MICHELLE Di Natale shot the lights out in the closing stages to deny Port Macquarie's Ella Scaysbrook back-to-back Jack Newton Junior Golf championships in Newcastle last week.
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Scaysbrook was within sight of her Bowral counterpart with a round and a half remaining before Di Natale made her move.
She eventually won the under-13 girls title by an impressive 12 shots.
The Port Macquarie 13-year-old was gracious in defeat, saying it was another learning experience after her success at last year's event.
On that occasion she won by five shots, but the challenging conditions at Belmont Golf Course proved too much this time around.
"It was just windy and they were really hard conditions and I couldn't get up and down," she said.
"She deserved her win, there's no doubt about that."
Scaysbrook admitted she put too much pressure on herself and was unable to match it with the New South Wales Golf Club member.
Her rounds of 87, 82, 88 and 86 were no match for Di Natale who was simply too good with rounds of 85, 86, 78 and 82.
I tried to shoot scores, but they'll happen and it's more experience, I'm only young so I'll get more confident.
- Ella Scaysbrook
"I probably tried a bit too hard; I've got to learn just to play golf," the Port Macquarie youngster said.
"I tried to shoot scores, but they'll happen and it's more experience; I'm only young so I'll get more confident.
"I needed to relax and chip a bit closer for next time; it's all about the short game."
While she was disappointed at the result, it was strong preparation for the upcoming Seaside Classic week of golf in Port Macquarie which will take place later this month.
She will compete in both the juniors and senior ladies divisions.
"The next (tournament) is the Seaside Classic where I'll play in the senior women's one during the week too, so I'll have the junior comp on the Sunday and Tuesday Wednesday is the ladies," Scaysbrook said.
"I wanted to challenge myself a bit more and I'm at that level now."
Her appearance at the Seaside Classic will enable another couple of days off school to finetune her game.
She would like to compete at Bonville at the end of the year, but will have to win a tournament to earn her place.
Port Macquarie might be the location she does it.
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