SALAMANDER Bay golf sensation Lachlan Pearson is eyeing off more success at the upcoming Special Olympics National Games in Melbourne.
The gifted 17-year- old schoolboy will represent Team NSW at golf in his debut National Games and if recent form is any guide he is well in the mix for tournament gold.
Rising star Lachlan, a 12.9 marker at Nelson Bay Golf Club, is one of the youngest golfers competing in the three-day event at Melbourne’s Albert Park golf course during October.
He will play three matches and test his skills on the challenging course against some of the finest All Abilities golfers in the nation.
The Tomaree High School Year 12 student is determined to make every post a winner and push his claims for selection in the Australian golf squad that will compete at the 2027 World Special Olympic Games in Santiago, Chile.
Lachlan stamped himself a golfer with extraordinary skills when he captured international gold at the 11th annual Macau Golf Masters championships in the south coast region of China earlier this year.
The talented teenager produced masterclass performances to win the 18-hole Challenge League individual stroke play event at the world’s biggest golf tournament for people with intellectual disabilities.
In only his second overseas tournament, a dedicated Pearson carded gross scores of 86 in his two rounds at the prestigious Macau Golf and Country Club course to capture the trophy by an incredible 16 strokes.
Lachlan defeated promising New Zealand golfer and runner up Max Walsh for the top prize.
The Challenge League division caters for golfers with handicaps ranging from 11 to 25 with Pearson the youngest competitor in a strong field of 14 international golfers from across the disability spectrum.
He was the youngest of four golfers on the Australian All Abilities squad and now boasts a world gold medal.
An excited Lachlan told News Of The Area that representing Australia at next year’s World Special Olympic Games in Chile was an “immediate goal”.
“Winning the Macau Golf Masters event was a special achievement and has given me the confidence to challenge myself in elite company,” he said.
“I’ve been practising hard since the Golf Australia All Abilities championships in Coffs Harbour last month and look forward to participating in my first National Games,”.
By Chris KARAS
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