WA are in the mix for the combined title at the Australian Junior Interstate Teams Matches with back-to-back victories over ACT and South Australia today.
After halving both matches on Day 1 against formidable NSW and QLD teams, WA were primed to attack on Day 2 and they predictably put ACT to the sword in the morning session at Brisbane’s Brookwater Golf & Country Club.
Even with respective girls’ and boys’ team number ones Katie Seol and Josiah Edwards rested, WA romped to a comfortable 7.5 – 0.5 victory.
Gosnells’ Halia Edwards scored the biggest win for WA with a 6&5 victory over the luckless Nasia Taylor, with Ollie Marsh defeating Amir Rezaie 5&3 in a dominant display.
Better was yet to come for WA as they outperformed a strong South Australia lineup in the afternoon session to move into title contention.
Isabella Leniartek recorded WA’s biggest win on Day 2 of the Junior Interstate series
Royal Perth’s Isabella Leniartek raced to a 7&6 win over Elyse Kozlovic to put the first point on the board for WA, with Halia Edwards and Kortni Houston edging tight contests to extend WA’s advantage.
Although SA’s Reagan Denton and Jackson Leonard bested Seol and Josiah Edwards in the top matches, WA’s Spencer Harrison, Liam Sullivan and Ollie Marsh all won to carry WA to an impressive 6-2 triumph.
On-song WA eyeing historic title
Today’s results means that all 10 members of the WA team have contributed points to the cause over the first two days of competition.
With two wins and two halved matches, WA currently sits top of the combined standings on three points – a half-point ahead of Victoria and QLD.
WA’s girls, in particular, have excelled, with Kortni Houston winning all four of her matches and Isabella Leniartek winning three and halving one of her four head-to-head encounters. Indeed, the girls have won a remarkable 13 of their 16 individual matches so far.
For the boys, The Vines’ Liam Sullivan continues to impress on his interstate series debut with two wins today to add to a win and a loss yesterday.
Liam Sullivan is enjoying an impressive WA state debut
Due to the odd number of teams in the competition, WA play only once on Wednesday – a morning match against Tasmania. Following that, the team will have the luxury of an afternoon off ahead of a potential title showdown against Victoria on Thursday.
WA have not won the Interstate Series since it became a combined team event in 2022, although WA’s girls did top their division that year. WA’s boys’ last won their division in 2017.
Confidence is high in the WA camp, with Leniartek saying: “I think it’s all going to come down to the very last games. It will definitely be very close.
“This is the closest I’ve personally been in a team where we’re in contention to win. I’m really excited.”
Day 2 scores
AM – vs ACT
Isabella Leniartek won 3&1 against Sophia Chau
Kortni Houston won 3&1 against Soda Ellis
Halia Edwards won 6&5 against Nasia Taylor
Aileen Sirait won 1UP against Paige Kong
Spencer Harrison won 2&1 against Harry Whitelock
Liam Sullivan won 2&1 against Blake Jones
Ollie Marsh won 5&3 against Amir Rezaie
Nate Johnson halved with Finn Whitelock
Final score: WA 7.5 – 0.5 ACT
PM – vs South Australia
Katie Seol lost 2&1 to Reagan Denton
Isabella Leniartek won 7&6 against Elyse Kozlovic
Kortni Houston won 2&1 against Stephanie Keylock
Halia Edwards won 2&1 against Grace Ferrier
Josiah Edwards lost 5&4 to Jackson Leonard
Spencer Harrison won 3&2 against Joshua Grundel
Liam Sullivan won 2&1 against Malachy Marshall
Ollie Marsh won 1UP against Alan Xin
Final score: WA 6 – 2 SA
Day 1 results
WA 4 – 4 NSW
WA 4 – 4 QLD
View the full scores and standings here.
Photos: Australian Golf Media
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