Dubbo’s Jones Comerford produced quality play when it mattered on his way to winning the weekend’s Peter O'Malley Junior Masters at Bathurst Golf Club.
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Comerford, now playing from Bonnie Doon Golf Club, shot rounds of 73 and 72 to see him finish six strokes clear of his nearest rival while.
“I started with a double bogey on the first hole, a really soft one. I tried to play standard, steady golf from there. It wasn’t crash hot on day one. I shot pretty poorly but made some good putts,” the former local star said.
“In round two I got off to another bad start but made some putts coming in.
“It was good having being able to playing those last six, seven holes pretty comfortably.”
After the opening round double bogey to start, Comerford went on a run of six straight pars before finishing his front nine well with a birdie and par. He hit one bogey on the back nine to finish with 73 while he hit a bogey in two of the first three holes on Sunday.
Long Reef Golf Club’s Tom Gill was the overnight leader for the boys competition after shooting 70 – the only round under par during the tournament – but his following round of 82 saw him finish equal third.
Luka Brucic, who shot rounds of 77 and 74 was second.
But it was Comerford who reigned supreme, building a big lead thanks to two birdies midway through his second round.
Not even a bogey on both the 17th and 18th holes could see him beaten.
The Junior Masters win continued a fine run of form for Comerford, who again showed off his immense potential.
"I'd go through a stretch where I'd hit all good drives but then miss some putts and hit some good iron shots,” he said.
“Then it began to combine well. When I'd hit a good drive I'd make a good putt but then when it hit a bad drive I'd follow up with a good iron.”
The win was also a welcome one for Comerford, who now plays the bulk of his golf in and around Sydney.
"It's a bit of a coincidence that the win has come in the country, being from the country,” he said.
“I'm happy to win any Masters event to be able to get to Bonville [for Australian Juniors] at the end of the year."
There was success for home city golfer Cooper Starkey, who claimed the boys stableford title with a comfortable eight point margin.
Concord Golf Club’s Sophie Yip was a standout in the female competition and was the only girl to shoot both rounds under 80, going around in 77 and then 76, on her way to victory.
