THE home city couldn’t repeat its success from last year as visitors took the honours in the Bathurst Junior Golf Classic on Sunday.
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A year after Scott Matheson and Emma McCarthy took out a Bathurst double, it was Orange’s James Conran and Cowra’s Laura Cummings who spoiled the party for the hosts.
Conran shot a two-over 73 to finish four strokes clear of Matheson in second place.
The Duntryleague player’s round was made all the more impressive as he carded an eagle on the 10th hole, one of the toughest on the course by rating.
Matheson claimed a consolation by taking out the 15 years and over scratch title.
His father Norm, who followed Matheson’s progress throughout the day, said it was a shame his son fell short, but there was no disgrace in finishing second to the Orange talent.
“Being the defending champion and also it being his last year in juniors, he was obviously disappointed, but that’s golf,” he said.
“James is the son of a professional; he’s obviously got the resources. Any player would love to have a pro to play against, but he’s definitely got the game ... From what I’ve seen between this year and last year he’s hitting the ball a lot longer.”
The leading pair were playing just one group away from each other and when Conran sunk his eagle it virtually sunk the chances of the leading local hope.
“He was in the group behind us and we heard a yell go up. He holed it from 100m out. Scott was a few shots over by that point, out at three over. Up to the end he lost some more and ended up six over,” Norm Matheson said.
Only a day earlier, Matheson had been sinking his putts in a routine fashion during the local Saturday club competition, but when his iron game kicked in on Sunday the short game fell away.
“On Saturday he was putting well, but on Sunday he was hitting the ball well on the fairway. That’s just the nature of the beast,” his father said.
The girls’ side of the Classic went down to the wire, Bathurst taking the runner-up spot again through Anna McHugh.
McHugh finished on 87, just one stroke shy of winner Cummings, but being second allowed the Bathurst player to take out the 15 years and over title.
Around 60 players ended up taking part in the competition, showcasing the plentiful talent of Bathurst and the Central West.
“Matt [Barrett, club professional] has done a lot of work with the juniors. He’s managed to build the junior numbers up greatly, which is great to see. We went through a lull there in numbers for a little while, but there was plenty out there this time around,” Norm Matheson said.
In the weekend’s other event on course, club captain Manuel Pro took out his first Leeholme Cup when he beat John Lillie in the knockout competition.
Pro put on a big run from the 11th hole to win in a strong score of 5 & 3 after the match initially sat square.