson, ACT-Monaro JPO.

(from left to right) Don "Caddie" Douglas, Brad Luff, Tom Mason, Jack Bush & Jai Smith (Click on image to view larger image).

MIXED RESULTS FOR ACT JUNIOR GOLFERS IN ALICE SPRINGS

ACT Junior golfers produced mixed results at the recent championships at the Alice Springs Golf Course (April 6th to 16th).  The ACT had three boys playing in all four rounds of the 2009 Australian Boys’ Amateur Championship; previously the best that ACT has ever had was two qualify for all four rounds.  Young Kacper Gancarz (Yowani) was the star for ACT with four consistent rounds of 77, 74, 75 and 74 for a total of 300 and equal 29th place.  ACT Team Captain Mark Buick (Royal Canberra) had three excellent rounds of 76, 74 and 72, and was looking at a top10 placing, but faltered at the last hurdle with a disappointing 82 in the final round, for a total of 304 and equal 42nd place.  Chris Dunstone (Gungahlin Lakes) played his best golf on the first day when the conditions were hardest, as it was quite windy, for an impressive round of 74, but then he faded with rounds of 80, 81 and 81 for a total of 316 and 63rd place.  For comparison, the overall winner was Do Eun An from Queensland who shot rounds of 73, 69, 71 and 71 for an overall total of 284 (4 under par).

In contrast, our performances in the Interstate Series (Match Play) fell well below expectations.  After fourth and fifth placing in 2007 and 2008 respectively, I had similarly high expectations for this year.  Sadly, we finished last. ACT squared their first contest against the NT (2.5 matches each), but lost the subsequent six contests.  The result against Tasmania was close (2-3 loss) but in most of the other contests we were out-played by stronger match-play opponents.

Photos at Alice Springs (click on photo to view larger photo)
ACT Team on the 8th Tee at Alice Springs Golf Club prior to match againgst Victoria L to R: Jim Jackson (Manager), Mark Buick, Cameron Haines, Chris Dunstone, Kacper Gancarz, Nathan Willet, Leigh Hunter (Coach); Conner Deck missing.	Kacper Gancarz hitting woods on practice fairway, Alice Springs Golf Club	Canner Deck hitting woods on practice fairway, Alice Springs Golf Club	Mark Buick driving from 10th tee at Alice Springs Gold Club

Individual results:

Competition Group Results:

The individual highlight of the series for ACT was undoubtedly Nathan Willett’s 2 up win against Cameron Smith in the number 1 position in the match against Queensland.  Cameron Smith is one of Australia’s top seeded juniors.  In fact, near the end of this contest ACT were poised to win at numbers 2 and 3, which would have been a real upset. Sadly, Cameron Haines and Mark Buick faded and both lost on the final hole 1 down.

As can be seen from the table above Mark Buick put in a strong performance for the whole series and won 3 of the 7 matches that he played in.
At present, with the age cut-off at 18 years, only Kacper and Conner will be eligible for the 2010 event which is to be held in Launceston, Tasmania – so rebuilding of elite junior stocks in the ACT is in order.   However, NSW Golf has proposed to Golf Australia that the cut-off age for juniors should be lifted to 19 years.

ACT 2009 JUNIOR TEAM FOR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

The following players have been selected for the 2009 ACT Junior Golf Team that will contest the annual Interstate Junior Golf Series at the Alice Springs Golf Club in early April -- Mark Buick (Royal Canberra Golf Club), Conner Deck (Murrumbidgee Country Club), Chris Dunstone (Gungahlin Lakes Golf Club), Kacper Gancarz (Yowani Country Club), Cameron Haines (Federal Golf Club) and Nathan Willett (Gungahlin Lakes Golf Club).  Three of the team (Mark, Kacper and Cameron) are backing up from last year at the Peninsula Golf Club in Victoria,  where ACT finished fifth. Although on paper this team is not quite as strong as last year, the Manager, Jim Jackson, feels ACT should again be competitive. Leigh Hunter, the new ACT Team coach, expects a tight game against the NT team, on the first day of the Interstate Series (Sunday 12th April),  as they are now coached by ACT’s former Senior Coach Stephen Tieck. 

As members of the ACT team all of the players are also automatically entered into the 2009 Australian Junior Golf Championships which are also being played on this highly-ranked desert course in Central Australia. Jim expects two or three of the team to qualify for the four rounds of the championship.

