09 Dec 2019 | Amateur golf |
Girls dominate for Victoria at Junior Pennant Final
by Golf Australia
After a dominant final series, the all-girls team from Victoria Golf Club has claimed the 2019 Victorian Junior Pennant flag at The National (Long Island).
In a final day which was closer than final scores reflected, Victoria defeated Spring Valley 5-1 to be crowned the 2019 champions.
Victoria came into the final full of confidence after an emphatic 6-0 victory over Barwon Heads in the semi-finals.
In contrast, Spring Valley had limped into the final after surviving thrilling playoff finishes in the quarterfinals against Kooringal and in the semi-finals against Riverside Essendon.
Nivethan Kanthan was the hero who gifted Spring Valley their finals berth, demonstrating remarkable composure for a 14-year-old.
After closing out his match with a superb birdie on the 18th hole at Churchill-Waverley Golf Club, the Spring Valley no.2 Kanthan was chosen to take on George Carasavidis from Riverside Essendon in the sudden death team playoff.
Despite a wayward tee shot that left him with a tricky lie in the right rough, Kanthan managed to find the green with his second and drained a 30-foot putt for birdie to send Spring Valley on its way to the final.
On Sunday the final two teams standing met at The National (Long Island) for one last showdown.
The first match completed fell Victoria’s way as Eisha Sohail continued her undefeated season with an 8&6 victory.
Spring Valley struck back soon after as Victoria Sam sealed the win on the fifth green to finish 5&4.
However, Victoria began to assert its ascendancy on the remaining matches and gained a 2-1 lead when Jessica Wilkinson closed out her match on the 16th.
In what had been a tight match all day, Wilkinson’s solid putting helped her seal the win 3&2.
Following closely behind, Jasmine Beer added Victoria’s third win with a 3&2 in the number five match to ensure at worst a playoff for her team.
With two holes to play in the number one and two matches both Spring Valley players need a win on the 17th hole to keep their matches alive.
Ultimately both Jessica Zhu and Sophie Miles from Victoria were able to hold their nerves and finished with 2&1 and 3&1 wins respectively.
Both team managers spoke glowingly of their players in the presentation, commending them for their efforts with many players in their first season of junior pennant.
Click here for full results.
Click here for Junior Pennant Finals photo gallery.
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