Weekend double for juniors

SOME of the state’s top junior golfers descended on our coast on the weekend.

Thirteenth Beach hosted a high performance training day for the golf programs from all of Victoria’s regional academies on Saturday, while Torquay Golf Club hosted its junior tournament on Sunday.

The high performance training day was attended by the South West, West Vic, Bendigo, Sunraysia and Barwon sports academies.

The development day was facilitated by Golf Australia staff including high performance manager Matt Cutler, VIS head golf coach Dean Kinney, VIS strength and conditioning coach Ben King, female pathway manager Stacey Peters and media manager Mark Hayes.

Golfers were taken through various lessons by the staff including skills coaching, how to deal with the media and social media, and recovery.

Most of the academy athletes backed up Saturday by playing for the Alec Calvert Trophy on Sunday, run in conjunction with the Torquay Golf Club’s junior tournament.

Bendigo took out the trophy by .1 of a shot from South West with Barwon coming in third.

The Torquay tournament, played in trying conditions with patchy rain falling throughout the day, had a capacity field.

Rising star and Barwon Valley golfer Mitch Crabbe won the tournament with a -5 (66).

Jack Martin was the next best local with a +2 (73).

Emma Pearce was the only other local to secure a prize, finishing runner-up in the girls stableford event.

Jacob Young won the cadet event for players without handicaps.