In the end it was out of the boys' control.
Needing a Western Australian victory over Queensland and a win for themselves over South Australia, the NSW Boy Blues came close.
After pipping the South Aussies, 3 matches to 2, news of the result they didn’t want to hear came through, Queensland had taken out the hosts, WA, by the same margin, and with it the Boys' Team crown for 2018.
RELATED LINKS, LIVE SCORES:
GIRLS : Australian Girls' Interstate Teams – RESULTS
BOYS: Australian Boys' Interstate Teams – RESULTS
THE PLAYERS: Golf NSW Male and Female Teams profiles
STUNNING WIN: Girls finish in style
ON COURSE: Girls find form
PERFECT START: Boys clinical on day one
COMEBACK: Clutch putts keep boys in the hunt
PARADE: Boys rain on the WA Parade
FINAL DAY: Boys set for SA
For the record, the South Aussies came out all guns blazing and the match was in the balance for much of the morning. Harrison Crowe, down early in the day, managed to come back and grab a 2/1 win, while Ethan Chambers picked up a 3/1 win in the lead out match.
Corey, “The Laminator’ Lamb, grabbed a 3/1 win, and with it a Golf Australia Medal for remaining undefeated in the series. Sadly, Jye Picken and Thomas Heaton couldn’t grab a point on the last day.
Team Manager Peter Ipkendanz was proud of his charges after the conclusion of the tournament.
“I hope you are as proud of the boys as we are, thanks for all the support.
“Also, the Laminator gets a Golf Australia medal for going through the series undefeated. Give him some love!” Ipkendanz grinned.
Blueys set for SA challenge
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Team manager Peter Ipkendamz reports the NSW Boys team have warmed up well and determined to secure a 5/nil result against their final round opponents, South Australia.
The team is: 1, Harrison Crowe. 2,Jye PIckin. 3,Tom Heaton. 4, Corey Lamb. 5, Ethan Chambers. Res, Lachie Jones.
NSW needs to secure a win against their morning opponents, and then rely on Western Australia to secure a win or a half against a red-hot Queensland outfit.
"They're reaady to go and our goal is a 5/0 win.
"We can't control the rest," Ipkendanz said.
Blue Boys need a big one
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With one match remaining, the NSW boys have to perform at their best and hope another result goes their way in tomorrow’s final round of matches at Hartfield GC in Perth.
The equation is simple. NSW need to beat South Australia and hope the hosts, Western Australia pull off a bit of an upset and can down the marauding Queensland outfit.
This afternoon, the Boy Blues accounted neighbours, the ACT in a tighter than anticipated tussle, 3 matches to 2.
Jye Pickin and Harrison Crowe dominated their opponents in the top two games, but the other results were a whole lot closer than most probably anticipated.
The Australian’s Thomas Heaton managed another half, and team surprise packet, Corey Lamb, scrambled for a half point with a final hole win.
"It was a hard slog this afternoon, but the boys dug deep and came through.
"We need results to go our way tomorrow to be any chance.
"The boys are aware and keen. They think 5/nil is what they have to do," Team Manager Peter Ipkendanz said.
Blue Boys rain on the W.A Parade
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Well there ain’t no rain falling on the Boy Blues at Hartifeld Golf Club today.
The NSW team might’ve pulled off a thriller last night against Queensland, but today they turned into the killers by dispatching the highly fancied WA outfit in round five of the Australian Boys' Interstate Teams matches.
Corey, ‘The Lambinator’ Lamb won 4&3 and Ethan Chambers 3&2 to put the team in the box seat for the crown with just two matches remaining.
The result could have been a lot better for NSW in the end. Thomas Heaton, who looked for all intents home in his match against Cooper Geddes, could only watch on as the Western Australian holed a long-range bomb for eagle to grab a half; while Harrison Crowe, who was a hole down in the middle stages of his match, had to settle for a half after failing to get up and down on the last to lose the hole but square his match.