The team and management fly out on Monday 6th April and return on Thursday 16th April.

Results of the 2009 ACT-MONARO DGA JUNIOR & COLTS CLASSIC

GOULBURN, Friday 16th January 2009

Chris Dunstone (Gold Creek Golf Club) staked a big claim for a spot in the ACT Junior Team to play in the 2009 Interstate Series in Alice Springs in April with an impressive golfing performance at Goulburn on Friday 16th January.  Chris recorded an impressive gross score of 72 (1 over par) to easily take out first place in Division 1.  His nearest rivals were Mark Holt (Yass Golf Club) with a gross score of 79 and three players on 80 – Kacper Gancarz (Yowani), Nathan Willet (Gungahlin Lakes) and Patrick Smith (Goulburn).  Chris’s score could easily have been much better as he finished with a double-bogie on the 17th and bogie on the 18th holes.  Young Josh Armstrong from Gold Creek Country Club, who was playing off a 17 handicap, took out the Division 2 Stableford Competition with an equally impressive 42 points; this score included 8 pars and 1 birdie.  This, together with a fantastic round on Sunday in the Yowani Junior Open, suggests Josh is likely to get down to a single figure handicap in the very near future.  Josh beat local 17 handicapper, Jamie Marshall, (41 points) and Gungahlin Lakes’ Scott Ritchie (15 h/c) with 40 points. The only girl in the field, Goulburn’s  Jodie Marshall came a credible 4th  on 38 points.  A total of 29 played in the competition in slightly windy, but sunny, conditions.

Junior Week of Golf—October 2008

Although the field was smaller than normal (around 30 players compared to the normal 45) the competition was still intense for the various prizes on offer.  Three days of glorious weather at three courses in good condition saw some impressive scoring on all days; in two separate handicap divisions (Div h/c 4 to 17; Div 2 h/c 18 to 34).

Day 1 at RMC. 
Local aussie star Peter Schroder (Gun Lakes) took out Division 1 honours with a score of 40 points, two ahead of his closest rival Phillip Ferreira from Gold Creek.  Division 2 was also closely contested with one point again separating first and second places - James Day (Yowani) on 41 points just pipping Miles Sweeney from Royal Canberra on 40 points.  Both winners also collected NTP prizes – Schroder on the 2nd hole and Day on the 11th.  RMC Club President Cyril Mitchell proved a popular person with his great sausage sandwiches at the halfway point.

Day 2 at Murrumbidgee.
Thursday was another beautiful day and the course was in good condition ready for the up-coming club championships.  Although preferred lies were available most players commented that they were seldom necessary.  Division 1 was taken by one of the Tully Park juniors, Patrick Smith, with a score of 39 points, who played in the last group of the day.  As this event was run in conjunction with the MCC Junior Open, Patrick also took the MCC Junior Open crown.  The only girl in the competition Alisia Garcia from Queanbeyan played a strong round to record 38 points, closely followed by MCC low marker Conner Deck and Queanbeyan’s Michael Elliot on 37 points.  Royal Canberra Juniors Miles Sweeney (25 h/c) and Akira Kinefuchi (27 h/c) took the honours in Division 2 with 42 and 41 points respectively.

Day 3 at Goulburn.
Warm and calm conditions together with preferred lies again saw some low scoring at Goulburn Golf Club.  Local junior Patrick Smith (Tully Park, h/c 11) blitzed the Division 1 field with 43 points.  Dylan Wallace (Yowani) came second, after a count back, with 41 points, which was greatly aided by an eagle 3 (for 4 Stableford points) on the par 5 2nd hole.  Lewis Schenk (Federals only junior playing) came third also on 41 points. Division 2 was also dominated by a Goulburn resident -- Tully Park’s Ryan Mortimer -- with 45 points, in front of Charlie Cameron on 43 points and Theo Theodosiou on 40 points (both from Royal Canberra).  There were many compliments about the size and quality of the lunch from the Club Restaurant.  Following the presentation of prizes for the day competition and 54-hole competition the players enjoyed a leisurely coach trip back to Canberra.

