OBTAINING an American college sporting scholarship is a traditional pathway for emerging golfers seeking to secure a ticket on the Ladies Professional Golf Association Tour.

For sixteen-year-old Port Stephens prodigy Amy Squires of Boat Harbour that scenario could become a reality after her superb achievements this year on the golf course.

The Tomaree High school girl dreams of teeing off alongside the world’s best female golfers and is currently weighing up offers from universities in the United States to further her education from 2025.

A college scholarship will help Amy advance her amateur career and transition for the professional ranks while completing an Exercise Science degree.

If mature performances and natural talent are any guide, then the future looks bright for the newly crowned Australian All Schools Girls stroke champion.

The gifted Squires confirmed her status as one of the country’s outstanding young female golfers with a string of tournament victories in recent months.

At the Palmer Lakes golf course on the Gold Coast, Amy posted rounds of 68 and 72 to clinch the National All Schools title by three strokes and was a key member of the all conquering NSW squad that won the Teams Championship.

In recognition of her deeds, the Tomaree sensation was one of five girls selected in the Australian Schools Merit Team.

Amy also chalked up victories in three Jean Derrin events – the Pacific Dunes Bowl, Newcastle Hunter District Ladies Championship and Nelson Bay Ladies Classic before winning the Jack Newton Fayde Matchplay at Magenta Shores.

“Winning those titles has given me the confidence and belief to test my game on the Ladies circuit,” a dedicated Squires told News Of The Area.

“I’ve developed my long and short game and have more control of my nerves during tournaments,” revealed Amy, who is coached by Newcastle pro Mark Ingrey.

“He has proved a major influence on my career and has taken my golf to another level,” she said.

“Not only has Mark improved my skills and mindset but has brought fun into my game and helped eliminate those little errors,” Amy reflected.

“He comes to most of my tournaments and makes the training and match day tactics more enjoyable,” she added.
Amy’s goal is to eventually compete on the LPGA tour.

She hopes to follow in the footsteps of Nelson Bay native Cherie Byrnes, 47, who played on the Ladies European Golf Tour for eight consecutive years.

Amy also acknowledged her parents Tanya and Paul “for being so supportive and ferrying me around the country”.

It has been a memorable year for the multiple Club Championship winner who swung her first golf club as an eagle-eyed eight-year-old on the Nelson Bay course.

She honed her golfing skills and competitive spirit during those formative years by participating in a traditional family event – the Squires Cup Challenge.

During the past three years, Amy has lined up against her father Paul, grandfather Leon and uncles Grant and Michael in the annual challenge and eventually upstaged them all.

By the age of ten she boasted a handicap of 31 and four years later was a one marker.

The decorated teenager holds the distinction of being the youngest-ever club champion at both Nelson Bay and Horizons – winning the respective titles for the first time at the age of thirteen.

She represented Nelson Bay in Junior Pennants and Ladies Weekend Pennants and is a two time winner of the Ladies Foursomes.

In recent years Amy has captured the Horizons Mixed Foursomes title and helped the club claim successive Division 1, Division 2 and Division 3 Senior Pennants trophies.

Her talent was identified from an early age with selection in the Hunter Regional Academy squads and was only twelve when she broke par for the first time with a round of 70 at the Jack Newton Sub Junior Classic at Hunter Valley Country Club.

Other major achievements include winning the Hunter Academy Games and being named Best & Fairest Athlete and Inter District Team Champion at last year’s NSW Junior Championships.

Amy has stepped up a class in 2023 and impressed golfing pundits on the Ladies scene.

She missed the cut by one shot at the NSW Amateur, Avondale Amateur, Australian Ladies Classic and Concord Cup Ladies tournaments and tied for 37th overall at the Women’s NSW Open.

At the Australian Amateur Championships at NSW and St Michael’s she finished 38th overall from a field of 91 golfers – carding two under par for her second round.

Amy – who is part of the Golf NSW Targeted Talent Program – will compete in the Concord Club Championships in Sydney before teeing off in the Junior 6’s World Titles at Terrey Hills next month.

By Chris KARAS