Two local golfers will be vying for the top prize and a start in the Australian Open when they contest next week’s Australian Junior Amateur Championships, with confidence high after their recent form.
Ted Sargeant and Ben Bowers will be among 78 competitors teeing off at the championships at Perth’s Gosnells Golf Club from April 9-12, with Sargeant set to represent Victoria in the Australian Junior Interstate matches the following week.
Sargeant felt confident he could put himself in a position to win, taking plenty of lessons away from his top 25 result at last year’s championship and working on his iron shots with coach Darrell Brown at Geelong Golf Club.
“I’ve been playing some good golf so hopefully that can translate in the coming weeks in the tournaments,” Sargeant, 17, said.
“(Last year) I definitely learnt to play a bit more conservatively and try and hold a score together rather than chase one, even when I wasn’t playing my best golf.
“Hopefully I come away with the win.”
It will be the second time in three years Bowers, 17, plays the tournament, which offers a prize of an Australian Open start to its winner.
After missing the cut in 2022, Bowers, who plays at Curlewis Golf Club, didn’t attend last year after breaking his leg on the basketball court and undergoing rehab.
“I’ll try to improve on it this time – top 10 I’d be happy,” Bowers said, with the Geelong Christian College Year 12 student set to target the Port Phillip Open Amateur later in the month.
Both Sargeant and Bowers, who credits his driving and ball striking as strengths, had strong weeks at the Tasmanian Junior Masters in January, with the former taking out the win and Bowers finishing third.
Sargeant will play off a +3.4 handicap, with Bowers starting on +2.9.
Meanwhile, Sargeant, who is studying Year 12 at St Joseph’s College, is determined to bring home state success after earning his place in a five-man Victorian boys team after strong finishes at the Victorian Junior Amateur and Victorian Amateur last year. The Interstate matches span four days and six rounds.
“I felt I had a really good year and worked really hard,” Sargeant said of his Victorian selection.
“We have a really good team bond… we all work together really well.”