Eleven-year-old Kade Johnson of Yorkton may not have put up his best numbers during a golf tournament earlier this year in Saskatoon, but the youngster carries with him more confidence and optimism than most athletes his age.
After going through winter training at Yorkton's Deer park Municipal Golf Course, Johnson has shown in only a few years that his golf potential is as abundant as he wants it to be.
Allan Sauser, head professional at Deer Park, said Johnson has several qualities that are definitely going in his favour. Not the least of which is a pretty sweet swing.
"He's very mature for his age. It's incredible that he's come this far. He has a nice swing (too)," Sauser observed.
At the tender age of 11, Johnson was the youngest on the course at the Euro-Junior Golf Cup qualifier held May 8-9 in Saskatoon, the odds may have already been against him due to his young age, but Johnson still looks on the upside.
"I was happy because at the end of the first round, I was only three back of the guy in front of me."
He also says he tries to learn from the competition.
Johnson placed in seventh position but was the only 11-year-old playing.
"The competition was stiff," recalls Johnson, who also added "the weather wasn't the best (either) but was good."
He said he used his ability to drive and chip to the best of his ability and didn't fare too badly.His optimism and maturity is best shown when he said it was a good chance to see what the competition is like at the next age group up from his, as well as to listen and to learn.
"I just try to stay calm. I am learning from the competition (too)."
If the skill of some of the older golfers there that day wasn't enough to knock him off his game completely, the added pressure of everyone watching his every move, as well as hearing his own name announced over the loudspeakers just as he was getting ready to tee-off, might have been enough to knock him out of it mentally.Nope. Not this kid,
"I can hit the ball 200 yards, he told the paper as if it works out that way all the time. "I love the pressure."
Johnson said he has been honing his own skill in his parents' basement where he drives into an old pillow.
If that pillow could talk back to young Johnson, it would likely be screaming at him to stop, or at least ease up a little.
"My dad tells me to hit into a pillow. Plus I golfed every day last summer and (do) nine holes every day after school."
His attitude is in the right gear too.
"I need to get out there and start winning."
Johnson's schedule for the next few months, aside from attending his Gr. 6 classes at St. Michael's School, are to play in about 13 tournaments this season.
His next action will take him up north to the Battlefords.
