Corey Lamb and Hye Park have made it running back-to-back victories at the NSW JuniorChampionship this afternoon at Belmont Golf Club.
Fresh from last weeks win in the Queensland Junior, the pair have done it again, conquering all comers at the NSW Championship.
After starting the final round with a six-shot margin, Lamb cruised to a four-shot win, carding a 76 in the severe westerly winds which played havoc with most of the field.
It was always going to be a hard ask for his opponents to mow down, and despite their best efforts, Lamb had enough in the tank to get home comfortably.
Lamb got his day off to a bright start with a birdie on the first. The strengthening winds soon played their part, and when the Branxton local double-bogeyed the third, he knew it might become a fight.
FInal Scores: Boys
1 Corey Lamb 279
2. Samuel Slater 283
3. Jeffrey Guan 286
4 Joshua Robards 288
T5 Louis Dobbelaar 289
T5 Tyler Duncan 289
7. Harrison Crowe 293
8. Jye Halls 297
9. Andrew Park 299
10. Andrew Outridge 300
“I started good with a birdie, but when I went bogey, bogey, I toldmyself I had to do something.” Lamb grinned post-round.
It was a struggle today, but I got the job done, so that’s good,”
Lamb joins an illustrious group of golfers on the NSW Junior Championship, including more than a few famous Newcastle golfers. Lookingover the honour roll, he was in awe of names he saw.
“Yeah, it feels good to be amongst them,” he quipped.
Roll of Honour
Lamb was also thrilled to know he had ensured his place in the field for the AVJennings NSW Open in November. HIs last taste of the NSW Open was acting as a caddy for his uncle, Mark Hale, who won his way in via regional Qualifying.
” I Caddied for him last time, so yeah, It’s going tobe fun.”
Asked about the chances of the uncle repaying the caddying favour, Lamb Grinned.
” Yes, definitely. He’s tasking a week off to caddy for me in the Queensland Open, so I think he should make it two weeks.”
Dramatic playoff decides Girls crown
In the girl’s division, Hye Park not only made it running back to back wins, but back to back NSW Junior titles as well.
She didn’t the hard way, however, and in scenes reminiscent of last years come from behind effort, Park took it to a playoff to secure this year’s crown.
Starting the day four shots behind her Queensland counterpart Cassie Porter, Park managed to whittle the lead away. Three holes into the back nine and it was all square.
With four straight birdies from Park look like she was going to run away with the win, but overnight leader Porter wasn’t done.
Porter clawed her way back into the contest, making clutch birdies on 15 and 16 to stay in touch.
Final Scores: Girls
1 Hye Park 288 ( Park wins with a birdie on the first playoff hole)
2 Cassie Porter 288
3 Hannah Reeves 292
4 Lion Higo 294
T5 Jasmine Driscoll 299
T5 Claire Shin 299
7 Sophie Yip 304
8 Abbie Teasedale 305
T9 Justice Bosio 306
T9 Yerin Kim 306
Playing the final hole, it was Park who flinched, however, rifling her approach over the green, while Porter was safely on for two.
Park flubbed her first chip then ran her second about 10 feet past.
Staring at a double, Park holed a clutch putt, leaving Porter with about 8 feet for an unlikely win.
Porter missed, and it meant they were heading for an extra hole.
It didn’t take long for Park to assert her authority in the playoff. With Porter unable to reach the first in two, Park, with a considerable distance advantage, rifled a five iron to about 10 feet.
Porter knocked her third in close, and although Park gave her putt a solid look, it didn’t drop, leaving porter about six feet to keep the playoff alive. Sadly her putt slid by the right-hand edge, giving Park her second NSW Junior Girl’s Crown.
Park was extremely relieved to grab the win especially in such a dramatic way.
“It feels great.
I wanted to win this tournament again, And I am so happy to have done it.”
Park admitted as defending champion, her expectations were high. They were challenged however in round two by her opponent, Porter.
” The first day I was pretty confident, but when Cassie shot ten under in the second day I was a bit nervous,” the cheery Korean smiled.
Courtesy of her win, Park will get a start in the 2020 Women’s NSW Open at Dubbo Golf Club in March 2020. She is hoping to do better next year than this year’s experience at Queanbeyan.
“I missed the cut this year,” she smiled.” next year, I want to do better and make the cut.”
