The Links Shell Cove turned on perfect conditions for the 2026 Illawarra Junior Masters, a stark contrast to last year’s strong winds and rain. What followed was a nail-biting final round, with the lead changing hands multiple times throughout the day. In the end, it was Audrey Quan (Avondale), Beau Cain (Cronulla) and Lennox Cleary (Long Reef) who emerged victorious.
The Boys division produced a dramatic finish, requiring a three-way sudden-death playoff to determine the winner. Lennox Cleary surged into contention with back-to-back birdies to finish, while Beau Cain birdied his final hole to join him at one-under-par alongside Riley Lam (Pennant Hills).
With fading light and the floodlights switched on, the trio returned to the par-five 18th hole, setting the stage for an incredible finale. After Lam found the hazard off the tee, the contest came down to Cain and Cleary. Both players reached the green in two and faced eagle putts. Cleary’s lengthy downhill attempt ran well past the hole, but he showed composure to hole his birdie putt and apply the pressure. Cain’s eagle attempt narrowly missed, and he tapped in for birdie, resulting in both players being declared joint winners due to fading daylight.
It marked a maiden Junior Masters victory for both Cain and Cleary—an unusual but fitting result given the way they handled the pressure down the stretch.
In the Girls division, 13-year-old Audrey Quan from Avondale Golf Club produced a remarkable comeback victory. Starting the day two shots off the lead, Quan struggled early with a bogey and double bogey in her opening five holes. However, she responded brilliantly, playing flawless golf from that point forward. Two closing birdies, including one on the final hole, secured her a one-shot victory over local favourite Sage Laird. Quan finished with rounds of 74 and 73 (+3), an impressive achievement in her first Junior Masters win.
Kiama’s Sage Laird claimed the Girls 16 Years & Over division with rounds of 73 and 75 (+5), finishing two shots clear of Castle Hill’s Farman Dhillon. Laird continues to build an impressive resume and is trending strongly.
Milla Adamson of Bonville Golf Resort dominated the Girls 14 & 15 division, cruising to a nine-shot victory with rounds of 81 and 78 (+15). It marks her second age group win in just four starts this year.
Another standout performance came from Brighton Lakes’ Miya Finneren in the Girls 13 Years & Under division. Finneren fired a brilliant four-under-par 68 in the final round—the lowest round of the tournament in the girls field—and her first round under par.
In the Boys 13 Years & Under division, Avondale’s Andy Zhou secured a four-shot victory over Concord’s Ethan Pak. Zhou’s final round of one-under-par sealed his first Junior Masters age group title.
The JNJG calendar now heads north, with the Northern Rivers Junior Masters set to take place at Ocean Shores this Sunday and Monday, April 12–13.
