Jack Newton Junior Golf (JNJG), in partnership with the Regional Academies of Sport, was able to secure funding from the Office of Sport as a part of the Pathways Initiative Program to assist in the costs of delivering a joint pathways pilot project to be known as the North vs South Cup.
This tournament is based on a competition framework similar to the prestigious President’s Cup competition played twice a year between the USA and an International Team.
The North vs South Cup will consist of two golfers from each Regional Academy (plus two wild cards) who will make up one North team and one South team. The North Team will be comprised of the Hunter Academy of Sport, Central Coast Academy of Sport, North Coast Academy of Sport, Northern Inland Academy of sport and the Western Sydney Academy of Sport. The South Team will be made up by athletes from the Illawarra Academy of Sport, South East Sports Academy, Southern Sports Academy, Western Region Academy of Sport and South West Sydney Academy of Sport.
Athletes have been selected from a three-tiered collection of athlete data with selection criteria which consisted of the Academy Head Coach Eye Assessment Form, 18 hole scratch score and skill testing results.
This initiative will provide a high-quality team competition based on the format of the President’s Cup and an overall higher-level tournament opportunity for identified regional athletes to further enhance their competition experience.
This competition will also provide a talent identification vehicle and allow better opportunities for regional athletes to be identified for higher level development programs.
The teams will be coached by JNJG and PGA Professionals Mark Ingrey (North Team) and Luke Grinham (South Team). The event will take place at Riverside Oaks Golf Resort from 25 – 27 May 2018.