Team Manager Peter Ipkendanz was ecstatic after the win.
“The boys are really pumped after defeating WA.
“We just have to focus on the ACT now and South Australia (tomorrow) and the silverware could be ours,” he smiled.
Clutch putts keep boys in the hunt
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A brace of last hole clutch putts has kept the Boy Blues in the hunt for the Australian Boys' Interstate Teams matches title at Hartfield Golf Club in Perth this afternoon.
After beginning the day with a nail-biting loss to Victoria, 3 matches to 2, the boys turned it around in the afternoon to take out Queensland in a thriller, 3-2.
Ethan Chambers, Thomas Heaton, Jye Pickin and Harrison Crowe all scored vital halves in their matches, but it was ‘The Lambinator’ Corey Lamb, that proved the difference with a vital one up win over his Queensland opponent, Tyler Duncan.
Post match, Team Manager Peter Ipkendanz was ecstatic.
“Three of the boys had to sink pressure putts on the 18th to win the hole and square their match.
“And all against Queensland.
“Is there a better end?” he beamed.
The day’s results leave the NSW team in a three way tie for the lead, alongside Queensland and hosts, Western Australia.
Day three will get underway at 9.30am ( AEST) with the Boy Blues facing the hosts and defending champions Western Australia in a vital contest for both team’s chances of taking out the crown, while in the afternoon match at 2.30pm, their opponents will be the ACT.
Last round win not enough for girls
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A stunning 41/2 to 1/2 win over the new Girl’s Champions, Western Australia, has capped off an exciting week for the NSW Girls at Royal Perth Golf Club today.
With the Championship a foregone conclusion prior to the start of today’s final match, the girls let their clubs do the talking and showed to many what a strong outfit they are.
Grace Kim was too strong for her good friend and the new Australian Girls' Champion, Maddison Hinson-Tolchard, while Monica Johnson grabbed a one-hole win over her opponent Yeah-Jin Lee.
The standout performers for the week for NSW were undoubtedly Stephanie Kyriacou and the junior dynamo, Sophie Yip.
Kyriacou, who will turn 18 in December, departs the junior ranks undefeated in interstate competition, while Yip has displayed to many that at age 13, she will be a force to be reckoned with for a long, long time to come after a debut that saw her lose just one game all week.
Boys clinical on Day One
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The NSW Boys’ team were too clinical for their opponentsTasmania and the NT on day one of the Australian Boys Interstate Teams Matches at Hartfield GC in Perth, Western Australia.
The Australian Golf Club’s Thomas Heaton, representing NSW for the very first time, had a perfect day, dispatching his Tasmanian opponent, 2&1 in the morning session before dominating Lachlan Morgan of the NT 8&6 in the afternoon.
Team Captain Jye Pickin was also perfect, winning his matches 2&1 and 6&4.
Corey Lamb, the Australian Schoolboys champion, grabbed a win in the morning, 4&3 while Harrison Crowe picked up a win also in the morning match 2&1.
Day two is underway with NSW in action against Victoria.
A slow start, but girls find form on day two
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It might have been slow start yesterday for the NSW girls at the Australian Girls Interstate Teams Matches but they have found form today.
The Baby Blues got off to a bright start in their first match against Victoria Yesterday morning, however, were unable to convert their early lead, eventually going down in a tight contest 3 matches to 2.
The team fared slightly better in the afternoon, but still struggled to convert tenacity into matches won, and could only manage a 2 1/2 all draw with Queensland.
Monday dawned and the team clicked into gear for their first match against the Day one surprise packets, the composite ACT/TAS/NT team, handing them a thumping 5-nil defeat.
Belinda Ji bounced back to form with a 6&4 win while Stephanie Kyriacou, who is still undefeated at this level of competition, recorded an easy 4&3 result also.
The girls face South Australia this afternoon in match four. Play got underway at 2.30pm AEST.