Spencer Harrison and Kortni Houston are the 2026 Junior Amateur Champions of WA after a scintillating day at Lakelands Country Club.
The WA state golfers got the job done in contrasting fashions, with Harrison romping to a six-stroke victory and Houston edging a nervy playoff.
Fresh from victory at the QLD Junior Amateur last week, Harrison came into his home state championship as the hottest of hot favourites.
The 17-year-old Royal Perth golfer opened his account with a four-under-par 68 on Monday to take a two-stroke overnight lead from Dunsborough Lakes’ Jacob Gray.
An accomplished front-runner, few would have expected Harrison to relinquish his advantage on day two but a charging Lucas Wan briefly threatened an upset.
Starting the day four shots behind playing partner Harrison, WAGC member Wan closed the gap to a single shot after reaching the turn in 32 (four under) thanks to two birdies and an eagle at the par-five 8th.
Lucas Wan was six under through 12 holes of his second round before his challenge stalled
Harrison was only one-under after nine but was able to keep his nose in front after matching Wan’s birdies at 10 and 12.
The 15th proved to be the decisive hole, as Wan ran up a double bogey while Harrison carded a birdie three to move four clear once more.
A closing birdie was the icing on the cake for Harrison, whose closing 67 saw his margin of victory expand to six strokes when Wan could only make bogey.
It marked Harrison’s second WA Boys title in three years, ensuring he ended his domestic junior career on a high immediately ahead of a US trip where he’ll represent Australia at two prestigious championships.
“This is my last junior event in Australia before I turn 18, so it’s nice to have gone out with two wins in my final two events,” he told GolfWA.
“It’s always good to win your home state title, and this adds a bit more confidence before I head off to the USA.”
Wan’s swashbuckling golf suggests he’ll be a force to be reckoned with at future junior championships, with his three-under-par total leaving him two clear of Jacob Gray.
James Dyer (Lake Karrinyup) and Declan Pereira (The Vines) rounded out the top five. View final scores here.
Playoff no problem for Houston
Off the back of a top-three finish at the Victorian Girls Amateur last week, home-club favourite Kortni Houston also came into this event as one of the favourites.
While the 16-year-old wasn’t quite at her best on day one, carding a four-over-par 76, Houston remained well placed, just two strokes back from overnight leader Meihui Zhao (Royal Perth).
Zhao – runner-up in last year’s championship – looked like she had one hand on the trophy after a steady opening nine that yielded eight pars and a solitary bogey.
Starting with two bogeys and adding a double at the par-four sixth, Houston was four back from Zhao at +7 as they reached the turn.
At that point, the greatest threat to Zhao’s lead was Isabella Day, a dark horse from Mandurah Country Club, who had started the day two strokes back.
Day remained two behind Zhao after a solid front nine, but back-to-back bogeys for Zhao on 10 and 11 – combined with a birdie for Day on 13 – saw the lead switch hands.
Further dropped shots for Zhao at 15 and 16 opened the door further for Day, but a crucial bogey of her own at 17 dropped her back to +5, which set the clubhouse target.
Mandurah Country Club’s Isabella Day came up just short of a famous victory
Houston, meanwhile, had birdied the 11th to reach +6, where she remained until the closing hole. Showing nerves of steel, she delivered a birdie to send the contest to extra holes.
The first playoff hole was shared in par fours but an errant tee shot at the next had Day scrambling, and when she couldn’t salvage par, Houston secured the title with a straightforward two-putt.
“It feels so good to win at my home course,” a delighted Houston told GolfWA.
“I definitely thought I had a good chance coming into this event, and to get the win proves to me that all the hard work and effort I’ve put in is paying off.”
Zhao closed with a five-over-par 77 to finish outright third, with Katie Seol (Cottesloe GC) and Sienna McCulloch rounding out the top five. View the final girls leaderboard here.
View image galleries from the championship here.
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