Birdie Barrage by Harbor View First Grader

30 boys and girls teed it up at the Future Champions Golf Junior Tour event at Sail Ho Golf Club in San Diego on Saturday October 18, part of the Fall Bonus Series. They competed in age groups of 6 and under, 7-10 and 11-14 years old. The relatively short nine hole course was in excellent condition and challenged the players with multiple bunkers on every hole and significant elevation changes on about half the holes. Corona del Mar golf prodigy Zane Weaver started the day with a crisp 7 iron to within 6 feet on the opening hole to capture the closest to the pin contest for the day and open with a par after the side hill putt slid by the hole. The second hole was an uphill hole protected with bunkers in front and behind. Zane’s tee shot was just short and right of the green and a pitch and two putts put the Harbor View first grader at one over par. A great tee shot on the third landed 6 feet away and give Zane an opportunity to get that bogey back but the put stopped on the lip. The uphill fourth had a contoured and elevated green that was too far for the 47 pound 6 year old to reach in one. Another great approach and two putts for a bogey. Zane was striking the ball well but was still two over par for the day. Zane turned on the heat when his tee shot on the par 3 fifth hole struck the flag stick and stopped two feet away finally yielding his first birdie of the day. Zane carried the momentum to the challenging up hill par 3 sixth hole with a large deep bunker fronting the entire green and another bunker that ran the entire back of the green. With laser precision, Zane carried the front bunker and came to rest 4 feet from the cup where he sank a tricky downhill putt for his second consecutive deuce. After a tremendous drive on the Par 4 seventh hole, Zane hit his approach 15 feet past the hole. His putt hit the back of the hole but somehow popped out for a tap in par. After another great drive, Zane hit a solid 7 iron to about 20 feet on the par 4 eighth hole and made the birdie putt for an incredible 3-under-par surge in a four hole stretch. The 140 yard Par 3 final hole was too long for 6 year old Zane to reach in one and after a nice drive and a good approach he two putt for a bogey four to finish at even par 29 for the round. His even par 29 won his age division by 5 strokes and was the low round of the day for all 30 competitors by 3 strokes.