EAGLEHAWK’S young gun Braiden Connor won his first Bendigo District Golf Association junior district championship in Sunday’s round at Bendigo Golf Club.
Connor, 16, played off a handicap mark of seven and shot a six-over 78 to win by two shots from Neangar Park’s Justin Williams and Bendigo’s Reece Thompson.
A field of 60 boys and girls took to the fairways and greens.
Golfers as young as eight teed off.
Development squads from Inglewood, Eaglehawk, Bendigo, Campaspe and Neangar Park promoted the event along with the BDGA.
Connor’s round began at the 10th hole and he managed to turn even par after nine holes.
On his 10th hole, the first, accuracy deserted him and he found water to the right.
A triple bogey was the first blemish for the Bendigo Bank Academy of Sport golf squad member.
Connor battled over the next few holes with bogey, par and double bogey to be at six over par and five holes to play.
To his credit and with support from his father, John, who was caddie, Braiden dug deep, put the bad holes behind him and found some mental toughness to play out the final five holes in even par.
He narrowly missed four birdie putts along the way.
In accepting his trophy, Connor praised the efforts of the Bendigo Bank Academy of Sport, his parents and that of the Bendigo District for having the opportunity to compete at this level.
The honour board for the BDGA junior championship includes last year’s titleholder, Heathcote’s Kris Mueck, the Cyril Michelsen trust fund recipient in The Advertiser Southern Cross Sports Star of the Year for 2007-08.
Reece Thompson, of Bendigo Golf Club, won the nett event and the Andrew McDowell memorial trophy for the second year running.
In the girls’ nett event, Neangar Park’s Lauren Miatke shot a net 72 to claim honours ahead of Heathcote’s Stephanie Wearne.
The Women’s Golf Bendigo district girls’ junior championships will be played in October.
The Bendigo District Golf Association’s junior championship winners:Under-10: Lachlan Hall (Neangar Park), Zayne Rowe (Inglewood) and Matt Coghill (Campaspe).
Under-12: Cade Cohalan (Inglewood), Justin Coghill (Campaspe).
Under-14: Zaus Wade (Eaglehawk, Andrew Rogers (Neangar Park).
Girls’ open: Lauren Miatke (Neangar Park), Stephanie Wearne (Heathcote.
Boys’ open: Braiden Connor (Eaglehawk), Justin Williams (Neangar Park) Reece Thompson (Bendigo), Dale Bish (Jarklin).