Around the Traps: Shyla Singh storms Ian Baker-Finch junior classic

Boom youngster Shyla Singh has continued a rich vein of form to take out the prized Ian Baker-Finch Junior Classic and more in this week’s Around the Traps.

Shyla Singh and Kai Komulainen after taking the Ian Baker-Finch Junior Classic.

Outstanding Gold Coast junior Shyla Singh showed her appreciation of Sunshine Coast golf courses when she shot five-under-par 67 at Twin Waters on Sunday to claim this year’s Ian Baker-Finch Junior Classic.

Outstanding Gold Coast junior Shyla Singh showed her appreciation of Sunshine Coast golf courses when she shot five-under-par 67 at Twin Waters on Sunday to claim this year’s Ian Baker-Finch Junior Classic.

The win came only a fortnight after Shyla scored an amazing six-under 66 at Noosa Springs on her way to winning the Invincibles IGA Sunshine Coast Junior Masters.

Shyla, from Southport, put her win down to her putting. “The putts were just dropping from everywhere,” she said.

Shyla Singh and Kai Komulainen after taking the Ian Baker-Finch Junior Classic.

With the win came a $1000 scholarship, courtesy of Ian Baker-Finch, to be used for coaching, accommodation and travel to a major event of her choosing.

And, while Shyla scored a comfortable win, it was much closer in the boys’ division, with Emerald Lakes’ Kai Komulainen and Mt Coolum’s Adam Van Dorsselaer both shooting one-under-par 71.

They then twice played the 18th hole before Kai birdied the par five hole to snatch the victory.

He, too, won a $1000 scholarship, while both winners will gain entry into the final qualifying round of the next Queensland Open.

Never too late for Doug

Doug Rose must be wondering why he didn’t take up the game years ago.

The 67-year-old played his first official competition golf on Friday at Maroochy River, tallying a remarkable 47 points in the Stableford event, and waltzing away with the prizemoney.

But he paid dearly for the win, his handicap cut in half – down from 19.3 to 14 – not that Doug will care too much.

A Sunshine Coast resident, Doug has mates at Agnes Water. They convinced him to join the 1770 Golf Club and it was there he played the requisite three rounds earlier this month to gain his handicap.

Cassie may miss big Asia-Pacific event

Peregian’s Cassie Porter, fresh from a stunning win in the Keperra Bowl last week, has been selected to represent Australia in the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship in the United Arab Emirates next month – but may have to turn down the opportunity.

With Covid-10 travel restrictions still firmly in place – particularly in Queensland – there is no certainty about arranging flights back to Australia and, in any case, returning players would have to undertake a fortnight’s hotel quarantine.

Neither Cassie nor Australia’s leading female amateur, Western Australia’s Kirsten Rudgeley, have yet committed to the tournament because of the uncertainty about travel.

Cassie Porter

Twelve of Australia’s best players have been named for the championships in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, which offer invitations to play in 2022 golf majors for the winners – the Masters at Augusta National and the Open Championship at St Andrews for the men, and the AIG Women’s Open and the Evian Championship for the women.

The women’s championship runs from November 10-13 at Abu Dhabi Golf Club, while the men’s Asia-Pacific Championship is from November 3-6 at Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club. Past winners include Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama (twice), and Australians Curtis Luck (2016) and Anthony Murdaca (2014).

Karis’ future looks to be in US

Karis Davidson, who honed her game on the Invincibles Sunshine Coast Junior Golf Tour, will join a growing band of Australians plying their trade in the US next year after advancing to the LPGA Tour’s Q-Series at Stage II of Qualifying School in Florida.

With rounds of 71, 68, 72 and 72, she was the lone Australian to finish in the top 45 at Florida’s Plantation Golf and Country Club, and will now play in the LPGA Tour Q-Series starting November 29, a two-week cumulative tournament that will award the top-45 finishers status on the LPGA Tour next year.

A regular on the Japan LPGA since 2018, Davidson has already secured status on the secondary Symetra Tour for 2022.

Sarah in top tier of golfers

Pelican Waters’ Sarah Wilson has been named in third place in Golf Australia’s 2021 Order or Merit, confirming her status as one of the country’s very best players.

Only Western Australia’s Kirsten Rudgeley and Kelsey Bennett from NSW performed better in a season interrupted by COVID-19.

Sarah Wilson. Picture: Richard Gosling

The highlight of Sarah’s year was a win in the South Australian Amateur Championship.

Adelaide’s Jack Buchanan won the men’s OOM, while Gold Coasters Kai Komulainen and Haruhi Nakatani took out top honours in the boys and girls divisions.

All national championships and each state’s amateur championship count towards a player’s average, in addition to various other major events approved by Golf Australia.

Doc finds his best form

With the Christian name Zhivago, it was a natural that Doc Fleming should have gained the nickname he has.

But, while he says his mum was a romantic, Doc Fleming has shown his mates at Headland that he’s a golfer.

In his last three rounds he’s won twice, including a magnificent 46 points to take the C grade trophy in Saturday’s Stableford competition.

“When I get hold of the ball, I can hit it a long way, but not always in the right direction,” says the rugby union player-coach.

Because of his winter rugby commitments and his job as a plumber/gasfitter, Doc has been unable to play consistent competition golf since he reunited with Headland in January after a five-year hiatus.

But over the past three weekends he has returned scores of 41 points, 36 points and 46 points, and his handicap has been sliced from 31 to 21.

Billy keeps on winning

Little Billy Zerbst, the wizard Woodford four-year-old making his mark on the Glasshouse Mountains Zone Futures Tour, went on his winning way at Wantima on Sunday.

Playing in the three-hole division, Billy The Kid shot 18 to win the net prize – just as he’s been doing all year long.

Woodford junior Billy Zerbst, 4, has enjoyed a big start to his young golfing journey.

Billy, the youngest junior member at Woodford, has been competing with – and beating – kids much older than himself since he took up the game early this year.

The Tour’s final round is scheduled for Pelican Waters on Sunday.

Terrific treble for Grathan

Grathan Leatherbarrow never dreamt that he would find his very best form in his 70s.

But that’s what’s happened to the former landscaper who began his remarkable run of success in September when he won the Cooroy Vets club championship in a playoff.

The following Saturday he surprised even himself when he added the club championship. Then, last week, he followed up with the match play championship, beating Lee Granger 2&1 in the final.

“I can’t believe I’ve won all three titles at my age,” Grathan, 73, said. “It feels like a dream.”

Needless to say, Grathan’s series of wins has never been achieved before – and probably won’t again.

Skins series ‘wines’ down

Registrations are now open for the year’s final Noosa Springs Skins event on Wednesday, November 24, when golfers will compete for 72 bottles of premium wine.

The event is held four times a year, with four bottles of wine on offer for the team that provides the best combined Stableford points score on each hole.

If two teams tie on any hole – as often happens – the prize jackpots to the next hole, or until there’s a winner.

As well as the great wine on offer, if you find the hole with your tee shot on the par-three fourth, you will win corporate membership to Noosa Springs, valued at $2250.

Visitors pay only $85 ($39 for members), and that includes lunch and post-game nibbles.

Book by calling 5440 3325, or email [e-mail].

Originally published as Around the Traps: Shyla Singh storms Ian Baker-Finch junior classic