PORT Lincoln golfing prodigy Jack Thompson had a fantastic tournament at the under 12 national championships in Victoria.
Jack spent a week in Victoria captaining South Australia's under 12 team at the national championships at the Rosebud Country Club on the Mornington Peninsula.
Although the team struggled against more seasoned competitors from Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria, Jack finished runner-up in the individual standings.
To put this accomplishment another way, the second best primary school-aged golfer in the country is a member of the Port Lincoln Golf Club.
Eleven-year-old Jack went into the event having recently become a single-figure handicapper. He led a team of eight boys and four girls from both metro and country South Australia in the three round tournament, played on Rosebud's West Course, a Par 71 layout over 6032 metres.
Jack's first look at the course came in Monday's individual stableford round, in which he returned a respectable score of 33 points. He improved the following day in a stroke round, going out in 42 strokes and coming home in 40, for an 82 overall.
On the Wednesday, all four state teams went on a wonderful excursion back into Melbourne.
The youngsters were taken to the magnificent Kingston Heath Golf Club, the venue for this year's Australian Masters.
They were allowed to visit the practice range where many of the professionals were warming up for the day's Pro-Am event.
Not only did the players go through their warm-up routines, they were willing to pose for photos and sign autographs for the awe-struck juniors.
n Continued page 35
The students were then escorted to the 18th green and provided with grandstand seats. They were able to live every young golfer's dream as they watched world number one Tiger Woods finish his round.
Jack was very excited to get within a few metres of his idol!
The final round of the championships saw Jack record his best score for the week. He carded 12 pars on his way to an impressive pair of 39s. Although he finished five shots adrift of the winner from Queensland, his 78 won him a countback for second place.
This is a fantastic achievement for a young lad from regional South Australia.
Jack continues to rise to each golfing challenge. He plays with a natural flair and courage, determination and an even temperament.
Perhaps most importantly however, Jack competes in the true spirit of the game and enjoys his golf; he is rarely without a beaming smile on his face.
I am certain that Jack will remain a single figure handicapper for many years to come.
Who knows ... maybe one day youngsters will be clamouring to watch him compete at a major tournament.
By Shaun Thomas
Port Lincoln Golf Club junior coordinator