Starkey finishes 12th in NSW Junior Amateur

Report by Will Starkey

Bright and early at 5am on Monday morning, following pennant the day before, I was at the airport, travelling to another part of the country for another tournament, the NSW Junior Amateur Championship. The first and second rounds were played at Wollongong Golf Club and The Links Shell Cove, followed by a cut to top 60 and ties, and then the final two rounds were at Wollongong.

I played a practice round at Wollongong Golf Club on the Monday afternoon after we made the short drive down to Wollongong from Sydney airport. I got underway in the first round Tuesday morning and played consistent golf, making very few mistakes in a round that included three bogeys and two birdies. I finished up with a one-over 71, which had me sitting tied 19th.

The Links Shell Cove course was much trickier. The course was very undulating and I struggled with my chipping and putting. I was eight over through eleven holes and in danger of missing the cut before I made three birdies in my last seven holes to finish with a five-over 76 and make the cut comfortably at six over total in a tie for 36th.

Round 3 was back at Wollongong. I felt much more comfortable without having to worry about the cut line. I putted extremely well holing five long putts from outside 20 feet. I made six birdies on the way to a three-under 67, which jumped me well up the leaderboard at three-over total and in a tie for 12th.

In the final round, I was playing in the third last group, and had a bit of a crowd which was an experience I really enjoyed. I played a few wayward shots early and found the water three times. I finished up the front nine with six-over. I holed a long putt for birdie on the 11th to get back to five-over, then the highlight of my tournament came on the par 5 14th, where I holed a 3 wood from 216 metres for my first albatross! I finished up with a four-over 74 for the round, which gave me a seven-over par total of 288 for the 4 rounds. I finished tied 12th out of 220 and was happy with my performance, and feel as though I can definitely contend in and win future national ranking events if I keep on progressing and giving myself opportunities.

I would like to thank the Glenelg Golf Club Foundation for their support in giving me opportunities to play in a number of interstate and local events. Thanks also to our Golf Operations team of Gareth Jones, Adrian Wicktstein and Shane Robinson for their coaching and advice in helping me develop into a better golfer.

Click here for more details about the NSW Junior Amateur Championships

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About the Glenelg Golf Club Foundation

The Club is committed to the ongoing support and encouragement of Junior Golf and as a result, the Glenelg Golf Club Foundation provided funding assistance to Liam to compete in this event in New South Wales.

Through the Glenelg Golf Club Foundation, we have identified Junior Golf as one of our key areas of importance. As a result, the Club has focused on funding the ongoing development, training and promotion of Junior golf with proceeds raised through the Foundation.

This results in an outstanding, fully funded Junior Development Program at Glenelg Golf Club.

[intlink id=”2063″ type=”page”]Click here for more information on the Glenelg Golf Club Foundation.[/intlink]

[intlink id=”2039″ type=”page”]Click here for more information on the Club’s Junior Development Program[/intlink]