PALMYRA’S Hayden Hopewell will tee off in the United States this month as he tests his golf skills against the best in the world.
The 17-year-old Royal Fremantle Golf Club member, who is GolfWA’s number one ranked amateur male, will travel to Arizona to compete in the Thunderbird International Junior Championship from May 24 before also taking on San Diego’s IMG Academy Junior World Championships in July.
Hayden said it had taken a lot of hard work to get him to this stage in his young career.
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READ NOW“Each day I practice a minimum of six hours with a club in my hand,” he said.
“I know I have to work hard, and my family have always believed in me.
“I stick to a routine and practice with a purpose.”
Hayden’s coach of five years, Ritchie Smith, said there was a lot of upside to his young charge.
“He is technically very good and is going to need to learn to trust himself in all situations,” he said.
“He’s an experienced kid and needs to understand that it’s no different being in these bigger international tournaments than what he has done in Australia.
“The players are no better, and if he performs at his best level he will do well.”