The Australian Junior Interstate Teams Matches begins on Monday at Mount Osmond Golf Club in Adelaide and the players are thrilled to have the chance to represent their state back on the junior golf calendar.

The two-year Covid-19 pandemic induced hiatus means that this year’s event will be the first time the vast majority of players have pulled on their state’s colours and they are pumped.

During the past week at the Australian Junior Amateur, the state against state banter had already begun, on and off the course, and there was a palpable excitement for the new mixed  gender format amongst the players.

Four males and four females make up the eight-person teams and teams will play each other once in the traditional round-robin team match play format.

The team at the top of the ladder at the end of the round-robin matches will be the winners and respecting the history of the events, teams will also compete for separate boys’ and girls’ trophies.

The race for the titles is sure to be hotly contested with the states boasting strong squads that include a host of players who impressed at the Australian Junior Amateur including: boys champion Jeffrey Guan (NSW), boys runner-up Joseph Buttress (WA), boys third place Kai Komulainen (QLD), and girls top-ten finishers Kate McFarlane (QLD), Sheridan Clancy (WA), and Celine Chen (WA).

What some of the captains had to say ahead of the tournament:

Charlotte Perkins, NSW - “I’ve played with most of the girls from the other states but they’re all so lovely that there isn’t anyone I’ve got bad blood with or anything like that, but it’ll be good to come away with a few wins. We definitely can win the whole thing if we put our minds to it.”

Joshua Todd, NSW - ​​”We’ve got a pretty good team this year and we’ve got a great vibe amongst us. I can’t wait for the Queensland match because of the traditional rivalry. If we can get the win against them that’s what really matters.”

Charlie Nobbs, SA - “I think it’s a huge advantage having it at home. We all know the course and feel a bit more comfortable. We’re a tight bunch and it’ll be good fun. There are also a few boys out there that I wouldn’t mind having a hit against and I’m sure they would be the same.”

Reagan Denton, SA - “Mount Osmond is a course you need to know and the extra support we’ll get at the golf course should help us. I’d like to beat Queensland because I reckon they are the team to beat, but I think we can win the trophy.”

Amie Phobubpa, WA - “I think we have a pretty good chance of winning. Our team is full of such great players. I reckon Queensland have a pretty good team though and I know most of the Victorian girls so it’ll be fun to play against them.”

Hunter Gillard, TAS - “I’m pretty confident in our team, we’re playing pretty well at the moment. Tassie being small we have to be mates so our team chemistry is pretty strong. I really want to beat Victoria. We’re staying in the same hotel so that’ll be a fun night if we get the win.” 

Kate McFarlane, QLD - “We have a great team spirit and our team have had pretty good results at the Australian Junior Amateur so we’re ready. I’d love to beat Western Australia because I’m pretty close with a couple of the girls and they have some pretty good players.”

Kai Komulainen, QLD - “We’ve got a solid team. Everyone’s had a bit of experience and everyone’s getting along well so the energy is going to be there. I want to beat New South Wales partly because of the traditional rivalry and they’ve got a pretty solid team so it’s always nice to beat a strong team.

Amelia Harris, VIC - “Being only 13 I was pretty shocked but thankful to be chosen as captain. I’m representing Victoria with some great friends of mine and I’m not thinking of the result right now. I’m just excited to have the opportunity to play in this competition.”

Michael Song, VIC - “I’m really honoured to be captain of this strong team. It is very exciting to get the series started and we will all try our best and have fun.”

Day one morning matches:

• ACT v Tasmania

• Queensland v Victoria

• South Australia v New South Wales

Day one afternoon matches:

• Queensland v New South Wales

• Victoria v South Australia

• Western Australia v ACT

Follow the scores here.

Each teams’ representatives:

ACT – Madison Hood, Emily Mollard, Matilda Sullings, Amber Tilley, Noah Bricknell, Hunter Caldwell, Nathan White & Harry Whitelock.

NSW – Rachel Lee, Charlotte Perkins, Ella Scaysbrook, Lara Thomsen, Jye Halls, Jeffrey Guan, Will Moody & Joshua Todd.

QLD – Kate McFarlane, Summer Sadler, Ilani Short, Shyla Singh, Billy Dowling, Taj Egea, Kai Komulainen & Harry Takis.

SA – Raegan Denton, Jaime Hards, Imogen Jessen, Seoyoung (Katie) Seol, Charlie Nobbs, Kade Bryant, Joshua Grundel & Nicholas Siegmund.

TAS – Hunter Gillard, Eli Monaghan, Isaac Roberts, Lachlan White. *Note: TAS fielding a boys’ team only.

VIC – Louise Baliton, Amelia Harris, Molly McLean, Jazy Roberts, Max Fedmowski, Bailey Goodall, Michael Song & Rupert Toomey.

WA – Celine Chen, Sheridan Clancy, Jorja Hinson Tolchard, Amie Phobubpa, Joe Buttress, Riley Gott, Ollie Marsh & Alex Maxwell.