20th Annual Victorian Junior Masters was decided yesterday at Waverley Golf Club with Western Australian Curtis Luck storming home to win the boys championship whilst New Zealander Alanna Campbell held her nerve in a three-way playoff to win the girls championship.
The final day of play shaped up perfectly with warm and calm conditions for the talented field to contest for the prized title. Luck (Cottlesoe G.C, WA) held the overnight lead by two shots from Kurtis Lynch from Neangar Park G.C. A further mix of Victorians, interstate and international players were also in contention at the beginning of the final day.
The morning round saw Brett Coletta, the 2013 Murray River Junior Masters Champion card the best round of the tournament 67 and take the outright lead at even par.
The championship was still up for grabs with many players within reach of the title at the beginning of the final round. Luck’s class prevailed posting a final round of 67 which included five birdies. Luck’s tournament included three sub-par rounds (71, 71, 75, 67).
In the girls event, young gun Kono Matsumoto from Victoria G.C led going into the final round from fellow Victorian Soo-bin Park from Kingswood G.C and New Zealand representatives Celyn Khoo and Alanna Campbell. The leading girls all posted steady scores in round three but it was Matsumoto who maintained her narrow lead heading into the final round.
With nine holes to play Matsumoto was still a few shots clear before Khoo finished strongly with three birdies on the last four holes. Meanwhile, Campbell forced a three way play off with a final round of 78.
A four hole aggregate score play off on holes 10, 11, 12 and 18 would then decide the championship with officials, players and volunteers in attendance to see the battle unfold. Matsumoto, Campbell and Khoo all started with bogey on the tight 10th hole.
Campbell and Matsumoto composed themselves to par the 11th whilst Celyn posted another bogey. On the 12th Campbell stretched her lead making birdie by draining a slick downhill putt. Campbell then impressively secured her victory with a birdie up the 18th hole.
Campbell becomes only the second international player to win the Victorian Junior Masters across both genders.