Rising Stars keep rising!

You may remember in November that we featured young “Rising Star” Matthew Samen-Curtis — a 14-year-old Pennant Team player at Caloundra Golf Club. Matthew had unexpectedly found himself atop the leaderboard following regulation play at the inaugural Glasshouse Mountains OPEN Amateur Championships.  Following a six-way playoff against a very difficult field, Matthew was pipped at the post by ex- pro Ken Glasson – but the youngster had suddenly made a name for himself.

Well, Matthew is at it again, having recently taken the hardware at the Invincibles Matchplay Championships. The tournament, which is supported by Lend Lease, Hyatt Regency Coolum and Horton Park Golf Club, was played over three separate days in a 3-week span.

Matthew began his tournament in fine form, beating fellow competitor Jack Marriot in a playoff. The following week, he bettered two-time champion (and previously unbeaten in match play) Simon Britz, finishing 5&3 to continue to the final.

In the final, Matthew took on Horton Park’s Shae Wolls-Cobb. Three down on the 8^th, Matthew had all but lost hope, but he dug deep (drawing on the immense support that his family and friends had instilled in him) battling back to win the 9^th, 11^th and the par-5 12^th, where he recorded an eagle on the par-5.

The duo then see-sawed back and forth, finding themselves square after 17. An easy par on 18 sealed the victory for Matthew, giving him the A-Grade Boys Championship, and proving once again that Matthew Samen-Curtis is a name to watch!

Of course, Matthew wasn’t the only star of the day, as The Girls Open Division saw Mikaleigh Pickles and Aneka Park contest the coveted Invincibles Girls Matchplay Title. Aneka played some brilliant golf to take the match to the 17th, but Mikaleigh (who had brought her A-game to the match, playing the five par-three’s in two under) was victorious on the 18^th. The B-C Grade Boys Division saw two very talented young golfers go head to head, with the reigning Champion Karl Preston putting up a brilliant defense of his title, beating the talented Sean Daines 5&4.

Congratulations to these rising stars!

Green Walkers Junior Golf Academy

Parents of budding young superstars in Melbourne have a new academy to nurture their kids’ interest in golf.  Green Walkers Junior Golf Academy offers Victoria’s golfing youth a safe, fun, exciting and challenging environment to focus on their game.

Launched last month at 3 Melbourne locations – Growling Frog, Golftec and Freeway Public Golf Course, the academy offers individual teaching lessons to children from 3-16 years of age, and also offers clinics that run with the school term, after school, on the weekends and during holidays. They even have ‘Family Days’.

The academy was started by Shelley Wade and her partner Damien Magaton (a PGA Professional). It is open to all skills and abilities — whether the junior has never swung a club, or if they are skilled players looking to take their game to the next level, Green Walkers will provide them with the right ‘platform’ to suit their needs. The academy provides a structured system whereby juniors are placed in small groups with other kids of similar age and skill level. Students will have the opportunity to rise through the different levels of classes from beginners through to advanced.

Green Walkers members will be a part of an academy that gives each individual an opportunity to learn golf in a fun environment and progress from coaching into playing regularly in competitions.

Most importantly, Green Walkers members will have the chance to make a lot of new friends, have a handicap, compete and enjoy their love of golf with other juniors.

For more information, visit: www.greenwalkers.com.au.

  greenwalkers, juniors