The Greg Chalmers Junior Masters took place at Shelly Beach Golf Club on the stunning Central Coast this past weekend, and it was nothing short of action-packed. Fourteen-year-old Isaac Riches (Armidale) claimed his maiden Junior Masters title, while New South Wales Junior Interstate Team veteran Kiara Connolly-Jackson (Avondale) secured her first Junior Masters victory of the year.
Starting the final round four shots behind the leader, Isaac Riches got off to a red-hot start, birdieing four of his first seven holes to move into a share of the lead at the turn. A steady even-par back nine was enough to secure a two-shot victory and his first-ever Junior Masters title.
The 14-year-old from Armidale has been knocking on the door of victory in recent months, recording top-10 finishes at both the Jack Newton Junior Age Championships and the New South Wales Junior Championships. He has now secured his breakthrough win.
Central Coast favourite Ryan Hooke took out the Boys 16 Years and Over division, finishing at even par. After firing a two-under-par opening round, Hooke endured a slow start in the final round, making the turn at three over par for the day. A late back-nine charge helped him move ahead of overnight leader Matthew Xu and secure a two-shot victory in his age group.
Jayden Costello from Crookwell cruised to a five-shot victory in the Boys 13 Years and Under division after an impressive one-over-par final round, which included an eagle on the par-five 15th hole. Waratah’s Nash Peattie bounced back from an opening-round 81 with a 75, the second-lowest score of the final round in his age group, to claim second place.
New South Wales Junior Interstate Team member and former Master of the Masters winner Kiara Connolly-Jackson bounced back from three shots behind after round one to claim a two-shot victory over New South Wales Golf Club representative Tirzah Cho.
Connolly-Jackson carded a first-round 74 before getting off to a red-hot start in the final round, making the turn at three under par. She finished the day at even par to post a two-round total of two over, securing her first Junior Masters victory of the year and punching her ticket to the Bonville Champions Trophy.
Overnight leader Tirzah Cho stormed to victory in the Girls 13 Years and Under division, finishing 12 shots clear of Carnarvon’s Gina Choi. Cho produced the lowest round of the tournament in the opening round with a one-under-par 71, before following it with a five-over-par 77 to finish at four over par for the tournament.
Killara’s Chloe Sun is back in the winner’s circle after taking out the Girls 14 and 15 Years division. Sun posted two consistent rounds of 80 and 78 for a 14-over-par total, finishing seven shots clear of Royal Queensland’s Micaela Samuels.
The Junior Masters Series now heads south for the South Coast Junior Masters at Catalina Club on August 29 and 30.
