Victorian Amelia Harris and Western Australia’s Spencer Harrison have stormed to the top of the leaderboard after the opening round of the 2025 Jack Newton International at Cypress Lakes Golf and Country Club.
Seventeen-year-old Harris produced a flawless bogey-free round of seven-under-par to take a three-shot lead in the girls’ division. The performance marked her best score of the year and a statement start in what is her final appearance at the prestigious junior tournament.
“I just stuck to my game and felt confident out there,” Harris said.
“I know this course really well, it’s my fourth time playing here, and I hit pretty much every fairway and green. My putting could’ve been a little better, but I’m not going to whinge after seven-under.”
The Victorian admitted she hadn’t been in her best form leading into the week, making the score even more satisfying.
“I haven’t really shot anything better than three- or four-under all year, so to start like this gives me a lot of confidence,” she said.
“Since this is my last time playing the tournament, a win would mean everything. It’s always been one of the big ones that everyone wants to win.”
Queensland’s Ionna Muir and New Zealand’s Juwon Kim sit tied for second at four-under, keeping the chase alive heading into round two.
In the boys’ division, Harrison matched Harris’ bogey-free effort with a composed five-under-par to grab the outright lead.
The 17-year-old opened his round with a birdie on the par-four first and never looked back, picking off further birdies on the fourth, sixth and seventeenth to cap a controlled performance.
“My driving was solid all day and I made the putts I needed to, plus a couple of extras,” Harrison said.
“The highlight was definitely on 13 when I had to chip out backwards from the trees and still made par from 118 metres. That kept the momentum going.”
Harrison, who recently returned from testing his game in the United States, said the result showed his preparation was paying off.
“I’ve been feeling really good in my swing lately, and having played here the last two years, I know the course well,” he said. “This is one of the biggest junior events in the country, so of course I’d love to win it, but I’m just taking it day by day.”
The Australian’s Blake Cranston is Harrison’s closest challenger, sitting at four-under after his opening round.
Sub-Junior Classic Leaders Shine at The Vintage
At The Vintage Golf Club, the Sub-Junior Classic also teed off with standout performances.
Western Australia’s Blake Wager dominated the boys’ competition, firing the only under-par round of the day. After reaching the turn at even par, Wager caught fire on the back nine, rolling in four birdies in five holes to seize control of the leaderboard.
“All my drives were good, my putting was good, everything was good,” Wager said. His goal for the rest of the week: “Stay under par.”
In the girls’ field, Concord Golf Club’s Alicia Luo set the pace with a one-under-par opening round to lead by three. Four birdies highlighted her scorecard as she edged clear of Killara’s Chloe Sun.
“I’ve played this course quite a few times so experience definitely helps,” Luo said.
“I don’t have winning on my mind, I just want to have fun, do my best, and play as well as I can.”
Age Group Leaders – Sub-Junior Classic
- Girls 12 years: Alicia Luo (Concord) 70; Constance Wang (Avondale) and Ming Ming Lee (Monash) +3
- Girls 13 years: Chloe Sun (Killara) +2; Nicole Son (Penrith) +9
- Girls 14 years: Honey Kim (Concord) +4; Sarah Quan (Avondale) +5
- Boys 12 years: Ethan Pak (Concord) and Wolfe Case-Boag (Tasmania) +5; Sebastian McLeod +7
- Boys 13 years: Haohua Sun (Ryde Parramatta) +2; Isaac Riches (Armidale), Jaydan Costello (Crookwell), and David Kang (Cowra) +3
- Boys 14 years: Blake Wager (Gosnells) -1; Jesse Linden +1
Under 12 and Nine-Hole Classics Off to a Flying Start
At Rydges Hunter Valley, Toukley’s Max Atwell impressed with a one-under-par round to lead the Under 12 Junior Classic.
Meanwhile, in the nine-hole classic, The Vintage’s Ashton Linden posted the day’s best score, a three-under-par round to set the early standard.
Related Links:
Jack Newton International Classic – Leaderboard
Jack Newton International Sub-Junior Classic – Leaderboard
Jack Newton International Under 12 Junior Classic – Leaderboard
Jack Newton International 9 Hole Junior Classic – Leaderboard
