Story: courtesy Victorian Golf Association Travis Sharpe blew away the competition on the final day of the 50th annual 2009 Junior Victorian Amateur Championship. The 3rd and 4th rounds of the 2009 Junior Victorian Amateur Championship proved to be extremely challenging with winds reaching gale force (up to 100km per hour) and occasional bouts of rain. The wind played a huge factor in the scoring. Greens, on 350 metre downwind holes, were being hit in one and similar length holes into the wind were difficult to reach in two shots. Additionally, despite the course being in great condition, the players needed to contend with stray leaves, gum nuts and other wind scattered hazards on greens. Will Hume, the overnight leader, had an average morning round by his standards with a 4 over par 76, however, only 10 other players were able to better his score. The big mover of the round was Travis Sharpe with a one under par round of 71, including 2 eagles. Other players who narrowed the gap were Anthony Houston (71), Ryan Mulvany (72), Ryan Woodward (73), Geoff Drakeford (75) and Sean Ong (75). At the end of the afternoon round there were 9 players that stood a chance of taking out the event. The front nine holes of the final round saw a dramatic turn in the event with Hume turning 5 over par, which opened the door for the others. Taylor Cooper from QLD turned 2 over, Tom Horan one over and Travis Sharpe on even par through his first 7 holes. (Travis commenced from the 3rd tee). The day got continually worse for Hume, who struggled to find any touch around the greens. On the 11th hole, a 445m downwind par 5, Sharpe hit the green with a short iron and drained the putt for his 3rd Eagle of the day, which effectively closed the door to the other competitors. Holding his nerve well, he shot solid pars all the way home. Sharpe held out and was victorious by 7 shots, a feat that serves to erase the memories of 2008 when he lost to Nathan Holman after leading going in to the final round. Additionally, the win stamps Travis as a player to watch, even more so considering he was able to shoot 3 under par on a day when many players struggled with the testing conditions. The final standings saw Travis Sharpe on 295 for the win, followed by Taylor Cooper (QLD) and Anthony Houston tied on 302. Ryan Woodward, Tom Horan and Ryan Mulvany (QLD) tied on 304. Tom Horan took out the Nett event from Ashley Blake and Matthew Gill (NSW). The under 16 section went to Sean Ong for the 2nd year in a row with a score of 311. Sean had a substantial lead commencing the final day however only won the title by 2 shots from fast finishing Peter Babiolakis who shot two final rounds of 73 and 79. Lucas Towns and Jake Laubsch finished tied for 3rd on 318 – Lucas beating Jake in the Nett section on countback. In the under 14 section Lucas Herbert on 329 won by 11 shots from Anthony Wilken. The Nett event was won by Shane Feldman from Keegan Michael. All in all, the Championship was a success and was greatly enjoyed by all.