The state’s most prestigious amateur golf titles are up for grabs next month, with Sun City Country Club playing host to the 2025 Amateur Championships of WA from March 12-16.
The concurrent men’s and women’s championships will be staged at Sun City for just the second time, a full quarter of a century after Rebecca Stevenson and Dean Alaban become the first WA Amateur champions of the new millennium there back in 2000.
Last year’s event welcomed two first-time winners into the state champions’ enclosure, with Amanda Gan and George Barclay (pictured above) claiming the respective women’s and men’s titles.
Both will return to defend their crowns at Sun City, but the unpredictable nature of match play golf makes it notoriously difficult to forecast winners. With a number of WA’s top amateurs also having turned pro or moved into the US college golf system since the 2024 event, it’s a wide-open field.
The relative unfamiliarity of Sun City as a championship venue is also a point of interest. With many of the state’s top players having rarely (if ever) teed up at the Yanchep layout, few of the usual contenders can claim to have intimate knowledge of the course.
Defended by large, sweeping greens, strategic bunkering and doglegs on 12 out of 14 tree-lined fairways, Sun City rewards accuracy but is not a long course, affording big hitters numerous opportunities to attack – making for some potentially thrilling match play clashes.
These factors could be a great leveller and leave the door ajar for dark horses – or even interstate players, such as talented Victorian Molly McLean – to shine.
Any of the 32 men and 16 women who progress through the stroke play qualifying rounds are theoretically in with a chance of glory, although ability, fitness, nous, form, reputation and luck can all play a part in deciding the ultimate champions.
Here, we outline some of the key contenders for both the women’s and men’s competitions.
Women’s championship contenders
Amanda Gan (Royal Fremantle): Imperious throughout the 2024 championship – when she doubled up to win the stroke play medal as well as the match play title – Gan’s game has continued to improve making a successful defence a very real possibility.
Isabella Leniartek (Royal Perth): The undisputed queen of junior golf in WA hasn’t always delivered in open-age events, but the level of her talent is unquestionable. A steely match player at interstate level, there’s no reason why she shouldn’t go well here.
Amie Phobubpa (Joondalup CC): Winner of this title in 2021 and a semi-finalist last year, WA state stalwart Phobubpa should breeze into the match play draw. After that, anything could happen, and Phobubpa’s consistency and sure touch around the greens should leave her in good stead.
Ruby Cotton (Mount Lawley): Has grown in stature since her surprise run to last year’s state final, going on to represent WA in the Interstate Teams Matches and racking up high finishes in national ranking events. A deep run at this year’s WA Amateur would be much less surprising.
Kristie Smith (Collier Park): A winner of this event way back in 2005 prior to a successful tour career, Smith will compete in this year’s state championship for the first time since reacquiring her amateur status. Still only 36 and playing off a +3 handicap, Smith’s experience and street smarts make her a genuine contender.
Dark horses: Heejoo Cho, Kortni Houston, Valerie Khuu, Halia Edwards
Interstate player to watch: Molly McLean (Victoria)
Men’s Championship contenders
George Barclay (Joondalup CC): A worthy champion last year, Barclay’s strength is his consistency across every aspect of his game. Rock solid from tee to green, Barclay is a challenging match play opponent for anyone.
Spencer Harrison (Royal Perth): Runner-up in 2024, 16-year-old Harrison has emerged as one of the nation’s leading junior talents. He made his Australia international debut last July before going on to win the Mandurah Amateur Open and it would be no surprise to see him make another strong run for the title here.
Josiah Edwards (Gosnells): Nearing his 18th birthday, victory at Sun City would round out Edwards’ junior career in suitable style. Can blow hot and cold, but his prodigious length off the tee and swashbuckling style means the Australia international can never be counted out.
Ollie Marsh (Wanneroo): Back to his best after a comparatively lean first half of 2024, teen star Marsh has already nabbed a title in 2025 at the Tasmanian Junior Masters. With a short game to die for, the 2023 state champion has an innate ability to get up and down from tight spots, making him a dispiriting match play opponent.
Connor Fewkes (Mount Lawley): The WA state skipper has arguably underperformed in this event in recent years but, on his day, remains capable of sustained excellence few can match. Highly regarded by his peers and a birdie-making machine when in full flight, could this finally be Fewkes’ year?
Dark horses: Adam Baillie, Zach Capelli, Nate Johnson, Simon Liddell
This year’s event will once again incorporate the Mid-Amateur Championship for golfers over the age of 30. This will be decided over the 36 holes of stroke play, with Rockingham GC duo Daniel Holzwart and Amanda Hurren the defending champions.
Register for the WA Amateur Championship here (handicap limits apply – registration closes on midday on Tuesday, March 4).
Find out more about this year’s championships at our dedicated website hub.
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