HE swung his first golf club when still in diapers.
At age 6, St Francis Bay resident, Micah van Eyssen, a Grade R learner at Victory Christian School in Jeffreys Bay, competed at national level – for the first time – and secured a third place.
He now has his sights set on two prestigi-ous international championships.
According to proud father, Frederick van Eyssen, who learned to play golf from his grandmother, Micah hit his first golf ball when he was only one year old. “Soon afterwards he joined me on the golf course – displaying excellent skills. However, it was only this year that he started to play competitively.”
Who is the best golf player of the two?
“Me . . .!” laughs Micah.
Tournaments
After being third at the Junior Africa Golf Open hosted by SA Kids Golf in KwaZulu-Natal in August this year – his first-ever tournament – this promising young golfer secured a spot at the Kids Golf World Championships in Malaysia in December this year. He will also represent South Africa at the Australian Junior Age Division Golf Championships to be held in Queensland in April 2020.
Micah has since competed in Johannesburg under the US Kids Golf banner, in a bid to qualify for the British Golf Open and World Championships 2020.
He won his first local tour event with his best score to date of level par 36, finishing with three straight birdies to clinch the medal.
“Micah, who is a member of the St Francis Links Golf Club, is currently ranked third in Africa based on SA Kids Golf performance, and well on track for qualification,” said Frederick.
But this does not come without hard work.
He practises one to two hours every day, some days even up to four hours.
What does he enjoy most about playing golf? To make new friends.
“He truly tries to have as much fun as possible and has a deep love for the sport,” said Frederick.
And his role favourite professional golf player: Jeffreys Bay-resident Wallie Coetzee, Rory McIlroy and Brooks Koepka.
When not on the golf course, Micah loves to swim, to play golf and to fish (he once dreamt of becoming a professional angler).
