28 Jan 2022 | Amateur golf |
Wong and Nakatani power to victories at the Victorian Junior Amateur
by Golf Australia
Victorian Jeneath Wong and Queenslander Manato Nakatani claimed the Victorian Junior Amateur after the event concluded at Yering Meadows in Melbourne’s east today.
All players managed the beat the wild weather currently lashing Melbourne to complete the tournament and Nakatani gained a start at next month’s Vic Open in the process, while Wong had already qualified for the professional event at 13th Beach.
Wong started her week with a sensational 11-under 61 at Gardiners Run on Monday before rounds of 70 (Yering Meadows), 68 (The Eastern) and 71 (Yering Meadows) saw her power to an amazing 20-under par and a 12-shot victory, her third in a row at the event.
The Metropolitan member has continued her amazing summer after victory two weeks ago at the Australian Master of the Amateurs and a runner-up finish at the Victorian Amateur in December.
Haruhi Nakatani continued her recent good form after winning the Tasmanian Junior Masters last week to finish in second, and Molly McLean finished outright third at one-under par.
The boys leaderboard was far tighter at the top as Nakatani’s second round 66 helped set up his win.
The Surfers Paradise member finished at five-under par for the tournament and just one ahead of Hunter Gillard and Dujuan Snyman.
Nakatani looked in control during the final round before a double bogey on 10 brought him back to the field.
Six straight pars saw him take a two-shot advantage into the final two holes and despite a bogey- bogey finish, he held on for the victory.
In the under 16s, it was overall runners-up Dujuan Snyman and Haruhi Nakatani who took home the trophies.
Elbert Kim and Amelia Harris took out the under-14 titles after the pair finished on 14-over par and 11-over par respectively.
In the overall net sections, Levi Perkins won the boys with a fantastic four-under total whilst Amelia Whiston finished an amazing 12-under for a comfortable victory.