The Glass House Mountains Zone Junior Golf Association (GHMZJGA) plans to include Maleny on its annual calendar of events following the success of the club’s inaugural competition for juniors held on Sunday (6 March).

A field of 54 players took part in the Maleny Junior Classic competition involving 3-hole, 6-hole and 9-hole formats to suit various age groups and abilities.

GHMZJGA president Shaun O’Hara said the event had attracted tremendous support from clubs both within the zone and beyond from Noosa to the north, Mt Warren Park to the south and Blackbutt to the west.

“We’ve all been very impressed by what we’ve seen here at Maleny because the quality and presentation of this new golf course has really exceeded everyone’s expectations I think,” he said.

“We now want to make the Maleny Junior Classic an annual event and will also aim to extend the format to include an 18-hole competition as well next year.”

Maleny Golf Club President Dr Max Whitten welcomed the opportunity for the club to support junior golf and host such an event annually.

Competitors spread around the course

“The sight of so many juniors out their enjoying themselves and playing the course really does augur well for the future of the game in our region and just maybe there are some future Australian golf champions among them.” Dr Whitten said.

Gross winner of the boy’s 9-hole event was Braydon Green from Blackbutt who shot 50 off the stick to card a net 34 while Kahler Doolan from Virginia was the net winner with 33. Winner of the girl’s 9-hole event was Juhi Rampersad from Pine Rivers with 55 (net 37) while Lina Bohan from Bribie Island was the net winner with 42.