The Sunshine Coast & South Burnett District Golf Association (SC&SBDGA) recently held their annual “Rodney Pampling Junior Classic” event (Sunday 11^th August) which is the District Junior Championships for the 34 clubs within its boundaries as well as being an Open Event for Junior Golfers from all parts of the globe for both Boys & Girls.

The event is also an Open & Closed Greg Norman Qualifying event which is run in conjunction with this prestigious event with past winners for the boys being Adam Scott, and Cameron Smith and in the girls Katherine Hull, Sarah Kenyon-Smith, Leanne Bowditch, Lauren Mason & Annie Choi which shows the depth that this event attracts.

The Classic was held at the picturesque & tricky Cooroy Golf Club on the Sunshine Coast which was in excellent condition for this wonderful event and is a great place to host championship events of this nature.

Dylan Gardiner from the Kilcoy Golf Club (twice junior champion at Kilcoy) who is only 14 years of age won in great style shooting a wonderful 69 off the stick (1-under par) to record his first major victory in Junior Golf in our area. Dylan had to birdie the last hole to win by one shot from an excellent par round by Mt Coolum Junior Zachary Quirk who was closely followed by State Junior Player, Kodie Koski.

In the Girls Open, Aneka Park from Caloundra shot a 78 gross score to record her first victory in this event from Peregian Springs junior Shania Herzog-Smith who recorded 81.

Other event winners on the day were:

Open Boys Net Champion – Zac Walters (64) Kingaroy,

Division 1 Gross Winner – Zac Quirk (70) Mt Coolum,

Division 1 Net Winner – Connor McLachlan (69) Pacific Harbour,

Division 2 Gross Winner - George Watson (75) Cooroy,

Division 2 Net Winner – Sam Haines (65) Peregian Springs

Girls – Net Champion – Cassie Porter (64) Peregian Springs

Girls - Net Runner Up - Samantha Windred (72) Pine Rivers.

The event attracted a quality field with 14 golfers on handicaps of 3 or better which was great to see. The volunteers of the Cooroy Golf Club were just magnificent in organising this day and their hospitality on the day to everyone was terrific.

Cooroy Golf Club hosted the 2012 Sunshine Coast vs Glasshouse Mountains Interzone Match Play Challenge on Tuesday 13 November. The teams (24 players each) enjoyed the Cooroy presentation and layout. In particular, the after match smorgasborg was simply outstanding and a massive credit to such a small club.

Result - Sunshine Coast 13.5 defeated Glasshouse Mountains 10.5.

Thanks to the Team Managers - Randall Berry (S.C.) and Greg Paul (G.M.). The District encourages and directly supports these events for golfers of all ages - but with a particular focus on Junior and Senior golf.