NEW SOUTH WALES, Aus. – Oct. 12, 2004 – Local favorite Adam Downton claimed The Jack Newton International Junior Classic at The Oaks Golf and Country Club, Cessnock, New South Wales, Australia, with scores of 71, 68, 72, 68 (-9).

Downton was a member of the Australian Junior Team that narrowly defeated New Zealand in the recent Clare Higson Trophy match at Titirangi Golf Club.

Kiwi Samuel Shin of North Harbour too displayed fine performance. Shin again showed why he is one of the leading 14 year olds internationally by carding a final round 71 (-1) to win the 14 years age group with a total of 293 (+5) and taking out 7th place in the overall standings. Shin bettered par in three of the four rounds but struggled on the second day when the bounce of the ball failed to go his way on several occasions, resulting in an uncharacteristic 81 (+9).

However, Kiwi Jae An could only manage a fifth position overall and fourth in the 16-year age group. His final scores stood 1 over par (73). His total of 290 (+2) placed him one stroke ahead of countrymate Aaron Leech (Wellington) who had began the final round in 3rd place but could not replicate the sub par form of the second and third day that had seen him record scores of 68 and 67 respectively.

Leech dropped 6 strokes on the final day, carding a 78 to finish fourth in his age group and 6th overall. Perry Hayman (Wellington) continued his steady form with a final round of 74 (+2), finishing 3rd in the 15 years age group. This is a pleasing finish for Hayman who started the event with a +10 round of 82 but battled back with scores of 73 and 72 on the second and third days.

An, Leech and Shin have all been named in the New Zealand team that will contest the re-structured Aaron Baddeley World Junior in Fiji in December and they will be joined by Taranaki’s Matthew Blackbourn.

The full scoreboard can be viewed on the Jack Newton Foundation website at www.jnjgf.com