Six-year-old Zac Wolfe wins US Kids Golf World Championships at famous Pinefield Golf Club
A young golfing star nicknamed the King of Huntingdale has won a world championship in the US as he takes another step toward his goal of being “like Tiger”.
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A precocious six-year-old golfing star from South Caulfield is turning heads around the globe, winning the US Kids Golf World Championships in North Carolina in the latest stellar step towards his Masters-jacket dream.
Zac Wolfe claimed the boys six-and-under title with a final score of seven-under, beating a field of 73 elite junior golfers to be crowned world champion.
The tournament, held each August at the world-famous Pinefield Golf Club, is considered the pinnacle for junior golfers.
Huntingdale member Zac – or the King of Huntingdale, as he is locally known – has already chalked up a long list of achievements.
At two years old, he won the world’s best kids golf swing – as judged by Jack Nicklaus – and at three, won the US Kids Tour Local Series in Melbourne to achieve qualification for the world championships.
Zac scored his first hole-in-one at four, before winning the US Kids Australian Challenge at five.
Now a world champion, Zac is focused on continuing his ascent up the golfing ladder step-by-step.
“Dad and me have a ladder,” Zac told the Herald Sun.
“On top of the ladder is the Masters jacket. That’s what I want to win, like Tiger.”
But Zac isn’t getting ahead of himself.
When nerves kick in during high-stakes plays at tournaments, he draws on the preparation he puts in – including dawn practice sessions before school – as well as a simple motto.
“Handle hard better,” Zac said of his golfing approach, adding he “brought a smiley face” to the world championships.
“And what handle hard better means is you handle the hard when it gets hard,” he explained.
“I was pretty happy (after being crowned world champion). Dad said I’m going to have a party.”
Zac’s dad, Jeremy, says lessons in commitment, confidence and making friends with kids from different countries are all coming through his golfing pursuit.
“I’m just so proud. I think what he’s done is so cool. Whether he continues with golf or whatever he does, it’s a great set of experiences for a kid to go through,” Mr Wolfe said.
“He loves being out there, and he’s so creative. His short game is just phenomenal.
“It comes through so much hard work. Huntingdale created a new membership category for him, a sub junior, which is pretty cool.
“I’ve been taking him there since he was about three. He works so hard there, it’s like a second home.”
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