Rising golf stars Bang and Fletcher crowned champions at 2023 Illawarra Junior Masters
Champions have emerged through the wind and rain at the 2023 Illawarra Junior Masters at Kiama Golf Club. Find out who took the crown in the men’s and women’s and hear from the winners.
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Michelle Bang and Ryan Fletcher have been crowned champions of the 2023 Illawarra Junior Masters.
The Masters took place last week at Kiama Golf Club, featuring some of the best up and coming golfers in NSW.
Rain and wind on the first day of the two-day competition made things tough for competitors, but through the conditions emerged the two worthy junior champions.
Bang, from Concord Golf Club, made light work of her competition, shooting rounds of 71 and 72 to finish four over par, six strokes better than her nearest competitor in fellow Concord clubmate Amy Squires.
“I’m so happy with the win, I’ve wanted to win my first Masters so bad,” Bang said.
“I’ve been busy playing major pennant for my home club Concord, so this was my first opportunity at a Jack Newton Junior Golf Masters this year.”
Bang has had previous success in the JNJG scene, taking out the 2021 Blue Mountains Junior Masters and the 2022 Murray River Junior Masters.
“I think my drive helped me a lot, I didn’t miss any of the fairways with the driver,” Bang said.
“The course is really narrow, plus there was wind and rain which made things hard.”
For Fletcher, 17, it was a maiden Junior Masters win at Kiama, which was a proud moment for the young man from Lynwood Golf Club.
“Super happy, especially considering I’ve struggled at Kiama in the past,” Fletcher said.
Fletcher shot rounds of 70 and 69 to finish 3 over par, just one stroke better than his closest competitor in local Zac Oyston of Wollongong Golf Club.
“My shots off the tee really sorted me out on both days,” Fletcher said.
“I’ve been working on them with my coach recently, trying a few new things, so I was happy to see it working out.
“I was just taking it shot after shot, not trying to force a result or worry about the other players around me.”
Fletcher is taking no time to soak up his victory and is straight back on the course this week for the Lynwood Junior Open.
After this the young star will be gearing up for the Macarthur Junior Masters and NSW Junior Championships, while Bang is awaiting the North Coast Junior Masters next month.
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