Home advantage ultimately didn’t count for WA’s top juniors as Samuel Cascio (NSW) and Shyla Singh (QLD) eased to victory at the Australian Junior Amateur at Gosnells GC – but it was another fine week for Royal Perth’s Spencer Harrison.
Cascio shared the overnight lead with Gosnells’ own Josiah Edwards at three-under-par but there was a four-shot swing in the New South Welshman’s favour after only two holes of their final round.
Edwards made a costly double-bogey six at the opening hole to fall two adrift, while Cascio eagled the par-five 2nd to establish a commanding lead that he would never surrender.
As Edwards toiled to a five-over-par 75, Cascio produced a magnificent 64 to post a nine-under-par championship total and a four-shot margin of victory over state teammate Kayun Mudadana, who also closed with a 64.
Edwards ultimately finished in T6th at +2 for the championship leaving Spencer Harrison (Royal Perth GC) the top WA golfer in the boys’ event in outright third at -2.
Harrison, aged 15, closed his account with a fine round of 68 to further underscore his great potential as he clinched the U16 Boys category win by six strokes. A model of consistency in 2024 so far, Harrison’s rostrum finish ensured he remained top of the Australian Boys Order of Merit.
WA’s Spencer Harrison leads the Australian Boys Order of Merit standings
Wanneroo GC’s Ollie Marsh also had reason to smile, his closing 68 including five birdies and a hole-in-one at the 9th. Marsh, who improved as the week went on, finished T12th at +4 for the tournament, while Nate Johnson (Joondalup CC) was T23rd. View the final boys’ leaderboard here.
In the girls’ event, overnight leader Singh produced a composed round of 73 to record a three-stroke victory from Royal Adelaide’s Raegen Denton with a winning total of five under par. Amelia Harris (VIC) was third, two strokes further back.
The WA challenge was never realised in the girls’ championship, although Aileen Sirait’s strong closing 73 saw her end the week as the state’s top player in T23rd, while Isabella Leniartek was T28th. View the final girls’ standings here.
The focus of the nation’s top junior now switches to next week’s Australian Interstate Teams Matches, which take place at Royal Fremantle from April 15-18.
