‘Top one per cent’: Inside the rise of 11yo whiz golfer Kasi Saetang

Kasi Saetang, 11, already plays off a single-figure handicap and has just captained Victoria to a successful golfing championship. Find out why good judges are predicting a bright future for the young star.

His favourite player is Rory McIlroy and he likes the look of Augusta National.

When 11-year-old Wesley College student Kasi Saetang isn’t playing golf – he’s often watching and studying it.

Kasi’s passion for golf started as soon as he could pick up a club, following his Dad to the course before entering in his own clinics.

His rise has showed no signs of slowing down since, recently captaining the Victorian School Sport Under-12 Boys team to a successful campaign in NSW.

Team Vic took out the Boys Nett Championship and Ambrose Boys Gross (a Victorian first) as well as running second in the mixed Stroke Championship.

Kasi modestly felt he only went OK.

“On the first day I didn’t do the best but OK, I shot nine over. On the second day I had a seven over and finished second nett individual,” Kasi said.

“The team won the Ambrose and we came second in the overall boys and girls team event.”

Kasi (front right) with his Victorian Under-12 teammates. Picture: Supplied.

Kasi built a mountain of Order of Merit (OOM) points in the lead up to representing Victoria.

OOM points are earned by performing strongly in tournaments between Championships.

School Sport Victoria Under-12 Golf Manager, Todd Canobie, said Kasi was “an obvious choice” to be captain due to his leadership skills and results.

“The way he holds himself, he’s only a young kid, but the way he is on and off the course is fantastic,” Canobie said.

“He’s got a great attitude and you can see he’s got the respect of his peers as well, he’ll come off the course and all his peers flock to him.

“One of the other reasons we chose him to be the captain was because he topped the Order of Merit for the Under-12s.

“When you look across the School Sport Australia results this year he was leading the state as well, so he was an obvious choice as captain.”

Kasi returned from NSW and quickly hit the course again, winning the RACV Goldfields Junior Tournament.

Kasi holding his RACV Goldfields Under-15 trophy. Picture: Supplied

Being smaller in stature than other kids his age, Kasi prides himself on his short game.

He says he “practices a lot to try and get a better feel” of the shorter strokes.

Canobie applauds Kasi’s early understanding of his game and his ambition to improve.

“He’s certainly got all the attributes, he doesn’t hit it as far as the other kids do but the way he holds himself, some kids that age go ‘you can hit it this far, I will try hit it further’, but he doesn’t get caught up in that stuff,” Canobie said.

“He knows his game, knows what to do and goes out and executes – that’s a really good attribute to have.

“You can see in his preparation that he doesn’t leave anything to chance, the kids had a meeting at 7 o’clock on the course and he would’ve been there at 6 o’clock hitting balls, fine-tuning, making sure everything was right.

“For an 11-year-old kid, that’s amazing.”

Kasi in full swing. Picture: Supplied

Some Australian stars have come through the School Sport Victoria golf program including Jason Day and Lucas Herbert.

Canobie thinks Cam Smith may have even represented the Vics in his later stages of school.

Canobie doesn’t like comparing the current and future stars but thinks Kasi’s current handicap is proof of where he’s at.

“If you look at golf across the world, if you are a single-figure golfer you’re in the top one per cent of golfers in the world … he’s reached that at 11,” he said.

As for that dream of Augusta, Kasi has eventually turning pro in his sights but believes patience and focus will get him there.

“My family has definitely helped me and my coaches have helped me too,” he said.

“My Mum and Dad have sacrificed a lot, I am really thankful for them.

“I want to turn pro and go on a tour, (I need to improve) my skills and keep patient and focused.

“It doesn’t really matter if you hit a bad shot, the next shot is more important than the shot you just hit.”