The course was drenched with more than 12 inches of rain for the previous fortnight but play still started on time. 

More than 120 juniors took to the course for the fifth event of the series and two first time winners won the boys and girls’ events.

Gold Creek’s Josh Armstrong and Madeline Nurdi from St Michaels came from behind to claim their first junior masters event. 

Armstrong trailed overnight leader Weiliang Wang by three shots after the first day.

Armstrong, the new Australian Schoolboys team captain, recovered from a poor tee shot on the opening hole to make par.

He remained composed but hit a double bogey on the eighth hole and a bogey on the 10th to give runner-up, Kurt Burns of Bonnie Doon, a sniff.

He steadied the ship, hitting birdies on the 12th, 14th and 15th to win by four shots. 

Nurdi sunk five birdies on her last 10 holes to overcome a five-shot deficit to win by two shots from overnight leader Danni Vasquez of Kiama.

Catalina junior promotions officer Jason Finn said a highlight of the event was a playoff between Luca Brucic and Moruya’s Lachlan Ingram in the under 13s boys’ division. 

“Ingram had a chance to take it out on the first hole but he missed a par putt that would have handed him the title,” Finn said. 

“The ever improving Brucic made him pay draining a 20 foot birdie putt on the third playoff hole to win.”

Burns, who lost the boys’ title by four shots to Armstrong, won the over 16s boys’ scratch and Blake Christofersen was the net winner.

Armstrong won the boys 14 and 15s years scratch and Jake Reay was the net winner. 

The boys’ Stableford winner was Catalina junior Jack McFarlane with 65 points on countback. 

The girls’ over 16s scratch winner was Eleena Kyriacou with 155 and Annabelle Elina was the net winner with 142. 

The girls’ 14 and 15 years scratch winner was Nurdi with 152 and Brianna Robards was the net winner with 145. 

The girls’ under 13s scratch winner was Grace Kim with 166 and Isabelle Hawse was the net winner with 152.

The Stableford winner was Giselle Vigna with 68 points. 

“Congratulations to all winners and we hope to see you back here at Catalina again next year,” Finn said.