It’s not every day that a national amateur golf championship finds a totally new home in Australian golf. So it’s with enormous excitement that Golf Australia is having its premier event for emerging players, the Australian Junior Amateur, at Gold Creek Country Club next week. And with boys and girls playing together for the first time in the event’s history, it’s an even more prestigious occasion. Championship director Trevor Herden said the immaculately prepared course, 12km north of Canberra in suburban Nicholls, would put on a face worthy of not one, but two of the great honour rolls in Australian golf. The Australian Boys’ Amateur has been won by such luminaries as Peter O’Malley, Robert Allenby, Stuart Appleby, Cam Smith and the only two dual winners, Adam Scott and Ryan Ruffels. The Australian Girls’ Amateur has been won by legends including Margie Masters, Jan Stephenson, Jane Lock and more recently by LPGA Tour players Sarah Kemp, Sarah Jane Smith, Su Oh and world No.9 Minjee Lee. And Herden is confident that the Bruce Devlin-designed Gold Creek is wonderfully placed to identify the next breed. “The course is undulating, in excellent condition and there is a real buzz amongst the players about playing here,” Herden said. “For the first time with boys and girls competing at the same venue, we’ve created an awesome 156-strong field full of potential stars,” Herden said. “The Gold Creek layout demands patience, but there are a number of scoring opportunities, especially if the prevailing winds off the Brindabella Ranges are calm.” Gold Creek delegate David Armstrong said the club had successfully hosted the Australian PGA Senior Championship not long after it opened in 1996, when six-time major champion Lee Trevino saluted and spoke glowingly of the course. “The facility is owned and managed by the K-Group, who along with the clubs members are delighted to host this prestigious national championship,” Armstrong said. “Our course superintendent and his team have worked hard to present the course in stunning fashion and provide a challenge to all participants. “The club’s operations team and army of volunteers are eager and ready to support Golf Australia in hosting the event.” The tournament begins next Tuesday, with 54 holes of stroke play before a cut is made to the top 39 boys and 39 girls plus ties for the final round on Friday. No fewer than 50 male and 28 female competitors have “plus” handicaps, ensuring an extraordinary level of competition. Entry is free and spectators are encouraged to visit the club and its magnificent array of facilities. Event Homepage