A total of 32 players – including seven newcomers – have been named in the GolfWA State Squads for 2025.
The junior and open-age squads have been announced simultaneously, with the selected players in pole position to represent WA in the Australian Interstate Teams Matches in April and May.
The junior squads are each made up of nine players, with the girls’ squad, in particular, seeing an influx of new faces.
Lilli Andrew, Meihui Zhao, Saehi Suh and Heejoo Cho have been rewarded for their excellent year’s work with a promotion to the squad from the Talent Development Program.
After relocating to Perth from Adelaide earlier this year, Katie Seol also earns a call-up. The highly-rated 13-year-old represented South Australia in the 2024 Junior Interstate Teams Matches and looks set to be a valuable addition to the WA ranks.
Royal Fremantle’s newest women’s club champion, Zoe Grace Ong, also joins the squad as a ‘Development Athlete’ – defined as a player with outstanding potential, who will benefit greatly from state coaching sessions and exposure to top-tier athletes.
The six join established WA representatives Isabella Leniartek, Aileen Sirait and Halia Edwards in the squad.
Headlined by Australian internationals Josiah Edwards and Spencer Harrison, and perennial winner Ollie Marsh, WA’s boys look set to be a force to be reckoned with in 2025.
The squad is bolstered by Nate Johnson and Mandeep Singh – both of whom represented WA in the 2024 junior interstate matches – and Declan Pereira and Liam Sullivan, who emerged as two of the junior game’s most consistent performers over the past 12 months.
Jackson Tait is called up for the first time, while Thomas Pyke is included in the squad as a Development Athlete.
Youthful look to open-age squads
Changes to the men’s and women’s squads are largely based on players moving on to play US college (Joe Buttress, Ken Gao and Erina Tan), or turning professional (Abbie Teasdale, Jordan Doull).
In the women’s squad, Ruby Cotton, Amanda Gan, Valerie Khuu, Isabella Leniartek, Sophie Williams,Amie Phobubpa and Aileen Sirait all retain their places, while Halia Edwards and Katie Seol will train with them as Development Athletes.
For the men, Tom Addy, George Barclay, Zach Capelli, Josiah Edwards, Connor Fewkes, Michael Hanrahan Smith and Ollie Marsh all retain their squad places for 2025, while Spencer Harrison is promoted from the juniors to join them.
After a breakthrough year that saw him beat the pros to land the South West Open title, Adam Baillie earns his first call-up, while Silvester Tan returns to the fold after four years in the US college system at Drake University.
Junior squad member Nate Johnson will also train with the men’s squad as a Development Athlete, alongside Bunbury GC teenager Bailey Hampson, who won the Country Stroke Play Championship title in October.
The inclusion of Hampson and clubmate Lilli Andrews in the girls’ squad ensures regional golf is represented at state level.
The Women’s and Girls’ squads will once again be coached by Jess Speechley, with Ollie Goss newly appointed to oversee the Men’s and Boys’ squads.
Announced annually, the GolfWA State Squads are a pool of players from which the WA teams for the junior and open-age Australian Interstate Teams Matches are selected.
The 2025 Junior Interstate Matches take place at Brookwater G&CC, QLD, in April, with the open-age series to be held on home soil at Melville Glades GC from May 7-9.
GolfWA State Squads for 2025
Girls
Lilli Andrew (Bunbury GC); Heejoo Cho (Royal Fremantle); Halia Edwards (Gosnells GC); Isabella Leniartek (Mount Lawley GC); Katie Seol (Joondalup CC) Aileen Sirait; Saehi Suh (both Gosnells GC); Meihui Zhao (Royal Perth); Zoe Grace Ong (Royal Fremantle, Development Athlete)
Boys
Josiah Edwards (Gosnells GC); Spencer Harrison (Royal Perth); Nate Johnson (Joondalup CC); Ollie Marsh (Wanneroo GC); Declan Pereira (Lakelands CC); Mandeep Singh (Royal Fremantle); Liam Sullivan (The Vines); Jackson Tait (Joondalup CC); Thomas Pyke (Royal Fremantle, Development Athlete)
Women
Ruby Cotton; Amanda Gan; Valerie Khuu; Isabella Leniartek; Sophie Williams (all Mount Lawley GC); Amie Phobubpa (Joondalup CC); Aileen Sirait (Gosnells GC); Abbie Teasdale (Royal Fremantle); Halia Edwards (Gosnells GC, Development Athlete); Katie Seol (Joondalup CC, Development Athlete)
Men
Tom Addy; George Barclay (both Joondalup CC); Adam Baillie (The Vines); Zachary Capelli (Royal Fremantle); Josiah Edwards (Gosnells GC); Connor Fewkes (Goldfields GC); Michael Hanrahan Smith (Cottesloe GC); Spencer Harrison (Royal Perth); Ollie Marsh (Wanneroo GC); Silvester Tan (Royal Perth); Bailey Hampson (Bunbury GC, Development Athlete); Nate Johnson (Joondalup CC, Development Athlete)
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