CATALINA Country Club will jointly host Australia’s largest junior golf tournament, the 2008 State Age Championships, in July.
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Catalina will host the tournament in conjunction with Mollymook Golf Club between July 14 and 18.
The tournament is the brainchild of Australian golfing stalwart Jack Newton and provides a competitive environment for a field of 350 junior golfers from all corners of New South Wales.
“The State Age Championships is a marquee event and I am delighted for our greatest junior talent to be on display on the South Coast,” Newton said.
“The championships has been an important stepping stone for many of this State’s most celebrated golfers over the years and that certainly puts things in perspective for our aspiring juniors hoping to make a successful transition into the senior ranks.”
Catalina Country Club CEO Richard Hogg said hosting the event was a major coup for the region after its move from Tamworth
in 2007.
“The State Age Championship is a major golfing event on the State calendar each year, and it will attract over 350 junior golfers and their parents to the area for the week,” he said.
Players must qualify for the event through local and regional competitions, with over 1000 junior boys and girls across NSW vying for positions in the field.
The event is a stroke play, with competitors playing 18 holes at each course over the opening two days followed by a cut in each age group after 36 holes. The top half in each age group, once the cut has been made, will compete for the Subaru State Age Championship Cup at the Catalina Country Club while the bottom half will contest the Subaru State Age Championship Plate at Mollymook Golf Club.
“Catalina is also the venue for the National PGA Futures Trainee Championship for three years from November 2008, which is effectively the next stage in junior golf for those who aspire to become professional,” Hogg said.
Newton himself will be in attendance, lending his support to all the competitors.
Boys favourites include outstanding 17-year-old Dimitrios Papadatos from the Toukley Golf Club and the 2008 State Junior team captain Luke Humphries from the Pymble Golf Club. Mitch Davis, the 2008 State Junior Champion, will also be hard to beat.
The girls events are wide open, with many in a position to win the Age Titles. The girls considered the greatest chance of being crowned overall champion include 2007 Australian under 16 years Champion Justine Lee from Bankstown and Emma Betland from the Forbes Golf Club.
Batemans Bay players Teagan and Natika Dunn are expected to perform well on their home course, especially after their strong showing in the recent Bega Junior Golf Open.
For further information contact Sheree Dell on 0420 400 909.
