Avondale Golf Club’s Grace Kim has come up just short in her defence of the Australian Junior Crown at Royal Perth Golf Club.
The 17 year old from Greenacre in Sydney’s inner west was no match for the eventual winner, Western Australian Maddison Hinson-Tolchard.
Kim carded match rounds of 71 -71 in the marathon 36 hole final day to finish at 11 under par, three shots shy of Hinson-Tolchard’s sensational 14-under par winning score.
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Kim had her chances, drawing with in a couple of shots late in the final round, however Hinson-Tolchard’s had built a sizeable six shot lead early on the final day, and it proved too much for Kim to overcome.
Kim’s Avondale teammate, June Song couldn’t improve on her second round 67, carding rounds of 76 and 75 to finish in 6th place.
St. Michael’s Stephanie Kyriacou, co-leader after Rd 1, came home strongly with rounds of 72 and 72 to finish in 4th place.
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The highlight of the final day from a NSW perspective was the performance of junior dynamo Sophie Yip from Concord GC, who carded rounds of 75 and 70. The 13-year-old impressed many with her 8th place finish and has stamped herself as a star of the future in women's golf.
Yip’s outstanding result was also good enough to take out the under 14’s division of the championship.
In the Boy’s Championship, St. Michael’s Harrison Crowe vaulted 12 spots on the final day to wind up in a tie for 8th, courtesy of a fine final round 67.
Avondale’s Jye Pickin, the NSW Boy’s team captain, carded rounds of 71 and 71 to finish in a tie for 10th, while Federal Golf Club’s Adam Thorpe, the best placed ACT representative, finished the tournament at 7-over.