Three-day overall results         
Like the day competitions, the results of this were also very close.  Little known Queanbeyan 15-year old Junior Michael Elliot took out the first prize (and the Butch Brown Memorial Trophy) with a total score of 109 points (scores of 37, 37 and 35).  Patrick Smith was second on 108 points and Alisia Garcia beat two others (Lewis Schenk and Phillip Ferreira), all on 107 points for third place, on a count-back.

Division 2 (with a wider range of handicaps) was not as close.  Miles Sweeney (h/c 23) from Royal Canberra had a comfortable win on 116 points (scores of 40, 42, and 34) from fast improving Josh Armstrong from Gold Creek and James Day (Yowani).  
The full 3-day results are shown in the table below

Based partially on these performances, several juniors have played themselves into new State and District Coaching Squads; letters of invite will be sent out by the Manager of these Squads, Jim Jackson in late October.

Some of the photographs taken by Jim Jackson during the round at Goulburn are attached.

Most of the group of juniors that played in day 3 of the 2008 Oct Junior Week of Golf near the first tee at Goulburn Golf Club.	A selection of the Goulburn day comp and 54-hole comp winners L to R—Michael Elliot (Quean), Patrick Smith (TP), Josh Armstrong (kneeling, GC), Ryan Mortimer (TP), Dylan Wallce (Yow),  James Day (Yow)	Michael Elliot (Queanbeyan Golf Club)—overall 54 hole Competition Winner

Up-coming events around the District of possible interest to juniors include the
• Brett Ogle Junior Masters at Goulburn (25th 26th Oct), 
• Fairbarn Open (15th 16th November)
• RMC Open (23rd November).
Approach the respective clubs directly for entry details

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ACT Monaro Juniors do well at Cessnock

Three of the better, low handicap juniors, from the ACT-Monaro District went up to Cessnock last week to play in the Jack Newton International Junior Golf Classic at the Oaks Golf Club.  This is a prestigious State Event run in age divisions and usually attracts in the order of 180 juniors. All 3 played good golf, they all finished within the top 10 of their respective Divisions and they all finished within 1 shot of each other. 

Luke Humphries (Goulburn and Pymble, h/c 1) played in the 17 year-old age Division, which had a total of 34 players, off handicaps between 0 and 5.  Luke managed =9th place in the Gross Competition with rounds of 75, 69, 79 and 72, for a total of 295. Luke was a little disappointed with this result, but that disappointment must have been offset by his win in the NSW Junior Championship the week before.

Mark Buick (Royal Canberra, h/c 2) competed in the 16 year-old Division which had a total of 45 boys playing off handicaps between 0 and 6.  Mark secured =8th place with rounds of 76,74,72,73, also for a total 295. 

Kacper Gancarz (Yowani, h/c 4) played in the 14 year-old Division against 30 other boys off handicaps between 3 and 12. Kacper recorded our best result with an equal 4th place in the Gross Competition with rounds of 76, 73, 71,76 (total 296). 
Kacper’s younger brother Jacub also played in the event in the 12-year old category off a handicap of 18.  He recorded a credible 11th place in the Nett Competition.

Unfortunately, ACT-Monaro did not have any representatives playing in the equivalent girls’ competition.

Brett Drewitt and Jessica Noh were crowned the 2008 Jack Newton International Junior Classic Champions. Brett Drewitt from the Long Reef Golf Club held off the fast finishing Jordan Zunic to claim the boys’ title. Brett finished the tournament at 8 under par after carding a final round 70.    Jessica Noh from the Ryde Parramatta Golf Club held on the take the Girls division for the second consecutive year. Jessica finished the tournament at 5 under par three clear of her nearest rival, Whitney Hillier from the Joondalup Golf Course in Western Australia.

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Luke Humphries Captain of NSW Boy's Team

Luke Humphries (Goulburn GC and Pymble h/c +1)
In January Luke was selected as the Captain of the NSW Boy's Team and justified his selection by recording great performances in stroke play and match play events in Victoria in April.  He finished 10th in the Australian Boys Amateur at Spring Valley Golf Club with rounds of 73, 77, 74, 72.  He was also the best NSW player in the Boys' Interstate Series (at Peninsula Golf Club) where he won 5 out of his 6 matches.  In addition, Luke has had a fantastic season in Sydney's Major Metropolitan Pennants Competition where his team, Pymble, made the final and he was undefeated for the season.

