Date: January 07, 2011
Author:

Somerfield and Lee win SA Junior Masters

Mt Gambier&aposs Will Somerfield has joined the an elite roll call of Australian juniors with an impressive victory in the 2011 Golf SA Junior Masters at Royal Adelaide Golf Club. In hot and breezy conditions that persisted throughout both day&aposs play, Somerfield carded a final round even-par 72 to finish on five-over par (293) and two shots ahead of defending champion Anthony Murdaca. A model of consistency throughout the two-day event, Somerfield&aposs final round featured four birdies and four bogeys. Holding his nerve through the middle of his round, he shot an impressive two-under par from holes 7 through to the 16th. With 36-holes being completed on both days, Somerfield held the overnight lead after carding rounds of 74 and 73 (147) on Thursday&aposs opening day. In Friday morning&aposs third round he carded a two-over par 72. While Murdaca put up a spirited defence, including the tournament&aposs low round of 4-under par 68 in Friday morning&aposs third round, he was left ruing an opening round 9-over par 81 that left him well behind the early leaders. Tied in third position on a four-round total of 305 were Mitchell Taht (Glenelg) and Ben Stowe (Royal Adelaide). The 17-year-old Somerfield, who is about to start his final year at St Martins College Lutheran College, joins an impressive list of winners of the Junior Masters that includes the likes of high profile professionals Adam Scott, Mark Leishmann, Jason Day and Rick Kulacz. Somerfield said he was delighted with his win, after recently teaming up Mt Gambier professional Damien Swadling to &aposwork on some of the basics&apos of his golf swing. In the girl&aposs division, Glenelg&aposs Jenny Lee was untroubled in becoming the first girl&aposs winner of the combined Junior Masters event. Lee, who in December was equally as impressive in winning the Golf SA Junior Open at The Grange, carded rounds of 75, 77, 77 and 78 for a four round total of 307. The Korean born Lee, who has been resident in Australia for four years and is attending her grade 10 year at Brighton High School, finished a full 22 shots clear of Elysia Yap (Glenelg) who carded rounds of 82,79, 82 and 86 (329). Tied with Yap in second position was Rachel Taylor (Mt Osmond) who carded rounds of 85, 94, 77 and the tournament&aposs low round of 73 (329). For all results click here for the tournament event page. Mt Gambier&aposs Will Somerfield with the Golf SA Junior Masters trophy