History maker: 15-year-old Wollongong golfing gun becomes youngest winner since 1995

An up-and-coming 15-year-old golfing prodigy has smashed records in his dual championship winning performance at Wollongong Golf Club. READ MORE ABOUT THE RISING GOLF STAR.

RISING golf star Sam Cascio has won the Club Championship and Junior Club Championship at Wollongong Golf Club.

Cascio, 15, became the youngest player to win the Club Championship since 1995.

Victorious. Sam Cascio with the Club Championship at Wollongong Golf Club. Photo: Supplied

In the end he was victorious by a commanding eight strokes, adding the two championship titles to his growing collection.

Sam’s father, Travis, a handy golfer himself, is over the moon his son is performing to such a high level consistently.

“He’s always been a handy golfer, but over the last few months he has elevated his game to another level,” Travis said.

“People are really starting to go “wow this guy can play”.

“It’s very exciting for him.”

Sam played four rounds at Wollongong Golf Club to earn his titles, scoring 69, 69, 74 and 72 on the par 70 course.

On his last two rounds, Cascio had to contend with 30-40km/h winds and rain, yet still notched up some very impressive totals.

Sam Cascio working his way out of the bunker. Photo: Supplied

Cascio was recently a part of the Blitz Golf event at the Wollongong Golf Club, which gave him the chance to play alongside some professionals of the sport and grow his own reputation.

Cascio was the youngest entrant in the event but held his own, making it past the first cut and playing in the same group as professionals Lincoln Tighe and James Grierson.

Father Travis, who was at the Blitz Golf event, said at one point Grierson turned to Travis and said, “How good is this?”, in reference to Sam playing at such a high level.

Travis said Cascio’s game has come a long way in terms of its consistency, and thinks once Cascio bulks up a bit with age, he will be unstoppable.

“He’s still young, he’s only about 5’9 and 55kg,” Travis said.

Sam Cascio teeing off at Wollongong Golf Club. Photo: Supplied

“He has started to grow which has helped him, but he’s still getting out-driven by the adults.

“He hits them so straight though, so with time we know it will come good.

“He’s also worked so hard on his short game to make up for what he lacks in length, so his short game is really good.”

Cascio is one of the many successful products of the Wollongong Golf Club youth system, a system which Nicole Bessant, Regional Manager of Illawarra Golf, sees as an important investment.

“The array of talented young players Wollongong Golf Club have been outstanding,” Bessant said.

“It just shows how much time and effort the club puts into their grassroots programs.”

With these wins under his belt, Cascio now has his eyes set on a busy 2023 calendar, which includes the New South Wales Amateur, the Australian Amateur, and the Canberra Week of Golf.

Cascio’s performances have also attracted scholarship attention, so there might yet be more excitement to come for the young golfing gun.