WESTERN District Golf Association hopes a plan to take three extra juniors to the Victorian men’s, colts, and boys’ country championships this weekend will give it an edge.
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After falling short of victory by just one shot in the 2016 edition, the Western District team is striving to go one better this year.
Team manager Matt McLeod said having nine players this time around, up from six last year, was good insurance for the regions team’s overall score.
“It’s the best six scores down for the team event,” he said.
“We’re taking three extra guys this year. (In the past) it’s really hurt us if one of the kids has been disqualified, which has happened before, or if one of the kids has a bad day.
“We haven’t had that back-up score.”
Warrnambool Golf Club has produced four of the nine team members, with Caleb Perry, Jhett Perry, Will MacKenzie and Fraser Marris all set to make the trip to Rosebud Country Club.
Port Fairy pair Matthew Cameron and Noah Best, Timboon’s Hamish Huffadine and Heywood’s Jayden McLeod and Noah McLeod will also compete on the weekend.
Matt McLeod, Clint Foster and Brian McKenzie will go along as support for the team and also compete in the men’s category.
McLeod said the association had managed to assemble a junior team with “probably the lowest nine handicaps” across the region.
Reigning Warrnambool Golf Club men’s champion Caleb plays off scratch, while Matthew (2), Will (3), Jayden (4), Hamish (5), Jhett (5), Noah McLeod (6), Noah Best (6) and Fraser (8) are all in single figures.
Matthew finished fifth in the Victorian boys’ championship at Yarra Yarra Golf Club last September, while Jayden won the inaugural South West Classic between Heywood and Portland in January.
As well as competing in the team event, the boys will also compete as individuals across the two-day championships.
“We’re looking forward to it,” McLeod said.
“Probably the Geelong Golf Association is going to be the side to beat. They won it last year, the scratch section.
“Most of these kids have played with or against those guys, I’d say the handicaps would be pretty similar.”
Two members of the 2016 Western District team have outgrown the junior competition, opening the door for some new faces to join the mix.
But with most having played at the statewide country championships level before, the team will have a healthy mix of experience.
The Victorian men’s, colts’ and boys’ country championships will run across Saturday and Sunday.
Susie Giese
Susie Giese is a sports reporter at The Standard in Warrnambool
Susie Giese is a sports reporter at The Standard in Warrnambool
