A six-year-old Sunshine Coast golfer has been selected for an invitation-only international tournament, placing him among the top junior players in his age group worldwide.
Alby Weyden, from Pelican Waters, has been invited to compete in the US Kids Golf Canadian Invitational in July, after receiving a call-up reserved for a select group of young golfers.
The Year 2 student, who attends school in Baringa, has been building a reputation well beyond his years, with his rapid rise in the sport catching the attention of organisers.
His mother, Emma Weyden, said the invitation came as an emotional surprise.
“I just opened the email and thought, ‘Oh my god’,” Ms Weyden said.
“It made me so proud. He’s only six and to be invited to something like this – it’s just incredible.”
Alby’s journey into golf began almost as soon as he could walk, with an unusual early obsession that quickly turned into something more.
“Before he even started playing, he had this extreme obsession with golf balls,” Ms Weyden said.
“He used to sleep with a container of about 20 golf balls in his bed and take them everywhere – even to daycare.”
Encouraged by his father Jason Weyden, an avid golfer who now acts as his caddy, Alby picked up a club at age three – two years earlier than most junior programs allow.
Coaches immediately recognised his potential.
“They don’t usually let kids start until five but they made an exception for Alby because they could see what he was capable of,” Ms Weyden said.
“He’s always been the youngest in the group but he was still able to keep up – and even beat older kids.”
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That natural talent has translated into strong results on the course. Competing in both the Glass House Mountains Junior Golf tournament and the US Kids Golf Sunshine Coast Tour this year, Alby has already claimed multiple wins.
His best score to date – a 43 over nine holes – is considered exceptional for his age group.
“He actually won that tournament with that score,” Ms Weyden said.
“For his age, that’s a really strong result.”
Despite his success, she said Alby remained blissfully unaware of just how talented he is.
“He’s completely oblivious,” she said. “He just loves golf and wants to play every day.”
That passion is reflected in his weekly routine, with Alby spending about seven hours on the course or at training – not including tournaments.
“There’s pretty much not a day where he doesn’t practice,” Ms Weyden said.
“He even putts in our bedroom at home.”
Mr Weyden plays a key role in his development – though, like many young athletes, Alby sometimes prefers to trust his own instincts.
“Jason knows a lot about golf but sometimes Alby thinks he knows better,” Ms Weyden said with a laugh.
“You’ve got to let him make those choices and learn from them.”
His dedication has also begun attracting attention locally, with Baringa-based golf clothing business Fore Golf recently signing him on as a junior ambassador.
But whether Alby can take up the overseas opportunity remains uncertain, with the family needing to raise funds to make the trip possible.
“It’s invitation-only, so not just anyone can enter,” Ms Weyden said. “That’s what makes it so special – he’s been recognised.”
The family estimates the trip will cost between $15,000 and $20,000, covering flights, accommodation and travel expenses.
To help make it happen, they have launched a GoFundMe campaign, hoping the community will rally behind the young golfer.
“We’re not going over there for a holiday,” Ms Weyden said. “It’s literally for him to have this experience and then come home.”
For Ms Weyden, the focus is not on pressure or expectation but on giving her son every opportunity to explore his talent.
“I’m not the kind of parent who puts their child on a pedestal,” she said.
“But I do know he’s gifted – and I want to do everything I can to support that.”
