Date: October 18, 2016
Author: Dave Tease

Little Ed is set for Stonecutters

It’s a chance that’s too good to pass up according to 13-year-old Eddie Ward.

So good in fact, he's given up a Pacific cruise with his mum and dad for the opportunity to tee it up in next month’s NSW Open Golf Championship Junior Pro-Am at Stonecutters Ridge.

“I thought about missing the cruise with mum and dad for a little while, but it was a no-brainer,” he smiled.

“He absolutely loves his golf,” his father Jason Ward said.

”We gave him the choice, if you want to stay and play you can, bit it wasn’t much of a choice. I knew what it would be,” he laughed.

Eddie, from Oak Flats, just south of Wollongong, will join around 60 other lucky Juniors from across the State in the tournament which is being held on the eve of this year’s NSW Open. For many of them it’s an amazing opportunity to play alongside some of the biggest names in the sport.

He hasn’t played Stonecutters Ridge before and is counting down the days.

“I’m so keen to play. I’d love to play with Todd Sinnott or Jason Scrivener, maybe.”

Eddie has been playing golf for a little over a 18 months now, and in that time has chiselled his handicap down from 36 to a tidy 12. He practices five to six days a week and reckons his putting and chipping are the best parts of his game. He’s also part of Port Kembla Golf Club’s Encourage Shield side that took out the district competition in September.

“I won six-from-six,” he added.

The year-seven student at Shellharbour Anglican College is also a huge fan of the big-hitting professional Lincoln Tighe, a fellow club member at Port Kembla.

“He’s really nice to me. I’ve played a few rounds with him and he helps me out. I can’t quite beat him yet,” Eddie grinned

As for his future, his mind is made up.

“I want to be a pro golfer for sure. I’ve given up all other sports. I used to play soccer, but it’s just golf now.”