A good day for WA at the Junior Interstate Teams Matches saw our boys all but secure top spot in their category, while the overall team improved to third position with one match left to play.
WA won both their day-three clashes against Tasmania and ACT at Royal Fremantle, with their 8-0 afternoon dismantling of ACT particularly impressive.
Alice Tonts led the way for WA, romping to an 8&6 victory over Nasia Taylor in the first match out and setting the tone for a one-sided encounter. Event debutant Tonts was three-under for her round when the match ended on the 12th green.
Hard-fought victories for Aileen Sirait, Halia Edwards and Isabella Leniartek followed, granting the WA girls a 4-0 session whitewash. Leniartek’s 3&2 win over ACT’s number one Kortni Houston also maintained her 100% record in this year’s event with her fourth straight win.
WA’s Alice Tonts was on fire during her afternoon round to win 8&6
WA’s boys produced similar fireworks as they also closed out the session 4-0. State captain Josiah Edwards outclassed Harry Whitelock to post a 3&2 margin of victory, a score matched by Spencer Harrison in his match with Nathan White.
Royal Fremantle member Mandeep Singh edged Hunter Caldwell 2&1 to extend his unbeaten run in the competition to four matches, while Nate Johnson also recorded a 2&1 win over Callan Robertson for his second point of the day.
WA avoid Tassie banana skin
Earlier in the day, WA’s boys narrowly avoided a slip-up against Tasmania despite a heroic effort by Nate Johnson, who, first out for WA, won his match 8&7 against the luckless Koby Wegman.
Josiah Edwards lost his first match of the interstate series, going down 3&2 to an inspired Jonty Lunson, while teammates Spencer Harrison and Mandeep Singh were both involved in almighty tussles that went down to the wire.
Singh led his match 1UP on the final tee only to lose the hole and halve his match with Elijah Monaghan. Harrison, meanwhile, fought back to level his match against Edison Lee at the 17th and holed a nerveless seven-footer to pinch victory at the last – securing the WA boys a precious 2.5-1.5 win in the process.
Spencer Harrison won both his matches on day three
With Tasmania unable to field a girls’ team in the event, a walkover was declared with WA winning the combined match 6.5-1.5. When their victory over ACT was added, the WA combined team leapt up from 5th to 3rd in the standings. View the combined table here.
WA take on title favourites NSW on Thursday morning in their final match of the series. WA’s boys need only win one of their four individual matches to guarantee the top spot. View the boys’ standings here.
The WA girls can finish as high as second if they beat NSW tomorrow. They currently sit third with two wins, one half and one loss. View the girls’ table here.
Summing up the team’s performance so far, WA state coach Jess Speechley said: “You can’t ask more than an 8-0 win, so it’s been a really good day for the players, with everyone stepping up and being counted.”
Day 3 AM – WA vs Tasmania
Nate Johnson beat Koby Wegman 8&7
Mandeep Singh halved with Elijah Monaghan
Spencer Harrison beat Edison Lee 1UP
Josiah Edwards lost 3&2 to Jonty Lunson
WA girls awarded 4-0 win with Tas unable to field a team
Final score: WA 6.5 – 1.5 Tas
Day 3 PM – WA vs ACT
Alice Tonts beat Nasia Taylor 8&6
Aileen Sirait beat Sophia Chau 3&1
Halia Edwards beat Madison Hood 2&1
Isabella Leniartek beat Kortni Houston 3&2
Nate Johnson beat Callan Robertson 2&1
Mandeep Singh beat Hunter Caldwell 2&1
Spencer Harrison beat Nathan White 3&2
Josiah Edwards beat Harry Whitelock 3&2
Final score: WA 8 – 0 ACT
