Rising Illawarra golf star Sienna Clarke wins back to back Junior Masters at Bathurst
Sienna Clarke has once again proved she is a name to keep an eye on in the future, taking her second consecutive Junior Masters title in Bathurst this week. Hear from the rising talent after her victory.
Illawarra Star
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ILLAWARRA Academy of Sport’s Sienna Clarke has picked up her third Junior Masters title over the weekend with another scintillating display.
Clarke, 16, dominated the Peter O’Malley Junior Masters field at Bathurst Golf Club to emerge victorious by eight strokes clear of her nearest competitor, finishing two-under par.
This is now back to back titles for Clarke, having taken out the Blue Mountains Junior Masters the last time she competed in December.
“It’s a great feeling to go back to back,” Clarke said.
“I was leading this tournament last year but didn’t get the win that time, so I felt I had unfinished business.
“I haven’t gone back to back under-par in a tournament before, so it’s a great feeling.”
Hitting one-under par on both days of the tournament, Jervis Bay local Clarke was playing her best competitive golf to date.
Four birdies on the first day ensured she had a solid three shot lead over her nearest competitor Emily Mollard after day one, before another four birdies on day two separated her by eight shots from second placed Ella Murray.
“It was a bit weird how I played actually,” Clarke said.
“On the first day I hit them really well but my putting was cold.
“On the second day I was hitting them sideways but my putting held up.”
Clarke, who plays out of St Michael’s Golf Club in the Eastern Suburbs, is rapidly rising up the ranks in the Jack Newton Junior Golf scene, with her handicap currently sitting at +1.7.
Winning the tournament by such a margin will no doubt give the young star confidence going forward.
“It’s the first time I’ve led a tournament on the first day and then gone on to win,” Clarke said.
“Normally I’m chasing the win as opposed to holding on, so to know I can do that is a great confidence booster.”
Across the grounds, Harry Whitelock of Royal Canberra Golf Club took out the Boys Junior Masters with an impressive nine-under par performance, which like Clarke left him eight shots clear of his nearest opponent.
It was a successful weekend for the Illawarra Academy of Sport, with Samarah Gibson of Wollongong Golf Club picking up second place in the Girls Over 16 Nett.
Clarke is now taking a bit of a break before potentially playing in the Illawarra Junior Masters, before she heads up the coast to Byron Bay for the NSW State Age Junior Championships.
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