Golfer Jackson Bugdalski secures a place at the University of Oklahoma

KINGS Langley golfer Jackson Bugdalski is hitting the big time in the US after a year at Iowa’s renowned Indian Hills college.

Golfer Jackson Bugdalski of Kings Langley has secured a scholarship at Oklahoma University in the US.

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KINGS Langley golfer Jackson Bugdalski is hitting the big time in the US after a year at Iowa’s renowned Indian Hills college.

He has now secured a place at University of Oklahoma, where he will combine golf and study to earn a business degree.

Bugdalski started playing golf when he was 14 and went off to the US after finishing school at 18.

“I’d played baseball for Australia when I was young but I wanted a change so I went out with my dad one day when he was playing golf and I loved it,’’ he said.

His stellar US golf career has already included a seven-under-par 65 in the opening round of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division 1, and a five-under 67 in the third round.

Jackson Bugdalski embraced golf from a young age. Photo: Adam Ward

Bugdalski has also snagged a spot in this year’s first All-America team of the division’s six top players, and won the Phil Mickelson Award for most outstanding golfer.

He aims to become a fulltime professional golfer.

“While the facilities offered (in US) are about the same as you could expect in Australia, the skills are a lot better and the experience you get over there is larger,” Bugdalski said.

He said it was tough for the first three months after travelling to the other side of the world but he soon made friends.

“I was worried I might lose friends over here but that hasn’t happened and we still keep in touch,” he said.

“I always wanted to travel and do my own thing, so I’m really where I want to be.”

Jackson Bugdalski at his former stomping ground, Castle Hill Country Club.

Picture: Adam Ward