15-year-old Wollongong golfing prodigy Sam Cascio wins maiden title at Macarthur Junior Masters

Wollongong’s Sam Cascio has cemented his name as one to watch in the future with a maiden Junior Masters victory over the weekend. Hear from the rising golfing sensation after his victory.

Sam Cascio, winner of the Macarthur Junior Masters 2023. Picture: David Tease | Golf NSW

Wollongong golfing prodigy Sam Cascio has picked up his maiden Jack Newton Junior Golf title by taking out the 2023 Macarthur Junior Masters.

Cascio, 15, shot three-under across two days of golf at Camden Golf Club and Campbelltown Golf Club to edge a one shot victory over his nearest rival Kayun Mudadana.

In the past few months Cascio has taken out dual club championships at Wollongong Golf Club, as well as leading the Illawarra Pennant team to state success, but this is by far the biggest jewel in the young gun’s crown to date.

“It feels heaps good to win not just in my age group, but overall,” Cascio said.

“I’ve played in the Macarthur Junior Masters a couple of times before and I’ve always been in the mix, but never right at the top.

Sam Cascio in the action at the Macarthur Junior Masters 2023. Picture: Kass Rogan | Golf NSW

“It’s definitely up there with some of the best golf I’ve played, especially in JNJG.”

Cascio shot one-under par on the first day of competition at Camden Golf Club to sit him in joint third place, with Mudadana leading the way after shooting an impressive four shots under.

Target acquired. Sam Cascio at the Macarthur Junior Masters 2023. Picture: Kass Rogan | Golf NSW

“The courses are a lot tougher than Wollongong,” Cascio said.

“Camden is pretty tight with the trees, Campbelltown not as hard but still tough, the greens are tougher to putt on as well.

“I was hitting the ball well from far, but I struggled a bit around the greens a bit on both days.”

Sam Cascio putting at the Macarthur Junior Masters 2023. Picture: Kass Rogan | Golf NSW

The Wollongong star would rise to the occasion on the second day though, shooting two-under par and edging Mudadana by a single stroke thanks to a birdie on the last hole.

Mudadana had the chance to force a playoff with a birdie of his own on the 18th, but his putt attempt stopped agonisingly close, meaning gold for Cascio.

Sam Cascio, winner of the Macarthur Junior Masters 2023. Picture: Kass Rogan | Golf NSW

The victory was made all the more sweet for the young star who did it in front of his father and grandparents.

“It feels heaps good to win in front of my family, especially my grandparents because they take me to every tournament,” Cascio said.

Aksel Thompson picked up third place at the Macarthur Junior Masters 2023. Picture: Kass Rogan | Golf NSW

It was a good day overall for Wollongong, with another local young gun in Aksel Thompson picking up third place, his highest finish in a JNJG tournament to date.

“I had a bit of a rough start, a pretty scratchy front nine,” Thompson said.

“I never checked the leaderboard but my sister told me I dropped back to like 20th, so to get back to third is a pretty good result.”

Across the grounds, another rising golf star from Avondale, Rachel Lee, added another title to an already outstanding junior golfing career, cruising to an eight-shot victory in the Girls Division.

Cascio won’t be taking much time to bask in his championships glory, as he’ll be readying now for the next big event on his calendar which is the NSW All Schools Golf Championships, which starts in a couple of weeks time, before setting his eyes set on the NSW Junior Championships.