Six New South Wales golfers have been recognised as finalists in the Outstanding Male and Female Amateur Player of the Year categories at the NSW Golf Industry Awards to be held later this month.
The finalists are Grace Kim, Doey Choi & Stephanie Kyriacou (Female), while Nathan Barbieri, Blake Windred & Shane Luke have been honoured in the male category.
Grace Kim
Grace, from Greenacre, is a member of Avondale Golf Club and was co-captain of the all-conquering NSW Women’s team which defended their crown at the 2019 Australian Interstate Teams Matches.
Australia’s highest-ranked female amateur, Grace has amassed a swag of titles highlighted by her gold medal performance in the 2018 Youth Olympics.
Doey Choi
Doey, from Concord, is also a member at Concord Golf Club. She began the year impressively with a fantastic fourth-place finish against the creme of the Ladies European Tour and ALPG talent at the Pacific Bay Resort Australian Ladies Classic – Bonville.
Choi tied for medallist honours at the Women’s Australian Amateur in January. She is a member of the NSW Women’s team and also represented Australia at the Queen Sirikit Cup.
Stephanie Kyriacou
Stephanie, from Maroubra, is a member of St. Michael’s Golf Club. The 18 year-old recorded the biggest win of her young career in January, claiming the Australian Master of the Amateurs Crown at Royal Melbourne Golf Club. In September, she claimed the Queensland Amateur crown.
Kyriacou is also a member of the NSW Women’s team and represented Australia at the Queen Sirikit Cup.
Blake Windred
Blake Windred from Newcastle is a member of the Australian Golf Club. Windred’s impressive resume continued to grow throughout 2019 and began with a successful defence of his Avondale Amateur Crown.
During the Northern Summer, WIndred impressed with some spectacular golf, including runner-up in the Pacific Coast Amateur and a 12th place finish in the medal rounds of the US Amateur.
WIndred made his final appearance as an amateur at the Asia Pacific Am in Shanghai, China, finishing 13th. He ended his amateur career with a Men’s World Ranking of 11.
Nathan Barbieri
Nathan Barbieri from North Ryde is a member of Monash Country Club.
Barbieri began 2019 in searing form, finishing runner-up in both the Australian and NSW Amateur titles, which saw his world ranking rocket towards the world’s top 100.
Barbieri was a member of the NSW Men’s team for the second year running and made his debut in national colours at the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship in Shanghai, China in September.
Shane Luke
Shane Luke from Milperra is also a member at Bankstown Golf Club.
It would be fair to call Luke one of Australia’s best all-abilities golfers.
Luke has captured the Australian Amputee Championship no less than nine times in a love affair with the sport which dates back to his teenage years.
A scratch marker, Luke has also represented his club, Bankstown in Metropolitan Major Pennant and s currently ranked #12 on the World Amateur Ranking for Golfers with a disability.
Graeme Phillipson, the General Manager of Golf – Golf NSW, congratulated the finalists on their fantastic results.
“All six players have performed exceptionally well over the last year.
“It’s a real thrill to be able to watch first-hand how they have developed as athletes, and exciting to think where they sport could take them,” Mr Phillipson said.