WA’s girls and boys enjoyed a successful trip to the School Sport Australia 18-and-Under Golf Championship on the Gold Coast.
Twelve WA golfers flew to Queensland to represent the state in individual stroke play and team match play tournaments, competing against some of the nation’s best junior talents.
Joseph Buttress led the WA challenge in the 36-hole stroke play event, finishing outright second at +2 for the championship, two adrift of winner Samuel Cascio (NSW). WA’s Braedon Law tied for third a shot further back, while Josiah Edwards was T7th at +6 for the 36-holes.
The girls’ event was won by NSW’s Amy Squires with a level-par total, with Mount Lawley GC duo Aprileen Sirait (T16th) and Amanda Gan (T19th) the best-placed of the WA representatives. Sirait, however, topped the standings in the girls’ nett championship, as did Law in the boys’ event.
The WA girls proved fierce competitors in the subsequent round-robin team match play competition and even had an outside shot at the title going into the final match after three wins and one defeat in their opening four fixtures – including a fine victory over the much-fancied QLD team.
On the last day, WA needed to beat Victoria and see South Australia topple the mighty NSW team to have any chance of sneaking the win. Alas, it was not to be, as NSW powered to a 5-1 win, while WA was narrowly beaten and slipped to third in the six-team table.
Although out of title contention on the final day, the WA boys secured the bronze medal by beating Victoria 4-2, finishing the event with three wins and two defeats from their five matches.
The top points scorer for WA’s boys was Riley Gott, who won four and halved one of his five matches, while Erina Tan top scored for the girls with four wins out of five.
Team Manager Sue Thompson said: “I can’t tell you enough about how good both our teams were. Their behaviour was exemplary and their golf matched it.”
WA team lineups
Girls: Erina Tan, Amanda Gan, Kortni Houston, Aprileen Sirait, Alice Tonts, Danielle Ray Del Val
Boys: Joseph Buttress, Josiah Edwards, Braedon Law, Spencer Harrison, Riley Gott, Bailey Pilapil
From left, Braedon Law and Aprileen Sirait won the individual nett competitions, while Joseph Buttress was runner-up in the boys’ stroke play
Images courtesy of Sue Thompson
