Golf prodigy Zak, 6, makes the grade in US

AN IRISH golf prodigy has taken his place among the best young players in the world.

Six-year-old Zak Collins from Ballincollig, Co Cork, picked his way around one of America’s finest competition courses at the weekend to finish 36th in the under six section of the US Kids Golf World Championship, played at the Pinehurst Resort in North Carolina – the home of American golf.

It is the largest and most prestigious event in the world for players aged 12 and under, attracting some 1,500 competitors.

With dad Denis caddying, Zak teed off on the 1,300 yard nine-hole Midland Country Club course early on Thursday morning and shot a 43.

He shot a very impressive 40 on day two, finding his spot on the Bermuda fairways and holing putts on the bent grass greens, but was a little disappointed with a 48 in the final round on Saturday. But his total of 131, 23 over par, was enough to see him take 36th out of a field of 55 of the world’s best young players.

The World Championship’s youngest group had an exciting finish which saw Jackson Van Paris from Illinois defeat Jed Dy from the Philippines in a playoff after each finished 11 under par 97.

Zak has been playing golf since he was three, wears size one golf shoes, and can drive a ball 150-yards.

Although he is too young to get an official golf handicap, he is an honorary member of the Lee Valley Golf and Country Club.

He is back in senior infants in Gaelscoil Uí Riordáin in just over three weeks.