Niall continues hot streak

THERE’S no slowing Bendigo golfer Frankie Niall down at the moment.

Fresh from his equal second-placing at the 2026 Victorian Junior Amateur Championship earlier this month, the 17-year-old Neangar Park member claimed back-to-back tournament wins in the Golf Peninsula Junior Masters and the Eynesbury Junior Open.

Those wins have him primed for further success in the weeks ahead.

One of four Neangar Park golfers to contest the Victorian Junior Amateur Championship, Niall was the standout.

Played in challenging wet conditions across Tocumwal Golf Club and Cobram Barooga Golf Club on 30 June to 3 July, Niall (off a handicap of +2.4) finished at two under par on 212 alongside Samuel Snelgar, two shots behind the winner Ben Ellul, from Victoria Golf Club.

His good mate and fellow Neangar Park member Archie Alston tied for fourth at one under on 213.

Niall said both he and Alston were proud of their efforts

“It was close, but not quite there for me, but my game was pretty good,” he said.

“There were a lot of things I could have cleaned up on around the greens and on the putting greens, but I hit the ball pretty well all week.

“It was nice to have a good final round to put me in contention.

 

“Regardless, second is still a good result.

“Congrats to Ben (Ellul), he’s a very good player and has been playing some really good golf along his journey.

“He really deserved a win like that.”

Niall was quick to go one better, winning the Golf Peninsula Junior Masters, played over two days at Moonah Links and The Dunes, before adding the Eynesbury Junior Open to his list of 2026 tournament victories.

He had to survive a playoff against a familiar face in 16-year-old Ryder Comer (handicap of 4,1), also from Neangar Park.

Niall won at two under, triumphing on the second playoff hole.

The reigning men’s open champion at Neangar Park, Niall, who said a glut of golf was the perfect way to spend his recent school holidays.

“It sounds like a heavy load, but it’s thoroughly enjoyable,” the Catherine McAuley College year 12 student said.

“There’s nothing much better than to be doing what you love doing.

“It’s good fun.

“I’m slightly dreading going back to school, but I’m only going back for two days before I head down to Portsea on Thursday before I head down for the Portsea Open Amateur.

“It’s one of the biggest amateur tournaments there is in Victoria and it pulls in some big names.

“If I have a good showing there, I’ll be pretty happy.

 

“Obviously the break has been good, but the time is coming in year 12 where I put the head down.

“It will be tough to balance golf and school, but I’ve managed so far.”

He warmed up for Portsea by playing in the Rich River Amateur Open in Moama last Sunday.

Alston again headed north last week, this time to Sydney for a Next Gen event at St Michael’s Golf Club.

On the longer term radar for both players is the Victorian Junior Golf Open at Curlewis Golf Club in September.

Meanwhile, Neangar Park Golf Club has celebrated the efforts of all four players, who contested the Junior Victorian Amateur Championship, including the youngest of the quartet, 13-year-old Thomas Boucher.

“Our boys represented Neangar Park with pride throughout the week, competing against some of Victoria’s best junior golfers under demanding conditions,” club membership/marketing coordinator Renae Boucher said.

“A massive congratulations to Frankie Niall, who produced a sensational performance to finish equal runner-up, just two shots behind champion Ben Ellul.

“Archie Alston also enjoyed an outstanding championship, finishing equal fourth on 213, only one shot behind Frankie in an incredibly competitive leaderboard.

“Well done also to Ryder Comer and Thomas Boucher, who both embraced the challenge of one of Victoria’s premier junior events.

“Competing at this level is a fantastic achievement, and the experience gained will no doubt prove invaluable as they continue to develop their games.”