By Neal Maidment
There were mixed fortunes for WA on day one of the Australian Junior Interstate Teams Matches, with a comprehensive win over Victoria followed by defeat at the hands of QLD.
The WA team hit the ground running in their morning clash against Victoria, taking early leads in the majority of matches that the players refused to relinquish on the way to a 7-1 margin of victory.
Of the eight ties, WA players won six with the remaining two halved, both the boys and girls winning their respective encounters 3.5-0.5.
In the girls’ matches, Amanda Gann, Jorja Hinson-Tolchard and Erina Tan were rarely troubled as they recorded routine victories, while Celine Chen fought out a halved match.
On his event debut for the WA boys, Wanneroo’s Ollie Marsh put in a sprightly performance to clinch a 5&4 victory, while George Barclay and Joe Buttress were 4&3 winners in their matches and Josiah Edwards secured a half.
It was a different matter in the afternoon encounter with the much-fancied QLD, though, with WA players rarely in the ascendency. Only Tan was able to get a point on the board for the girls, with Chen, Hinson-Tolchard and debutant Isabella Leniartek all succumbing to defeat.
In the boys’ section, Barclay put in another superb effort to wrap up a 5&4 win and Marsh added a half-point, but Buttress and Edwards were well beaten as the team slipped to a 5.5-2.5 loss.
It was, nevertheless, a satisfactory day for WA against two of the competition’s strongest teams, according to Team Manager Catherine Strickland.
“Going into the tournament, we looked at day one as probably being the hardest day overall, so it was a great confidence boost to get off to such a good start against Victoria,” she said.
“Looking at recent results, QLD are one of the best teams in the competition and it was always going to be a difficult match, but we’re particularly pleased to see George, Erina and Ollie go undefeated in two matches, and as a team we go into tomorrow’s matches feeling pretty confident.”
Erina Tan won both her matches on day one
Mount Lawley’s Tan, who is in the state team for the first time, echoed Strickland’s sentiments. “It was a very tiring day, but we’ve all learned a bit more about how to play the course better and we’re feeling good about the next round of matches.”
Of her own steely performance in her afternoon 1UP win over Kate McFarlane, Tan added: “My long game and putting were the crucial parts of my game today, and even when I went behind late in the match I made good decisions and played safe shots into the greens. I’m very happy with how I played.”
Match 1 vs Victoria
Amanda Gan beat Jessica Zhu 3&1
Jorja Hinson-Tolchard beat Olive Spitty 3&2
Erina Tan beat Molly McLean 3&1
Celine Chen halved with Amelia Garris
George Barclay beat Bailey Goodall 4&3
Josiah Edwards halved with Jesse Trembath
Ollie Marsh beat Rupert Toomey 5&4
Joe Buttress beat Max Fedmowski 4&3
Final score: WA 7 – 1 Victoria
Match 2 vs QLD
Isabella Leniartek was defeated 5&4 by Ionna Muir
Jorja Hinson-Tolchard was defeated 3&2 by Shyla Singh
Erina Tan beat Kate McFarlane 1UP
Celine Chen was defeated 9&7 by Sarah Hammett
George Barclay beat Harrison Gomez 5&4
Josiah Edwards was defeated 4&3 by Harry Takis
Ollie Marsh halved with Billy Dowling
Joe Buttress was defeated 3&2 by Kai Komulainen
Final score: WA 2.5 – 5.5 QLD
Tuesday’s matches will see WA face off against Tasmania in the morning and ACT in the afternoon. The girls will sit out the morning session with Tasmania unable to field a team.
The Australian Junior Interstate Teams Matches feature separate girls’ and boys’ divisions, as well as a combined team title. The competition concludes on Thursday. You can check out the current standings here.
Image credits: Solstice Digital/Golf Australia
