More than 150 of the best junior golfers in Queensland and around the nation will seek to join the likes of Jason Day and Karrie Webb as champions of Queensland’s premier junior golf tournament when the Queensland Boys’ and Girls’ Amateur tees off this week at Bargara Golf Club.
The Championship was first played in 1957 and has been won by a number of high profile players that have gone on to become successful international professionals including Greg Norman, Adam Scott, and Katherine Kirk (Hull). This is the second year Bargara Golf Club will host the event since the amalgamation of the Bargara Junior Classic, played from 27-30 June.
The tournament begins Tuesday with 18 holes of stroke play followed by another 18 on Wednesday. The field is then cut with the top 50 boys (plus ties) and 20 girls (plus ties) contesting the final 36-holes on Thursday and Friday. Players who miss the cut have an opportunity to compete for the J.R. McCracken Plate on Thursday and Friday in a stableford format.
Tee times will commence from 6.50am Tuesday morning with Friday afternoon showcasing the leading contenders.
A total of 182 entries were received, with the handicap cut off set at an exceptionally low 7.0 for the boys, and 26.8 for the girls, meaning 26 players were balloted out of the event.
Jediah Morgan will be in the spotlight this week after recently returning from a successful stint overseas to claim the Singapore Junior Golf Championships. The girls’ event will be spearheaded by Sanctuary Cove’s Isabelle Taylor hoping to continue her fine form as part of Australia’s Toyota World Junior Team earlier this month.
Juniors from New South Wales will be prominent in this year’s field after Ballina member Jay Mackenzie claimed the boys’ championship last year, with several New Zealand juniors also making the trip.
“The Queensland Junior always has a strong field and this year is no different,” Golf Queensland High Performance Program Manager Tony Meyer said. “The field of promising local and interstate players makes the tournament one of the premier junior events in Australia.”
The respective boys’ champion will receive an amateur’s exemption into the Isuzu Queensland Open to be played at the Brisbane Golf Club from 26-29 October.
To follow the championship, visit the event page.