By Joshua Papanikolaou (PSG Staff)
Golf started as a therapeutic measure with family for young Armani Marsters, but after just over a year in the sport she has already become the local club champion and scored a hole in one at the tender age of twelve.
Uncle Woody Morrison has been her teacher out on the course from day one and will be walking the links all week at the 2017 Pacific School Games playing caddie for Marsters and her group in the 12 and under competition.
Today she finished with a nett score of 79 from her handicap of 17.6 in the first round of stroke play at the Adelaide Shores Golf Club in West Beach.
“She got into golf through me, wanted to try something different,” Morrison said while walking down the fairway keeping score.
“Had tried every other sport and I reckon after one hit out on the golf course it just started from there, her passion grew from there.
“It was a touchy start, but as is anything you start from the beginning, and she plays competition regularly now and enjoys the atmosphere, meeting people and the freedom that golf provides.
“I came down with her mum to support her, the caddie part of it is great, I love watching and it’s good to give some advice.
“I play off 11 myself, it’s a work in progress, I don’t play as freely as these kids do.”
Marsters is one of the youngest ever ladies’ champions at Murray Bridge Golf Club and is now down to a handicap of just 17 as she continues to get better while enjoying just being out walking the course.
Previously the St Joseph’s Catholic School student had competed in athletics and played softball, but has well and truly found her spot on the fairways in an environment that suits her personality.
“We had lost a family member and instead of being home sad all the time, this was the sport that got her outside,” mum Lana said while watching her daughter putt.
“It helped her through the hard times and she started playing golf because of my brother, and in one year she made the regional, then state team.
“Then she got a hole in one, she’s our club’s champion and dropped her handicap so fast – now her idol is Lydia Ko, she just loves her and watches her and that’s her dream to play in the Olympics.
“She loves the scenery, meeting new kids and the etiquette within golf and it’s also a sport where she can play with the whole family, her two sisters play, and she gets to play with her uncle and dad.”
The Pacific School Games golf competition runs until Friday, 8 December.