11 Apr 2022 | Amateur golf |
Tight tussles headline Junior Interstate first day
by Dane Heverin
Heavyweight battles between the eastern states were the headline act, while Western Australia flexed their muscles on day one of the Australian Junior Interstate Team Matches at Mount Osmond Golf Club in Adelaide.
New South Wales and Victoria are perched at the top of the standings with both teams recording wins against South Australia and a tie against Queensland to kick off their campaign.
Fresh off a week of strong results at the Australia Junior Amateur and the morning off, Western Australia are nipping at their heels following a clean sweep of the Australian Capital Territory.
Earlier the Queensland versus Victoria contest kicked off the tournament after many of the captains labelled them as contenders and it lived it up to expectations with a 4-all deadlock the final result.
The crucial matchup proved to be Victoria’s Rupert Toomey getting the better of Billy Dowling - who finished tied for fourth in the Australian Junior Amateur - 3&2.
In the afternoon, the team in maroon then mirrored their first result against a white hot New South Wales fresh off a dominant 7-1 victory over hosts South Australia.
All eyes were on the match between Australian Junior Amateur champion Jeffrey Guan (NSW) and Queensland Kai Komulainen to see if Guan would continue his brilliance from The Vines of Reynella last week, but Komulainen was up for the big occasion.
The third place finisher from last week at one stage was four holes up, but Guan clawed back the momentum to set up a thrilling finish. It was not enough however as Komulainen held on for a 2&1 win to secure the tie at 4-all.
Queensland’s girls captain Kate McFarlane won both of her matches and was upbeat about her team's efforts on the opening day.
“We played well today. They were tough matchups. Victoria and New South Wales are good teams and the course is challenging. It’s very hilly. I’d played here before when I was 12 and I was like how did I do that?” McFarlane said.
“We’ve got the morning off so it’ll be nice to have a sleep in and we’re ready to get a win tomorrow afternoon.”
Amelia Harris, Louise Baliton and Rupert Toomey won both of their matches for Victoria, while Rachel Lee, Jye Halls and Will Moody did the same for New South Wales.
Western Australia take on Victoria and New South Wales tomorrow in contests that are likely to give us a clear picture on the overall boys and girls victor.
Day one morning match results:
ACT 5 - 3 Tasmania
Queensland 4 - 4 Victoria
South Australia 1 - 7 New South Wales
Day one afternoon match results:
Queensland 4 - 4 New South Wales
Victoria 6.5 - 1.5 South Australia
Western Australia 8 - 0 ACT
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