A love of golf since the age of six has seen a local learner grow to achieve big in the sport.
Grade 12 learner at Deutsche Internationale Schule Johannesburg in Parktown, Pascal Guenther recently was crowned the All Africa Junior Championship in Egypt in March. Pascal (18) placed first by five strokes and competed against golfers from countries all around Africa.
South Africa won the competition in the team section thus qualifying to compete in the Toyota Junior World Cup in Japan in June.
The junior champion said he was hooked from the beginning and at age 11 he knew that this was exactly what he wanted to do when he grew up. “I started practising hard and made the provincial side for the first time at age 12. I have now played for South Africa in Egypt where I took the individual title. By setting myself small goals at a time I was able to achieve the big long-term ones.
“Competition golf means everything to me and I love to compete. Being in the hunt for the win is one of the most amazing feelings I know. I also won the provincial race to River Club series last month.”
He added that he was proud of his third-place effort in the Nedbank Junior Challenge at Sun City.
“The challenge was an unbelievable experience and it was my first time playing it. Because of the abundance of sponsors, the event really played out like one of the professional ones especially with SuperSport being there to film the action. Taking home third place was truly special to me and I hope to build lots of confidence knowing I can compete against the best U19 golfers in the country.”
The junior champion who trains at the Eagle Canyon Academy said he was definitely planning to play golf professionally in the future with the first plan being to play college golf in the United States. “I think that will prepare me to play golf professionally either on the Professional Golfers Association or Dubai Port World tour.”
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