Golf: Jake Riley and Ella Scaysbrook make NSW junior team

Riley and Scaysbrook were announced in the 12-strong under-18 NSW squad last week and both are making their debut.

Scaysbrook, who moved to Newcastle from Port Macquarie late last year to pursue her golf ambitions, joins Brielle Mapanao, Charlotte Perkins (The Australian), Sophie Yip (Concord), Michelle Di Natale (NSW GC) and Rachel Lee (Avondale) in the girls line-up.

Toronto junior Riley, who is also a member at Pymble, is in the boys side with Jeffrey Guan, Joshua Todd (The Australian), Jye Halls (NSW GC/ Mollymook), Ali Rachid (NSW GC) and Daley Loumanis (St Michael's).

The Hunter pair are among the youngest in the team.

"Hopefully they are two kids who the younger ones around the local clubs look to aspire to and we get another good crop of juniors coming through," Ingrey said.

"Jake got into the NSW Open a couple of years ago and since then he's been pretty consistent. He hasn't had a ton of wins but he's been consistently up there.

"His game is certainly ready for that next step."

He said Scaysbrook. a member at Newcastle and The Australian, was "coming into her own" and setting an example with her drive to improve.

"Ella's an up and coming superstar in the girls," he said. "Her work ethic is phenomenal, her attitude is terrific and her results over the last 18 months have been very high level and consistent.

"She had quite a few wins in the Jack Newton events and she recently got a scholarship at The Australian."

The NSW team announcement was to come after last week's State Junior Championships at Byron Bay and Ocean Shores, but the tournament was cancelled because of the COVID lockdown.

** Newcastle's Brij Ingrey scrambled well early then late to finish tied 14^th at the Queensland Junior Amateur.

Ingrey narrowly avoided Sydney's COVID lockdown then restrictions on the Gold Coast to make his way north to the event in Bargara, in the Bundaberg region, from June 29 to July 2.

Ingrey shot six over across four rounds, finishing with his best day - an even par 72 in which he had four late birdies.

** Secretary Rod Carruthers expects the Newcastle District Golf Association to field their strongest side this season when they take on Hunter River on July 24-25 at Hawks Nest.

Newcastle announced their team on Monday and included the likes of Jye Pickin, Brij Ingrey and Jake Riley, who were set to miss the contest because of the Eric Apperly Shield.

However, the Sydney clubs competition for under-21s, which was pushed back to July 25, will likely be delayed further because of the COVID lockdown, opening the door for those Hunter players to tee off at Hawks Nest.

The two-day event features four-ball matchplay on the Saturday and individual matchplay on the Sunday for the PR West Shield.

Newcastle: (seniors) Jye Pickin, Chris Turnbull, Tom De Wit, David Alexander, Luke Ferrier, Michael Wade (c). (juniors) Hamish Ellison, Max Duffy-Smith, Jake Riley, Brij Ingrey, Tom Irwin, Harry Leggatt.

** The Newcastle district order or merit race continues with the Viney Creek Cup at Beresfield on Saturday.

Josh Robards (Newcastle) leads on 950 points, 50 clear of clubmate Chris Turnbull.

The NDGA B and C-grade pennants start on Sunday with round one held across Nelson Bay, Viney Creek, Tanilba Bay and Sugar Valley courses.

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