TWELVE-STRONG FIELD VYING FOR SUPER 6 CROWN

THE third running of the Tasmanian Junior Super 6 competition at the Ratho Farm Golf Links tees off today.

The event will commence at 10.30am with 12 competitors vying for the prestigious title.

The top 16 gross scores for boys and girls combined from today’s 18-hole round will qualify for tomorrow’s Super 6 knockout matches. Defending champion 17-year-old Hunter Gillard, from the Royal Hobart Golf Club, is expected to perform well.

Gillard will be keen to secure back-to-back titles.

Tasmania Golf Club’s Elijah Monaghan and Launceston’s Jorjah Bailey will be tough to beat and Royal Hobart’s Mackenzie Thomas will be hoping to show some good form.

Ratho Farm Golf Links is also conducting a 9-hole development event to be played in conjunction with the Super 6 qualifying round.

The development event is designed for juniors who do not have a handicap and there is no minimum age requirement.

ADAM HOLDEN, PGA teaching professional at Tasmania Golf Club, once taught golf on the other side of the Pacific Ocean and saw the growth in junior girls’ participation.

As he now instructs the Australian Golf Foundation junior girls golf scholarship recipients at Tasmania, he is noticing a similar trend.

“When I coached golf in Ontario, Canada, junior girls were the fastest growing demographic,” Holden said.

Holden is seeing the same growth back home and believes the Apple Isle is at the dawn of an exciting new period for golf.

“I think the introduction of the scholarship program is the beginning of a great movement in Tasmania,” he said.

“At our club, the five girls are dedicated to the program, motivated to practising, have progressed their golf and more importantly their confidence to play on course and play a full round.

“One of the scholarship recipients has already obtained her handicap and is beginning to play in some club competitions with success. This program works well. They really enjoy the group sessions with the girls developing friendships and it is just going to gain more and more momentum throughout Tasmania.”

Australian Golf Foundation is the national foundation for golf in Australia.

The Australian Golf Foundation supports Golf Australia’s vision to grow golf by investing in targeted initiatives to inspire all Australians to enjoy and play the game.

Visit australiangolffoundation. org.au for more information.