A number of Australian amateurs have begun competing overseas as international summer events begin. It was a case of so close for GA/AIS National Squad member Stacey Keating (VIC) who missed out on winning the St Rule Trophy in a play off at the famous St Andrews Old Course. She managed rounds of 74, 73 & 74 to finish in joint first position, eventually losing the play-off to Laura Murray from Alford, Scotland. Of consolation to Keating was the fact that the Australian team, consisting of fellow squad members Justine Lee (NSW) and Ashley Ona (QLD), won the teams event for the first time in history. Lee finished in a tie for 4th, whilst Ona finished in a tie for 6th. Fellow Squad member Jessica Speechley (WA) also had a solid week in her northern hemisphere debut finishing in a tie for 17th. It is a great start for the Australians who now go to Dublin to compete in the Irish Ladies Stroke Play. On the other side of the Atlantic, Queenslanders Cameron Smith & Christina Mew, were representing Australia at the Thunderbird International in Scottsdale, Arizona. The Thunderbird is an American Junior Golf Association event of great significance for players under 18 years of age. The field included Jordan Spieth (USA), who just the week prior finished 16th at the Byron Nelson Championship on the PGA Tour. In what was a great learning experience for the Australians, Smith and Mew finished just outside the top 20 of their respective events. Smith was paired with Spieth in the final round and no doubt will take plenty from the fact he matched it with the US young gun. This week sees the beginning of the Men’sschedule in the UK, with the St Andrews Links Trophy beginning on June 3rd.
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