Wentworth Falls Country Club junior Chazz Ritchie has just finished playing in the Eric Apperly Shield competition with Penrith Golf Club, joining three other juniors from Penrith and three from other western Sydney Golf Clubs for the event.
The Eric Apperly Shield is open to all Sydney Metropolitan Golf Clubs which are members of Golf NSW.
Conducted annually from July to September, the competition is also open to country golf clubs, which may qualify for the finals by competing in their own or a neighbouring District Golf Association competition.
The 2019 event consists of three Sydney sections and one country section, with six individual matches played within each section over 18 holes of match-play, without the benefit of handicap.
Male club members who are aged 21 years or under, as at the date of the first round of the competition, are eligible to take part in the competition.
Penrith Golf Club's team for their 2019 campaign included Coby Carruthers (Leonay GC), Blake Hodges (Dunheved GC) and Reginald Papps (Richmond GC), along with Michael Organ, Blake Murray and Lachlan Baker from Penrith GC and Ritchie from Wentworth Falls.
Manager Jamie Organ (Penrith GC) said: "As no local club had the base to form a team, a number of local juniors joined forces to form a team for Penrith Golf Club.
"Many of the group are current members of the Western Sydney Academy of Sport."
"The team is relatively young and in most matches were up against much older and stronger competitors," he said.
"Of the five matches (played), the team halved three and lost two, which was a sound result given the quality of the competition - such as The Lakes and Pymble Golf Clubs."
"The team are keen to compete again next year and will certainly benefit from the experience this year."
Penrith finished in fourth spot in their six-team section behind Pymble, The Lakes and Asquith but ahead of Lakeside Camden and Pennant Hills.
Section 3 winners Pymble defeated Section 1 winners Concord in one semi-final, whilst Section 2 winners St Michael's defeated Country winners ACT Monaro in the second semi-final. St Michaels went on to take out the title thanks to a sudden-death playoff, after the final had been tied 3-3 at the completion of all games.
