PROMISING Port Macquarie golfer Madeleine Laws-Farrell walked away from the NSW Junior State Championships with a silver medal.
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The event was played between July 4 and 8 and was reduced to 54 holes after inclement weather.
Taylah Ellems recorded her first Jack Newton Junior Golf scratch victory in the girls 13 years division, winning by five shots from Laws-Farrell.
Laws-Farrell was the only player in the entire field (both boy and girl) to finish the week under par, claiming the girls junior salver for her impressive -15 score.
The championships were held on the Central Coast at Shelley Beach and Toukley in challenging conditions.
In round one at Shelly Beach GC, she finished with a score of gross 97 and net 72 to finish three under par.
At Toukley she scored gross 97 and net 72 to finish two under par.
She finished 43rd overall.
For the first time in her short, but already distinguished career the Port Macquarie teenager had to overcome torrential rain and gale force winds.
On more than one occasion players had to leave the course and retire to confines of the of the clubhouse.
Father, Chris, said it was her first experience at tournament golf.
“Normally we would come off the course and get in the car and go home, but you can’t do that when it’s a tournament,” he said.
“She was frustrated to start with because she felt the break was going to break her rhythm.”
Ultimately the stop-start nature of the weekend didn’t have a major effect on Laws-Farrell who registered her best round on the last day.
“It was a good experience for her to have to wait it out,” he said.
She brought her handicap from 25 down to 18.
- Chris Farrell
“She brought her handicap from 25 down to 18 after a round of 90 on the last day.
“It’s always been gradually coming down.”
Laws-Farrell’s father felt his daughter would soon be a better player than him.
“It won’t be too much longer until she’s better than me,” he said.
Consistent rounds of golf have proven to be the key for the teenager’s development.
“She’s been playing regularly and that helps with confidence because that’s improving out of sight.”
Her next tournament will be the Srixon Junior International at the Hunter Valley in the next school holidays.
Competitors will come from all over the world including New Zealand and Korea to compete.