Although played under very hot conditions, the 2017 Tenterfield Junior Golf Classic was heralded a great success with the Tenterfield Golf Club’s greens and the event organisers highly praised.
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There was a shiver of excitement across the fairways when it was thought Ballina player Jay McKenzie had broken the course record hitting 64, with the current record showing at 66 (set by a golf pro at that). Acting Golf Club president Denis Parsons was able to clarify that a change to the course resulting in the 66 record had been reversed, making the old 63 record set by L Truett in 2000 stand.
“Still it’s certainly a junior club record,” Mr Parsons said.
He said the club is very keen on junior player development, hence the financial and other support provided to younger players.
“We want to go on and help these players be good players and good club members. The donations (from the community) to support the tournament, in addition to what the club is providing, show that Tenterfield is fair dinkum about supporting junior golf.
He stressed that you don’t have to be an A grade player to participate and enjoy the game.
“I’ve had a lifetime of pleasure at the B grade level,” Mr Parsons said.
Tournament coach Charlie Earp concurs that golf is a sport for a lifetime.
Mr Parsons thanked the coaches for their participation in the tournament, saying Ballina golf pro Colin Edwards is renowned for his clear and simple instruction, and Mr Earp “is one of the greatest coaches ever.”
“I heard that Royal Queensland (Golf Club) wanted to erect a statue of him, but he said, ‘no, I don’t want birds pooing on me.’”
Both coaches were amazed by the changes in their young charges, some participating over the entire 14-year history of the tournament and now towering over their coaches (and outdrinking them at the bar).
“The tiny tots are now bigger than me, and hitting the ball further,” Mr Edwards said.
Mr Earp, a former coach of golfing great Greg Norman who credits Mr Earp with pulling him into line, said the depth in the field was very strong and, just as importantly, the kids were very polite and well-attired.
“The parents are to be congratulated,” he said.
Mr Earp said it was a pleasure to see players improve over the two days of the tournament, and he encouraged all to keep presenting themselves well.
“The next generation needs someone to look up to,” he said.
He also encouraged all the players to persevere, regardless of where they came in the rankings.
“If it wasn’t for people like us that don’t get anywhere, there’d be no tournaments,” he said.
Chief organiser Patsy Barry – who has shepherded the event from the very beginning – credited those who had come along for the ride, including John and Heather Gower who had been manning the catering facilities from the first year.
“I couldn’t manage without them,” Mrs Barry said.
For the record, in the 54-hole colts event Jacob Lawson of Bribie Island was the gross winner and Mitch Austin of Tenterfield the nett winner.
In the non-colts 54-hole comp Jay McKenzie was named overall boys winner on the back of his 64 stroke round while Taryn Maher of Gunnedah was overall girls winner (and recipient of Mr Earp’s special most improved player award). Other winners were Dylan Barraclough of Stanthorpe (A grade gross), Rhys Farrell of Warwick (A grade nett), Josh Mitchell of Pine Rives (B grade gross) and Josh Hynes of Warwick (B grade nett), Matthew Felton of Inverell (C grade gross) and Mathew Watt of Warwick (C grade nett).
The girls 36-hole event was won by Mikahla Cutmore of Tenterfield (gross) and Courtenay Dade of Uralla (nett), and the boys by Michael Cutmore of Tenterfield (gross) and Kooper Tonga of Brisbane (nett).
Among the younger golfers, boys 9-hole winner was Declan McGuire of Moree and, for the girls, Stella Payne of Ballina. Dallas Elks of Uralla was named winner of the 6-hole event.
Somewhat unique for any junior golf tournament, however, is that every player went home with a prize. While several of the colts lamented they would be too old to return next year, many of the players and their families are looking forward to the 2018 event with several already booking their accommodation.
