Inside Golf, Australia. June 2014 | Page 32

juniors Illawarra to Host 2014 Subaru NSW Junior Golf Championships T hree hundred eager junior golfers will converge on the Illawarra region at the beginning of July 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 sees some of the best juniors from across the country battle it out for the title of the NSW Junior Boy or Girl Champion. Games he will be one to watch. Joining Travis will be fellow IAS junior Jack Kessell. Jack has been working hard on his game and was named the IAS Golf Athlete of the year last season. He is a member of Port Kembla Golf Club and his local knowledge of the courses will be advantageous during the event. The Championship has a predicted field of close to 300 juniors including the some of the best players from Queensland, Victoria and South Australia. There are also a few International players making the journey to the Illawarra for the event. This year the Wollongong Golf Club and The Links Shell Cove will host the four-day event. It will take place from the 1st-4th July. The format of play for the first two days will see the competitors playing one round at each course. A cut will then be made after 36 holes with the top half going on to contest the Championship Cup playing their final two rounds at Wollongong, while those who miss the cut will playoff for the Championship Plate at The Links Shell Cove. Up for grabs at this event are not only the overall State Championships but also Age Championships, Country Junior Championships and the Inter-District Teams Championship. The juniors from the Illawarra will be hoping to capture some of these titles for the host region. With both the State Boys and Girls Championships won by Queenslanders in 2013 NSW is hoping to take back the silverware at this year’s event. Local favourites from the Illawarra include Stefanie Hall and Danielle Vasquez for the girls and Travis Fay and Jack Kessell for the boys. 32 June 2014 | www.insidegolf.com.au 2013 NSW Boys and Girls Champions Jack Sullivan and Amy Walsh Stefanie plays for St Michaels Golf Club in Sydney but lives at Shell Harbour. She is in the NSW Girls Development Squad and the Illawarra Academy of Sport (IAS). Earlier this year she travelled with JNJG to the Curro South African Juniors International north of Cape Town. Stef plays off a handicap of 2 and will be doing her best to secure a win for the host region. Another IAS member to watch for is Danielle Vasquez. She is a member at Port Kembla playing off a handicap of 7. She is an upcoming talent and definitely one to watch in the future. Travis Fay from Russell Vale Golf Club is also a member of the IAS and after his recent performance in the Regional Academy An added initiative for this year is the inclusion of a Junior AM. This 18-hole Ambrose event will see three amateur golfers partnered with one elite junior player. The Junior AM will take place on Monday 30th June at The Grange Golf Club. It was developed as a way to give back to the host region with all funds raised from the day going towards junior golf in the Illawarra District. Jack Newton himself will be taking part in the event and there is an opportunity for two lucky players to have a game with Jack. There are also a number of Corporate Partnership opportunities available to support these events and junior golf in the area. If you are interested in entering a team into the Junior AM, or would like more information about the State Championships please contact Jack Newton Junior Golf 02 9567 7736 or www.jnjg.com.au •