It was a wet two days at Ocean Shores Country Club, but that didn’t dampen the spirits of Saskia Knevitt (Emerald Lakes) & Tony Cho (Brisbane). The Queensland Duo have won the 2025 Northern Rivers Junior Masters as part of the Ford Junior Masters and in doing so have punched their ticket to the Bonville Champions Trophy.
Tony Cho from the Brisbane Golf Club played a near perfect 36 holes of golf carding a total of seven birdies and only one bogey over the two-round tournament. Cho fired rounds of 70 and 68 for a six-under-par total and a four shot victory. This was Chos first ever Junior Masters win.
The 15 year old star from Brisbane GC barely missed out on playing in the Australian Junior Amateur due to handicap ballot, but he switched his focus onto this event and it certainly paid off with an impressive victory at Ocean Shores.
“I played alright. I had a really fun time playing with my mates. The course was really good.” he said.
“My approach shots into the green was the strongest part of my game. It was pretty hard to judge the spin and speed of the greens compared to where I normally play.”
Former NSW State Team Member Ian Kim of the St Michael’s Golf Club finished in a tie for second alongside the 2024 Jack Newton International Long Drive Champion Justin Wei (Burleigh). The pair finished at two-under-par.
In the Boys 13 Years & Under Division Lachlan Symons (Emerald Lakes) edged out Braxton Ivanoff (Narrandera) by sevent strokes for the win. Symons shot rounds of 79 and 80 for a two-round-total of 15 over par.
Saskia Knevitt claimed her first over Junior Masters Title with a three-shot victory over Sanctuary Coves Alicia Ludi. Knevitt had consecutive rounds of 73 to finish on a two-over-par total. The 15-year-old prodigy from Queensland played consistent and steady golf and didn’t let the nerves get in her way.
“I was pretty happy with how I played. My shots were all consistent, but my putting wasn’t too good. I was happy with my long game” She said.
“I wasn’t really nervous. I knew I had a three shot lead coming into the last hole, so I just thought I would keep hitting straight. I finished with nine straight pars.”
Alicia Ludi finished in solo second at five-over-par. She won the 13 Years & Under Division by seven shots. Ludi is no stranger to being in conention at a Junior Masters event. She proved yet again that she is a top contender.
Defending Champion Annalese McKee (Coffs Harbour) finished in third with a two-round-total of six-over-par. McKee won the Girls 16 Years & Over Division by four shots over Catalina Club’s Bronte Eppelstun.
The Ford Junior Masters Series now heads down south to The Links Shell Cove for the Illawarra Junior Masters on the 22nd & 23rd of April.
Final Scores – https://www.golfgenius.com/pages/11139602253147585752
