More than 20 junior golfers from around the region converged on Moree on Sunday to compete for top honours and some excellent prizes at the annual Junior Open, the first event of the Jack Newton Northern Inland Order of Merit.

Unfortunately, due to a number of extenuating circumstances, numbers were down considerably this year.

“It’s the smallest field we’ve ever had,” Moree Golf Club pro Matthew McGuire said.

“We had no one from Tamworth, Gunnedah or Armidale, and even our local numbers were down; seven or eight of our younger players couldn’t play.”

Although numbers were down this year, it was still a top day with plenty of good competition.

“It was a very good day. All the juniors had a good time,” McGuire said.

“The course is in good condition considering the heat we’ve had.”

Moree players had success in each event they competed in with Breanna Purse and Annabelle Abrahamsen coming gross winner and runner-up, respectively, in the girls’ 18 hole event.

Luke Devney and Aydan McGuire also won the quinella in the 9 hole juniors event, coming first and second respectively, while Sam Carter placed fourth and Thomas Sparke was sixth.

Rhys Devney was the nett winner of the boys’ 14 years and under event and Declan McGuire and Rayma Honour came runner-up and third in the 9 hole sub junior short course.

Winners and place-getters of each category went home with some great prizes and trophies, all thanks to the generosity of the event’s sponsors.

“We potentially have the best prizes in any junior comp in Australia,” McGuire said.

 “A big thank you to our loyal sponsors of the junior open including Boland Petroleum, Moree Ag Supplies, Moree Bakehouse, Reados Meats and Abrahamsen Automatives, as well as all the parents that helped out on the day.”

This was the first of eight events in the Jack Newton Northern Inland Order of Merit tournament this year.

The next event of the Northern Inland Order of Merit series is at Armidale on Sunday, March 26.