As our Junior State Team currently do battle in South Australia at the Junior Interstate Series, GolfWA would like to take the opportunity to announce our 2022 State Team.
Following the announcement of the squads more than two months ago, plenty of hard work has gone into choosing the eight players that will represent our state in the Interstate Series at the Sorrento Golf Club in Victoria in May.
In 2022, the GolfWA State Team will consist of;
Celine Chen – Joondalup
Sheridan Clancy – Lake Karrinyup
Amie Phobubpa – Joondalup
Kirsten Rudgeley – Mount Lawley
Connor Fewkes – Goldfields
Josh Greer – Joondalup
Hayden Hopewell – Royal Fremantle
Connor McKinney – Joondalup
Celine Chen has been selected off the back of a State Amateur Championship this year at the Mount Lawley Golf Club. Chen stormed through the matchplay rounds before winning the final. Celine is currently competing as part of the Junior Interstate Team in South Australia where she has won three of her four opening matchups, again showcasing her matchplay ability.
Lake Karrinyup’s Sheridan Clancy is the second of three girls who will be doubling their State Team duties in 2022 as she is also currently in South Australia. Clancy won last year’s Drummond Golf Junior Amateur as well as taking out the Foursomes Amateur Championship alongside Mandurah Country Club’s Kathryn Norris. Sheridan’s 2022 campaign couldn’t have begun in better fashion as she won junior title at the TPS Murray River.
Amie Phobubpa rounds out the three girls who will double up their 2022 State Team duties. Amie is another of the girls to have won a State Amateur Championship, whilst also sharing Junior Golfer of the Year honour last year with Sheridan. Amie’s 2022 has started with a bang finishing inside the top 10 at the Master of the Amateurs, NSW Amateur and our own State Am.
Mount Lawley’s Kirsten Rudgeley currently sits as the 40th ranked player on the amateur rankings, however has reached has high as 34 previously. Kirsten’s amazing run in 2021, included titles at the English Amateur, the Helen Holm Scottish Open, the North Shore Classic in New Zealand and South Australia’s Rene Erichsen Salver. Her 2022 has kicked off in similarly impressive fashion, finishing 7th in the Australian WPGA Championship before winning the Master of the Amateurs and travelling the US to play on the hallowed turf of Augusta National as art of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur where she placed 8th.
Connor Fewkes is the first of the four men to make up the team in 2022. Connor shot into calculations for the makeup of the team following strong recent results. His top 10 finishes in 2022 include The Avondale Amateur, NSW Amateur and a second place at the Riversdale Cup. Goldfields Colf Club’s Fewkes certainly brings a rich run of form into his first State Team appearance.
Joondalup’s Joshua Greer has had a fantastic 2022 so far, which has seen him rewarded with a spot in the team. Whilst not breaking through for a win yet, his play has earned five top 10 finishes at some impressive tournaments; the Australian Amateur Championship, the Riversdale Cup, NSW Amateur, QLD PGA Championship and the Master of the Amateurs.
The reigning WA Open champion Hayden Hopewell will have a chance to defend his title only a week before the Interstate series kicks off, he could very well be a two-time champion. Hopewell’s performances in 2022 off the back of a whirlwind 2021 have seen him rise to 59th in the WAGR rankings. Two top 5 finishes so far at the Aus Am and the TPS Murray River follow stints in New Zealand, the United States and the Asia Pacific in Dubai.
Last, but certainly not least is Connor McKinney as he comes off a breakthrough Australian Amateur Championship title only weeks ago. That title will join a fresh South Australian Amateur Classic title in the trophy cabinet. His start to the year has seen him rise to 67th on the WAGR rankings, a career best for him. Connor also joins fellow Scottish-born Joondalup clubmate, Josh Greer, on the team.
We’re excited to put together such a talented team for this year’s Interstate Series, the first since 2019 and we have every faith that this line-up can make WA proud.
