Girls' State Team
Photo (L - R): Hayley Surgeson, Hannah Green, Whitney Harvey, Shonna Gobby (Manager), Claudia Pisano (Development), Hayley Bettencourt (Captain) and Ritchie Smith (Coach). Missing: Min Jee Lee and Alyssa Keir.
The 2012 Girls and Boys State Teams to compete in both the Australian Junior Amateur Championships on April 11 - 13 and the Junior Interstate Series from April 15 - 19 in Queensland were announced on Sunday February 19 at Mosman Park Golf Club. The Girls team is:-
Girls State Team
Hayley BETTENCOURT Mandurah Country Club
Hannah GREEN Mount Lawley Golf Club
Whitney HARVEY Melville Glades Golf Club
Alyssa KEIR The Vines Golf and Country Club
Min Jee LEE Royal Fremantle Golf Club
Hayley SURGESON Melville Glades Golf Club
Shonna GOBBY - Manager
Ritchie SMITH - Coach
Min Jee Lee had an outstanding 2011 with a long list of accomplishments both nationally and internationally including wins at the Handa Junior Masters, State Amateur Championship, and Singapore Ladies Amateur Championship. She is currently ranked 2nd in Australian Women's Amateur Rankings and has been selected in the 2012 National Squad (Tier 1). Min Jee will also be representing Australia at the Queen Sirikit Cup in Singapore in late April. This is her 4th appearance at the Junior Interstate Series.
Hayley Bettencourt is recently coming off victories at both the Tasmanian Junior Masters and the Tamar Valley Junior Cup. She is also currently ranked 2nd in Australian Junior Girls Amateur Rankings and was runner up at last year's Australian Junior Amateur Championship. Hayley and Whitney Harvey will be competing in their 4th Junior Interstate Series. Whitney is currently ranked 8th in Australian Junior Girls Amateur Rankings. Hayley and Whitney both went undefeated in last year's Junior Interstate Series matches.
Alyssa Keir and Hannah Green both had strong finishes in 2011. Alyssa claimed victories at the Tournament of Champions and the Lake Karrinyup Sub Junior Classic. Hannah took out the Junior State Amateur Championship and has been selected to represent Australia at the Tran Tasman Cup in March. They will both be making their 2nd appearance at the Junior Interstate Series.
Hayley Surgeson is the only new face on the team and making her Junior Interstate Series debut.
The Girls have an impressive side this year with lots of experience including MinJee Lee, Hayley Bettencourt and Whitney Harvey all back from the 2011 Women's Interstate Series winning team. They are considered one of the favourites going into the series and have their sights set on bringing home the cup which they narrowly missed out on last year finishing 2nd to Queensland.
2012 Australian Girl's Interstate Series
Queensland has won the Australian Girls' Interstate Teams Matches for the Burtta Cheney Cup at Carbrook Golf Club, south of Brisbane.
The locals needed just one win on Tuesday morning, and despite losing 3-2 to Western Australia, did enough to guarantee victory and successfully defend their 2011 title.
Queensland Team Captain Gennai Goodwin said the team was excited with the win.
"It's a great way for a lot of us to finish our junior careers," Goodwin said.
Nadine White (Pacific) and Lauren Mason (Horton Park) were undefeated for the Queenslanders.
All players except for Dee Dee Russell (Coolangatta-Tweed) will finish their time in the junior ranks this year.
Western Australia finished in second place, 3 1/2 matches behind Queensland with Alyssa Keir (The Vines) undefeated.
New South Wales finish in third place, one match ahead of Victoria in fourth. 2011 Australian Junior Champion Cathleen Santoso was undefeated for the NSW side.
South Australia finished in fifth place.
2012 Australian Girl's Amateur Championships
Victorian and National Junior Squad member Su Hyun Oh (Kingswood) reeled off a string of birdies on the back nine to win the Australian Girls' Amateur Championship at Carbrook Golf Club by seven shots.
Mandurah's Hayley Bettencourt and New South Wales' Cathleen Santoso finished the championship in a tie for fourth place at 4 over par.
