Kasumi is a superb golfer - at seven years of age!

Kasumi is a superb young golfer

– at seven years of age!

Kasumi Tran is just seven years old, hails from Begelly and has amazingly reduced her golfing handicap from 54 to 35, won tournaments aplenty and qualified for a top junior competition in the United States of America later this year!

Hers has been a rapid rise in the sport chosen in discussion with her parents Zung and Diep, and after starting out at a Saturday morning taster session with Rhys Harry, the excellent professional at Tenby Golf Club. Kasumi took to golf like a duckling to water and since then her fairytale journey has involved a great deal of travel and an impressive list of successes.

Early success

She told us,
“My first meeting with Rhys Harry was a group session with around six other kids every Saturday and I had a great time. Dad helped in between sessions and I got to love the game even more.”

Her success began when she entered the Tenby Junior Captain’s Day Three-Hole event and won it for her age group, following soon afterwards with similar success just up the road at Trefloyne Golf Club.

St Andrews triumph

Kasumi at the scoreboard at St Andrews Then there were creditable second places at Tenby and Ashburnham – and from there a whole string of first places May, June and July at events in Cardigan, Derllys Court, Newport Links, Tenby (twice) and the Rhondda, at the Welsh Mini-Masters Round One. But the most important success was at the Wee Wonders competition, again in the Rhondda, a qualifier which took her to St Andrews, the traditional home of golf, in Scotland.

On her web site Kasumi clearly loved the chance to play there as she said,
“Had a great time in Scotland and I made lots of new friends. The competition was over three rounds of nine holes in the under eight group playing on the Balgrove Course. The par is 30 per round and I scored 39, 39 & 40 for a total of 119.
“I came third overall in the under eights and won the girls’ under seven group so that qualifies me for the 2013 US KIDS Golf Championships in Pinehurst (North Carolina). YIPPEE I’m off to America!”

Prestigious win

Another prestigious win came in the Welsh Mini Masters, played at Celtic Manor, the home of the 2010 Ryder Cup.
“Play was in bad weather throughout the competition,” said Kasumi, “and by the third tee everyone was already soaked. Play was stopped after the eighth tee due to the weather and a lack of light. Everyone was glad to get inside and tuck into a burger and chips!”

Nice touch of humour

Kasumi putting at Rhondda Golf Club There is also a nice touch of humour in what Kasumi has to say about golf, like the time she competed at Morriston and a 70-yard approach shot looked on target but stopped on the fringe close to the hole and rolled back down the slope.

“Not the end of the world,” I thought. “I got a sand wedge and lobbed the ball up the hill. It landed inches from the hole, hit the flagpole and rolled away. The putt then overshot by around a foot and then picked up speed and rolled down the hill again, to almost the same spot as earlier. Unbelievable! Again I lobbed the ball up the hill, and this time it actually rolled straight into the hole! ‘Why didn’t it do that earlier?’ I asked as I won by one stroke!”

Rhys is full of praise

Rhys Harry is full of praise for Kasumi, not only for her natural skills but her willingness to take advice, practise hard and enjoy what she does.

“Kasumi is a very talented young lady who works harder at her game than anyone I have ever met at that age. Her short game and putting is already very good and she understands that her long game will develop as she gains strength.

“On the practice range I’ve seen her hit several holes in one from 60 yards and the whoops of delight let us know if we have missed it. She is all smiles around the club and is a pleasure to have with us as a junior member.”

Zung’s attitude is great

Kasumi with junior captain Harri Truman Dad Zung’s attitude is equally refreshing as the lovely story of his daughter’s successes. Kasumi once suggested that her challenge would be to become the U.K.’s youngest ever scratch golfer.

“With that in mind I can only encourage her more,” he said, “but with a sense of balance in her life. Golf and schoolwork don’t compete; instead they ‘share the same status’, both get equal amounts of attention."

Zung’s wish is to see golf as just one facet of what makes up Kasumi so that she will not be defined by her achievements on the course, but by the person she is.

Good luck Kusami!

This is a refreshing attitude from a parent who always walks every round with his daughter and acts as a very strong mentor.

His firm views are sure to protect a talented young golfer from becoming ‘burnt-out’ and we at PembrokeshireSport.co.uk feel sure we will hear a lot more about Kasumi Tran’s golfing successes in the future!