NSW Junior Champion 2008
Luke Humphies from Goulburn exceeded all of his previous achievements to take out the NSW Junior Championship at Wakehurst Golf Club in the last week of September 2008.  Previous winner of this prestigious event include Brett Ogle and Steve Elkington.  Luke shot rounds of 74, 72, 71 and 76 for a 4 round score of 293.  Luke won with a comfortable lead of 4 shots over his nearest rival David Randall and Daniel Yu (on 297).  Luke is currently playing in his home club (Pymble) championships and is contesting the semi-final this w/e (25th/26th Oct). Due to his junior title win Luke gains entry into the NSW Open in November.  The District wishes him well in this event.

Junior Week of Golf 2008

Results for Junior Week of Golf—Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | 54 hole Results

Junior Golf Week—Photographs (click on pictures for larger versions)

Winner of Division 1 (54-hole competition) Ben Hogan (Belconnen Golf Club) for the second year running.	Five tired but happy golfers from the Goulburn.	Thirty of the 36 players after presentation on final day at Belconnen Magpies Golf Club.

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Current ACT-Monaro Junior Golf Stars

There have been several of recent events at which ACT-Monaro Junior Golfers have recorded excellent performances -- these players are hereby nominated by ACT-Monaro DGA Junior Promotions Officer, Jim Jackson, as current junior "GOLF STARS".

Kacper Gancarz (Yowani CC, h/c ~3)
Although still only 14 years old, Kacper is stamping his name on junior trophies around the district.  He won the Gold Creek Junior Classic on 27th April with a 2 under score of 70 and followed that up, a week later, with a 75 at the 30th Annual Queanbeyan City Golf Championships to win the Junior Boys Gross Division.  Another good round of 73 (1 over par) in the Gungahlin Lakes Junior Classic (Sunday 25th May) gained him runner-up place, just one shot behind the winner, Mark Buick (Royal Canberra).  Kacper is largely a self-taught golfer who has not had the benefit of much professional golf coaching so watch out once he starts regular coaching in the State Squad in the near future. 

Luke Humphries (Goulburn GC and Mona Vale GC h/c ~1)
In January Luke was selected as the Captain of the NSW Boy's Team and justified his selection by recording great performances in stroke play and match play events in Victoria in April.  He finished 10th in the Australian Boys Amateur at Spring Valley Golf Club with rounds of 73, 77, 74, 72.  He was also the best NSW player in the Boys' Interstate Series (at Peninsula Golf Club) where he won 5 out of his 6 matches.  In addition, Luke has had a fantastic season in Sydney's Major Metropolitan Pennants Competition where his team, Mona Vale, made the final and he was undefeated for the season. 

Jackson Stuckey (Royal Canberra GC, Mona Vale GC, h/c ~1)
Jackson recorded a magnificent score of 4 under par for the four rounds of the major amateur event, the Keperra Bowl, in Queensland in early May.  He recorded rounds of 73, 68, 72, and 71 and finished in equal 17th place.  He was the best placed and youngest of the five ACT players that entered.   Six weeks earlier Jackson had finished  = 24th in the Australian Boys Amateur Championships at Spring Valley Golf Club in Victoria with scores of 79, 76, 73 and 76; Jackson and Luke were the only ACT-Monaro juniors to play in the full four rounds of this prestigious event.   Locally, Jackson also finished runner up in the Gold Creek Junior Classic that was played on Sunday 27th April with a par round score of 72.   Unfortunately for ACT Junior Golf Jackson turns 18 in June, but obviously the DGA Colts Squad will gain a strong player.

ACT Junior Golf Team ‘Giant Killers’ again in the interstate series at Peninsula Country Golf Club—April 2008

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ACT 2008 Junior team for National Championships

