WA will look ahead with confidence to May’s Interstate Teams Matches on home soil after announcing a strong lineup with an experienced backbone.
Five men and five women make up the WA team for the annual series, which takes place at Melville Glades Golf Club from May 5-7.
Eight out of the 10 WA players have prior experience of playing in the interstate series at either open or junior level, with Valerie Khuu and Adam Baillie the two called up for the first time.
Mount Lawley’s Khuu has been a prominent figure in WA junior golf for some years and steps up to the senior side after impressing since returning to golf full-time after focusing on her Year 12 studies throughout 2024.
Twenty-one-year-old Baillie (The Vines), meanwhile, has developed into one of the state’s most consistent performers and enjoyed a terrific 12 months that saw him win the 2024 South West Open and reach the semi-finals of this month’s WA Amateur Championships.
Baillie is joined in the men’s team by interstate series stalwart Connor Fewkes (Mount Lawley) with George Barclay (Joondalup CC), Josiah Edwards (Gosnells) and Spencer Harrison (Royal Perth) completing the lineup.
Edwards made his WA debut for the men’s interstate team in 2024, while Barclay and Harrison both step up having represented WA in previous junior interstate series.
Amie Phobubpa is the most experienced member of the WA women’s team
In the women’s team, Amie Phobubpa (Joondalup CC) is the most seasoned campaigner, having flown the flag for WA at open and junior interstate series for several years.
She is joined by teen stars Khuu, Amanda Gan (Royal Fremantle), Isabella Leniartek (Royal Perth) and Joondalup clubmate Katie Seol in a team that has an average age of just 17.
Of those, Gan and Leniartek played for the WA women’s team in last year’s matches, while Seol – the youngest team member at 13 – played for South Australia in the 2024 junior interstates.
The balance of youth and experience should leave WA in good stead to make a strong title challenge, says Shonna Gobby, Chair of GolfWA’s Selection Committee.
“Our teams this year are made up of experienced state athletes, who we believe will be able to take advantage of playing the event in their home state,” she told GolfWA.
“I look forward to seeing our players compete against the very best Australian amateur golfers and hope that our aspiring young players take the opportunity to come and watch, and really get behind our men and women.”
About the Interstate Series
Teams will compete in Men’s and Women’s divisions, with individual players going head-to-head over 18 holes of match play. The overall series winner is decided on the combined results of both the men’s and women’s teams.
WA finished fifth in the combined standings in 2024, with Victoria the champions after upsetting QLD on the final day.
Four WA team members – Edwards, Harrison, Seol and Leniartek – will also don the gold and black for WA in the Junior Interstate Teams Matches in Brisbane next month. Read all about that here.
The WA teams are selected through the use of various criteria including stroke averages, World Amateur Golf Rankings, performances in state and interstate events, personal attributes and player form.
WA team for 2025 Interstate Series
Women: Amanda Gan (Royal Fremantle); Valerie Khuu (Mount Lawley); Isabella Leniartek (Royal Perth); Amie Phobubpa (Joondalup CC); Katie Seol (Joondalup CC)
Men: Adam Baillie (The Vines); George Barclay (Joondalup CC); Josiah Edwards (Gosnells); Connor Fewkes (Mount Lawley); Spencer Harrison (Royal Perth)
Coaches: Ollie Goss & Jess Speechley
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