Toronto teenager Jacob Dundas is eyeing a state junior team call-up and hopes his performance at the NSW Amateur Championships in Sydney can help secure his spot.
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The 16-year-old was the Hunter's best at the Australian Amateur Championships last week at the Royal Queensland course.
Dundas shot even par over two rounds in the strokeplay to finish tied 36th and become the only player from the region to feature in the top 64 matchplay on Thursday. He lost 2 and 1 to Kyle Gray in the first round.
He started the NSW titles with a two-under 68 at The Coast course on Monday. Beginning on the back nine, Dundas had four birdies and a bogey but dropped a shot through the second nine to be two off the lead.
Merewether's Luke Ferrier was a shot better at three under, while Branxton's Corey Lamb was even par. Both dropped a late shot after a delay because of lightning.
Dundas plays the St Michael's course on Tuesday hoping to finish in the top 32 to make the matchplay stage.
"I got off to a good start, then dropped a few shots coming in," Dundas said.
"There were a couple of strong holes and I played a couple of loose shots, I couldn't scramble and make putts, but it's all right. It's a good start and hopefully I can keep it going tomorrow."
Dundas' main aim is to make the six-strong NSW boys junior side after getting a taste of the representative level last year.
"I want to make the boys state team, that would be pretty cool," he said.
"I was in the development squad last year, so we travelled away with them.
"I've just got to play well, and I think it gets picked in the middle of February."
** Another young gun, Newcastle Golf Club's Joshuaa Robards, completed a state titles double when he claimed the Victorian Boys Championship last week.
The event at Cranbourne Golf Club was reduced from 72 to 54 holes because of wet weather and it was a race in two between Robards and Box Hill's Michael Song for most of the final round on Thursday.
Robards had a two-shot lead heading to his last hole but a double bogey levelled the scores at four under.
Song had four holes to play and he bogeyed 16 and 17 to finish two under and give Robards the title. Robards shot one-under 71 in the last round to go with 73 and 68.
The win came a week after Robards earned his first state junior title when claiming the South Australian tournament at Kooyonga.
The Kotara High student was next targetting the Tasmania crown at Launceston Golf Club and the Junior Masters at Riverside Golf Club this week.
The Newcastle District Order of Merit champion hopes to retain his place in the NSW junior team for the interstate series in April.
** Horizons Golf Resort at Salamander Bay is playing host to the Jack Newton Junior Golf Foundation's Encourage Shield and Junior Pennant state finals.
Lower North Coast defeated Queanbeyan after extra holes were played, while Asquith beat Bathurst in the pennant semi-finals on Monday to qualify for Tuesday's decider.
Moruya edged Northern Rivers on extra holes, and Lynwood beat Shelley Beach in the Encourage Shield to make the final.