The South Coast Junior Masters returns to Catalina Club this weekend, with a strong field of local talent and former Junior Masters winners set to battle it out for one of the coveted Junior Masters titles.
Leading the local charge is hometown favourite Alex Booth, who will be looking to make the most of playing at home this weekend. With his father serving as the club’s Head Professional, Booth knows the course better than most and will be hoping that local knowledge can help him go one better than his previous best Junior Masters result. Booth finished runner-up at last year’s Wagga Wagga Junior Masters after falling short in a playoff, posting an impressive two-round total of five-under par, including a second-round 68. This will be Booth’s final South Coast Junior Masters, and he will no doubt be determined to go out with a bang.
There are two former Junior Masters champions in the Boys’ field this weekend, with Beau Cain from Cronulla and Harrison Preece from Pymble both returning with their sights set on adding another title to their trophy cabinets. Cain claimed this year’s Illawarra Junior Masters after an incredible three-way playoff, while Preece secured his maiden Junior Masters victory at last year’s Peter O’Malley Junior Masters. With both players having already tasted victory, they will be among the leading contenders this weekend.
Ryan Hooke will also enter the South Coast Junior Masters full of confidence after claiming his age group at last month’s Greg Chalmers Junior Masters. The Magenta Shores product carded a two-round total of even par to secure his second age-group victory in the Junior Masters Series. Hooke will now be hoping to take the next step and capture his maiden overall Junior Masters title.
Fresh off her Greg Chalmers Junior Masters victory, Kiara Connolly-Jackson will be one of the biggest threats in the Girls’ field. Representing Avondale, Connolly-Jackson is a former Master of the Masters winner and NSW Junior Interstate Team member, with multiple Junior Masters victories already to her name. With her game in strong form following her recent win, she will be determined to make it back-to-back Junior Masters titles.
Savannah Webb from Stonecutters Ridge will also be one to watch this weekend. The Brett Ogle Junior Masters winner has continued to impress across multiple events, including a runner-up finish in the Girls’ 16 and 17 Years Matchplay Championship last year and a top-10 finish at the Bonville Champions Trophy. Webb recently finished top 10 in the Queensland Junior Amateur also. She will be looking to add another Junior Masters title to her résumé at Catalina this weekend.
Representing the Illawarra region, Sage Laird (St Michaels) will be hoping this is the weekend she finally breaks through for her maiden Junior Masters victory. After coming close on multiple occasions, she will be eager to turn those strong performances into a win and claim her place in the Junior Masters winners’ circle.
Play gets underway at 8:00am on Saturday morning.
