MILDURA golfer Angus Baird is shaping up as a key player for the Northern-Murray Darling junior golf pennant team this weekend against Hidden Valley after a blistering start to his campaign this week.
The 14-year-old Sunraysia Academy of Sport athlete was the star performer in the state on Sunday, racking up 46 Stableford points to help his side to a stunning 233-160 win over Royal Melbourne Red.
Baird’s performance on the weekend came on day two of the Mildura Golf Resort Club Championships, where Baird also claimed the club’s C grade handicap trophy with scores of net 69 and 68 over the weekend.
“I was very happy about it, probably just my consistency (helped),” Baird said.
“I had 18 holes the day before as a practice day, that day I just hit really well.”
For 2020, the junior pennant season has moved to a virtual format due to the current COVID-19 restrictions.
Teams play at their home course and submit their scores into Golf Australia rather than competing at the same course.
Baird said he had been playing golf for four years after not quite clicking with other sports.
“I played most team sports but never really felt I was involved, so I saw golf as a real individual sport and thought I’d give it a go,” he said.
“I really enjoyed it … my Dad (Jeromy) used to play with his mate and I used to hit the ball out then.”
Coached by Mike McKenzie, Baird says he tries to get on the course as much as he can as well as utilising his own home setup.
“I usually play 2-3 times a week then just hit in the net at home, 100 balls,” he said.
Baird said he was looking at another regional tournament coming up as the next challenge for his golf.
“There’s a tournament coming up in Ballarat in December so I thought I’ll have a go at that one, see how it goes,” he said.
Baird is one of a crop of good junior golfers to come through Sunraysia in recent years, with the likes of Tarsha Hawley, Sophie Crouch,
Madeline Jukes, Ben Doherty and current Riverside laides champion Stephanie Baker among others showing the district’s golf future is bright.
