The 2018 AJADGC Australian Junior Golf Team recently returned from the United States after competing at the World Stars of Junior Golf in Las Vegas and the West Coast AAU Junior Olympic Games Golf Championship at Temecula, Southern California.  The team were proudly represented by 22 boys and 10 girls across all age divisions from 6 years through to 18 years.

The World Stars of Junior Golf was our first event and held in Las Vegas and were celebrating their 10th Anniversary.  The beautiful Pauite Golf Course was home to all divisions except 11-12 boys and 15-18 girls who competed at Angel Park Golf Club.  Prior to this event there was a Par 3 comp under lights at Angel Park where all players went well and the next day this was followed up with a 9 hole putting competition played on the grass putting course at Angel Park. This is a lot of fun and an opportunity for the team to catch up and meet their new found team mates and friends.

Las Vegas brought the weather this year with temperatures around 50 degrees each day and that was accompanied by very windy conditions which would cause some havoc with the big hitters especially on such a tight course where accuracy and distance were imperative for a good score.  The team put in a great effort against over 300 players from around the world and thoroughly enjoyed the challenge and experience.

Trophies and medals were awarded for the top 10 this year as it was World Stars 10th Anniversary.  In the Girls 13-14 division – Poppy Harrington tied 6th with an exceptional 2 under on the second day and par round on the final day 81-70-72 and Emily Martin tied 10th with 76-78-80.

In the Boys 8 and under Harrison Preece placed 4th with a great 2 under on the final day 37-41-34, Mattys Visser shot par on the final day to tie 5th with 39-38-36, Jesse Linden placed 8th with 40-41-39 and Aden Biddle on his first international experience placed 9th with 43-41-39.  It was a great effort from all these boys who are all rising superstars of the game.

In the 15-18 Boys division Sam Harrison placed 4th with a great 2 under on the second day 77-70-79 and Ben Scott finished 8th with 76-78-76.

The team then had a couple of days sightseeing with their families before heading to Temecula in Southern California for the West Coast AAU Junior Olympic Games Golf Championship. The weather was hot and humid and provided great conditions for playing golf.  All of the team performed fantastically well and although numbers weren’t high for the event, the ability and scores to receive a medal had to be of the highest standard.

Gold, silver and bronze medals were awarded to each individual age division. An overall plaque was also awarded to the winner of combined age divisions.  Zac Dowde won the 17 year boys, Ben Scott gold in the 16 year boys with Sam Atwell silver and Nathan Beauchamp bronze.  In the 15 year boys Sam Harrison gold, Kyle Dowde silver and Ethan Carlson bronze and in the 12 year boys Billy Webb won silver.  The 11 year boys saw Marcus Carlson take silver and the boys 10 Luke Biddle also won silver.  Harry Phillips won gold in the 9 year boys with Levi Holmes taking bronze.  Mattys Visser with a great 4 under for the tournament won gold in the 8 year boys and Aden Biddle won silver and Harper Henderson-Feldman won bronze.

The girls 15 year division saw Casey Thompson win silver and Makayla Fraser win bronze and in the girls 14 years Emily Martin won gold in a close contest with Poppy Harrington who won silver.  In the girls 13 years there was a playoff between our team members Ella Tancred and Amara Burns with Ella taking the gold and Amara the silver.  Lily McGuiness won gold in the 7 year division.

This was another hugely successful trip with many new families travelling.  As usual, we received numerous comments throughout our journey on how polite and friendly each and every member of the team conducted themselves and this is something to be very proud of.