Kiwi ace Ryan Fox has offered words of encouragement to 12-year-old phenom Bayleigh Teepa-Tarau, after his surprise success at the AIMS Games.
After carding just three rounds previously, Teepa-Tarau has inspired in incredible response by taking out the nine-hole golf competition at the intermediate school sporting event at Tauranga this month.
His Taneatua School also won the team competition, despite not having a golf course in their small Bay of Plenty town.
"That's super impressive," Fox told Newshub. "Golf's a hard enough game as it is, let alone to win an event like that three rounds in.
"I've got mates who have played golf for 30 years and never won anything. Big ups to Bayleigh and I hope he continues enjoying the game.
"He's obviously got a bright future, if he can do what he's just done. Hopefully, I get a chance to meet him at some point and congratulate him in person."
Teepa-Tarau has autism, which means he has much of his time at school under his desk, not speaking to anyone. Golf has helped him out of his shell.
"Just to see my son playing sports is awesome," dad Hemi Tarau told AM, crediting school sports coordinator Te Whetu Wiremu for Bayleigh's transformation.
"Proud moment for me, especially seeing him out on the greens, playing golf, when he hasn't had much experience. I'm sure it was a beautiful experience for him and us to watch him."
Playing in basketball shoes with borrowed clubs, Wiremu thinks Teepa-Tarau's simple approach to the game is key to his success.
"He doesn't really worry about the technical stuff that goes into golf," he said. "I just tell him where to hit it.
"With the tee-offs, I just say, 'Bro, there's the flag there, hit it towards the flag'. He goes, 'Sweet', and steps up to the ball and straight down the middle every time.
"He doesn't worry about where your arm's supposed to be and what swing you have to do. He just does his own thing and that's what makes him unique to his game of golf - he just steps up to the ball and hits it.
"It's obviously good. Hit the ball, try and get it in the hole."
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