Grace Kim and Dylan Perry have taken out the 2016 Jean Derrin and Vardon Trophies.
Kim, from Avondale Golf Club, took out the Jean Derrin Trophy with a scoring average of 69.80 from 13 rounds. In second place was Elizabeth Elmassian from the Australian Golf Club on 70.06, with Celina Yuan, also from The Australian Golf Club in third on 70.70.
The 16-year-old from Greenacre was thrilled to hear the news of her win.
“I was happy with how I played last year, I’ve improved a lot. I had a few up and downs, but it was still a good year.”
The highlight undoubtedly for the Yr 11 student from Meriden School at Strathfield was winning her first major title, the prestigious Greg Norman Junior Masters at the Palmer Colonial Golf Course in December.
“Winning the Greg Norman Junior Masters in Queensland was my biggest result last year,
“I came a second a few times before that, I knew I was getting closer,” she said.
Kim is already showing the form she displayed throughout last year has carried into the new year, with a win in the Victorian Junior Masters last week.
Next on her list is the Australian Women’s Amateur Championship at Yarra Yarra Golf Club following that, it's Avondale Amateur at her home club, and finally the NSW Women's Amateur Championship at Terrey Hills and Killara Golf Club.
“My aim is to make the match play rounds at the Australian Amateur. If I play the best that I can, I can get there,
"The chance to play in the NSW Women's Amateur and a major event at my home club is so exciting. I've been playing so well at Avondale recently, I'm sure I can do well,"
Kim is optimistic that her consistency throughout the 2016 will result in State selection in this year.
“Hopefully I will make a few representative teams. One of my goals is to make the NSW Junior Girls State team and be selected in the Golf NSW HP Squad as well,” she smiled.
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Dylan Perry has underlined his growing reputation as one of NSW golf’s brightest prospects by taking out the 2016 NSW Vardon Trophy.
The 20-year-old from the Vintage Golf Club in the Hunter Valley posted a scoring average of 69.63 from 32 rounds to take the trophy from the 2015 Winner, Austin Bautista. In third place was Blake Windred of the Australian Golf Club.
“Happy days, it’s been a phenomenal year for me,
“I began the year ranked 880 in the world, I think I’m now down to around 166,” he smiled
It was a year of many firsts for Perry, with resounding victories in the Queensland and Victorian Amateur Championships, and being a part of the undefeated NSW Men's team that took out the 2016 Australian Interstate Series.
The highlight of his year, however, was a final 16 placing in the British Amateur Championship, a result he ranks among his best.
“Europe was a whole different experience compared to golf in Australia, the level of competition was a lot stiffer,
"The (British) Amateur was a real eye opener for me, knowing I had a lot of good golf in me and the ability to stick with the best in the world. It gave me a lot of confidence for the rest of the year,
?“it got me going into a little groove I guess,”
Perry is already planning to consolidate his rise on the Amateur world ranking, with a schedule that will include two tournaments in Europe followed by a swag of events in the United States.
“My goal this year is to get into the world’s top 20 world ranking,
“If I can climb 700 spots in one year, I can break into the top-20,
"I want to play the US Amateur this year for sure,” he smiled.