The following players comprise the 2008 ACT Junior Golf Team that will contest the annual Interstate Junior Golf Series at The Peninsula Country Golf Club (Victoria) in early April --  Steven Boden (Gungahlin Lakes), Mark Buick (RCGC), Kacper Gancarz (Yowani), Cameron Haines (Federal), Will Hogan (Gungahlin Lakes) Captain, and Jackson Stuckey (RCGC).  Three of the team (Cameron, Will and Jackson) are backing up from last year where ACT finished fourth, its best ever performance.  With all players holding handicaps of 3 or less, the ACT is fielding a strong team that the Manager, Jim Jackson, feels will again be competitive. As members of the ACT team all of the players are also automatically entered into the 2008 Australian Junior Golf Championships which are being staged at Spring Valley Golf Club (close to Frankston) during the week before the Interstate Series.  Both Jackson Stuckey and Cameron Haines, who qualified for the full 4 rounds last year, are hoping to improve on last years placings; Jackson eventually finishing in 16th place.  Stephen Tieck (Golf Professional at Federal Golf Club) is currently running weekly coaching sessions with the boys, concentrating on their short games and putting.  Both Stephen and Jim believe that ACT players can punch above their weight again this year.  In addition to major financial support from the ACT-Monaro DGA, the team is benefiting from significant support from sponsors – Sporte-Leisure, Wilson Sporting Goods and Titleist.  The team and management fly out on Easter Monday (24th March) and return on Thursday 3rd April.

ACT JUNIOR GOLF TEAM:  (L to R)   Cameron Haines, Mark Buick, Will Hogan, Kacper Gancarz, Steve Boden, Jackson Stuckey

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2008 JUNIOR DISTRICT PROGRAM

View program (52kb.pdf)

RECENT RESULTS

ACT MONARO JUNIOR—COLTS CLASSIC—Gungahlin Lakes Friday 18TH JAN 2008

Final results (44kb.pdf)

ACT ‘STATE’ SQUAD

Based on a review of performance at previous training sessions and recent golf events, the following eight boys have been selected for the ACT ‘State’ Training Squad:

Steve BODEN (Gungahlin Lakes), Mark BUICK (Royal Canberra), Lucas D’AMBROSIO (Royal Canberra), Kacper GANCARZ (Yowani), Cameron HAINES (Capital), Will HOGAN (Gungahlin Lakes), Jack LEA (Federal) and Jackson STUCKEY (Royal Canberra).

Group coaching sessions will be held at Federal Golf Club between 8.30 and 9.30am on Saturday 10th November and Saturday 24th November and between 8.30 and 10.00am on Saturday 8th December 2007.

ACT DEVELOPMENT SQUAD

Based on a review of performance at previous training sessions and recent golf events, the following 8 boys have been selected for the ACT Development Training Squad:

Daniel BUSH (Yass), Connor DECK (MCC), Chris DUNSTONE (Gold Creek), Phil FERREIRA (Gold Creek), Ben HOGAN (Magpies), Nathan REES (Gold Creek), Haydn TURNER (Gungahlin Lakes), and Ben WILKIE (Queanbeyan).

Group coaching sessions will be held at Gungahlin Lakes Golf Club between 2.00pm and 4.00pm on the third Saturday of each month (the next three sessions are, therefore, 17th November 2007, 15th December 2007 and 19th January 2008).

In addition to these group sessions members of the squads are eligible for one private half hour session per month with the respective Squad Coach (or an alternative approved by Jim Jackson).  The costs of these individual lessons will be covered by the DGA, but individuals are responsible for booking lessons. 

R.C.G.C Junior Open 2007

Final results (2 page 60kb.pdf)

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JUNIOR WEEK OF GOLF—3rd, 4th, 5th OCTOBER 2007

WEDNESDAY  3RD TULLY PARK GOLF CLUB (tee off 10.00 - 11.30)
THURSDAY 4TH YASS GOLF CLUB (10.00 – 11.30)
FRIDAY 5TH GOULBURN GOLF CLUB (10.00 - 11.30)

Final results (44kb.pdf)

Newsletters

• New Junior Squads (12kb pdf)
• May 2007 Newsletter (72kb pdf)

Photographs

Junior Golf Week 4th-6th October 2006—Photographs (click on pictures for larger versions)

Top 3 in 54 Hole GROSS competition L-R: Michael Doherty (MCC) 2nd; Will Hogan (Gun Lakes) 1st; Nick George (Gold Ck) 3rd	Top 3 in 54 hole nett competition -- L-R: Peter Schroder (Gun Lakes) 2nd place; Micah Hobbs (Tully Park) 1st; Sam Oliver (Gun Lakes).	Most of the players in the JWG event at Gungahlin Lakes after final presentation.

Junior Tournaments

• Junior Golf Week 9-11th July 2007 Results (20kb pdf)

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