Day 3 Wrap – Luck and Campbell Crowned Vic Junior Masters Champions
The 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.
Congratulations to all players on their great efforts all week!
For leaderboard, news and photos please click here.
Day 2 Wrap
Players were treated to ideal conditions in the morning round with the breeze picking up slightly in the afternoon. As with previous championships the Waverley greens where firm and slick.
Co-leader Curtis Luck from WA took advantage of the morning conditions with five birdies on the front nine holes. Luck now holds the outright lead by two strokes carding 71, 71 2 under par in the first two rounds. Kurtis Lynch (Neangar Park GC) sits just two shots off the lead at even par with Konrad Ciupek, Blake Collyer and Josh Hetherington following closely all tied on 2 over par.
Kono Matsumoto (Victoria GC) continues her good form holding a two stroke lead going into the final two rounds. Celyn Khoo from Pakuranga GC New Zealand had three birdies in a steady 1 over par round and moved from five strokes back to only two strokes after 36 holes.
Other highlights included ten eagles in the boys field and two from the girls field.
62 Boys and 18 Girls made the cut to play rounds three and four starting 7:30am tomorrow morning at Waverley Golf Club.
Day 1 Wrap
Celebrating its 20th year at Waverley Golf Club, the 2014 Victorian Junior Masters commenced on Monday with a talented field tackling challenging and gusty conditions.
The high-quality field consisted of in form Victorians Zach Murray who was recently crowned Victorian Amateur Champion, and Brett Coletta who won the 2013 Murray River Junior Masters in late December. Alongside Murray & Coletta, international players from New Zealand and interstate representatives also battled the testing elements with Alanna Campbell from New Zealand being the best placed invitee in the girls field with a 76 and Curtis Luck from Western Australia posting an impressive 71 to be both the leading invitee in the boys event and joint clubhouse leader alongside Kurtis Lynch from Neangar Park Golf Club.
Carrying on from her consistent form at the 2013 Victorian Amateur and winning form at the 2013 Murray River Junior Masters, 14 year old Kono Matsumoto from Victoria Golf Club recorded a notable first round score of one-under par 72. Matsumoto is closely followed by New Zealand representatives Alanna Campbell (76) and Celyn Khoo (77), placed second and third respectively.
Other highlights included eagles from James Macklin on the 18th hole, Caleb Perry on the 11th and Georgia Milbourne on the 7th.
Day two is underway this morning with a cut to take place tonight. Players who make the cut will compete over 36 holes in tomorrow’s final.
Stay informed to the following Vic Junior Masters page for all media releases, photos and leaderboards of the 2014 Victorian Junior Masters.