Well what a great weekend up in Port Augusta for the Southern Golf Group Juniors. Firstly we have a new Golf SA Country Junior Boys Champion in Josh Hayes from McCracken GC, we have the Runner up in the Golf SA Country Junior Girls Championship in Caillin Lakin from South Lakes GC, we have the third place boys net in Elliott Willgoose from Echunga and the Southern Golf Group Boys Team took out the teams event from Murraylands by 7 shots. Wow! Congratulations to all seven who traveled to the Championships which I will list below what a great job you they all did on and off the course. This group of juniors have a great future ahead of them. The first day was 36 holes held in very windy conditions and hot with the temperature at 35 deg. To the Champion who after the first round had a 2 shot lead shooting a 72 (the low round of the competition) in the calmer wind in the morning round and then a 78 in the second round in what could only be described a dust storm. (if you did not have red eyes after that round). Josh took and held the 2 shot lead over night. What a contrast in weather, the second and final day was the last and 18 holes to go with the weather in the morning calm and 18 deg rising to 34 by plays end. The chasers came with young Joel Durnford from Wirrabara GC shooting a 78 and Josh shooting an 80 both finishing with a total of 230 so we had a sudden death play off with Josh winning on the first extra hole with a par. Great game boys. The gallery watched some great golf by both boys. To Caillin, what can I say about this young girl, Caillin came into this event ranked # 4 and giving away 6 shots in handicap to the winner Acacia Curtis from Wirrabara GC and completing the three rounds in second place was an excellent feat under trying conditions with the dust and heat. Caillin was well back after the first two rounds in 3rd place and pushed on in the third round to play some of her best golf to finish in second place. The boys team consisted of Josh Hayes (McCracken), Steve Williams (Willunga), Sam Wells (Willunga) and Elliot Willgoose (Echunga). After the first days two rounds the boys held a 3 shot lead to the Murraylands and the South East teams. In the final round Elliot Willgoose and Sam Wells both played there best rounds for the weekend and the team extended its winning margin to 7 shots overall. Great work to the boys. Unfortunately there is only four spots and two boys missed out on the actual team in David Ling Jnr (McCracken) and Billy Cawthorne (Echunga) who both in the up and coming years are going to be hard to keep out of the teams and squad. I have attached three photos for you all to view and pin up at your clubs for inspiration to your juniors wishing to compete at representative level. Once again thank you to the players and also to Danny Willgoose, Paul Cawthorne and Jenny Butcher for assisting in the weekend. Sorry for the long story but these players represented Southern exceptionally well. Once again: Caillin Lakin (South Lakes), (Josh Hayes (McCracken), Steve Williams (Willunga), Elliott Willgoose (Echunga), David Ling Jnr (McCracken), Sam Wells (Willunga), and Billy Cawthorne (Echunga).
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