New South Wales duo Callum Sharp and Amy Squires claimed breakthrough victories at 7 Mile Beach Golf Links, winning the 2026 Tasmanian Amateur Championship after two thrilling finals on Sunday.
Avondale Golf Club’s Sharp edged Queenslander Harrison Gomez on the 19th hole, while Newcastle Golf Club’s Squires defeated fellow New South Welshwoman Hayley McNeill on the final hole to secure the women’s title.
The victories marked long-awaited first Golf Australia and World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) titles for both rising talents.
Sharp entered the match play stages as the No. 2 seed after finishing the 36-hole stroke play qualifying rounds at even-par, seven strokes behind top seed and local favourite Jonty Lunson, who carded an impressive 7-under-par total.
However, the qualifying standings counted for little once match play began, with Victoria’s Benjamin Steven pulling off an opening-round upset to defeat Lunson 1up.
Sharp, meanwhile, cruised to a 6&5 win over Ben Stieler before surviving a stern quarter-final test against Canberra’s Harry Whitelock, eventually prevailing on the 22nd hole.
Sunday morning brought two closely fought semi-finals, with Sharp edging Victoria’s Fraser Anderson 1up and Gomez defeating Steven 3&2 to set up the afternoon final.
Sharp ultimately prevailed on the 19th hole to secure his maiden title.
“That was my first ever Golf Australia win, definitely a big goal ticked off for me personally,” said Sharp, who finished tied fourth at the 2026 Australian Amateur Championship.
“Had that in my sights for nearly half a decade now, so it does feel good to finally tick that off. To do it on a challenging golf course definitely means the world.”
The championship also marked the first major golf tournament hosted at the recently opened 7 Mile Beach Golf Links, with Sharp relishing both the challenge of the course and the surrounding scenery.
“The course was unreal, it’s definitely an experience like any other,” he said.
“Really challenging off the tee, you’ve got to be a good ball striker to try and find the fairway and give yourself a chance for the approach.
“But then the views as well, you might have a bad hole and you just look out to the sea and you put a smile on your face, that’s for sure.”
Squires, who recently returned to Newcastle after representing Texas Tech University in NCAA Division 1 golf, entered the women’s match play draw as the No. 4 seed.
She began with a two-hole victory over local hope Kalynda Cowen before defeating Queenslander Chohee Park 3&2 in the quarter-finals.
Squires then produced another composed performance to overcome top seed and fellow New South Welshwoman Tirzah Cho by two holes in the semi-finals, setting up a final against McNeill.
In a battle of youth and experience, Squires held her nerve to win on the final hole and claim her first amateur tournament title, with the victory coming as she looks towards a professional career.
“I’ve never won an amateur tournament, so it’s definitely a big win for me and I’m really grateful to have won this tournament,” Squires said.
“I put in all the work and I deserve it as much as any of the girls did. This is probably the biggest tournament I’ll play until I turn pro, so I’m really happy to play this tournament and win.”
