By Carlos Kambaekwa
WINDHOEK – History is beckoning when a young golfer, barely out of his pair of pants invades previously un-chartered territory to swing the clubs on foreign soil.
At the fairly tender age of 16, Kasoma Paulino, could be considered still wet behind the ears to represent his native land at such a high profile event but the youngster, son of former Black Africa Fotball Club toe-poking forward and astute football administrator, Kandas Paulino, is oozing unbelievable confidence belying his tender age ahead of his participation in the Junior Open slated for the West Lancs Golf Club, Liverpool, England in the United Kingdom, teeing off on Monday.
The young golfing sensation, a zero handicap, is a protégé of the Tuks Golf Academy in Pretoria, South Africa and has been on the uprise since his ninth birthday. Based in St Andrews, the R&A organises the open championship, major amateur events and international matches.
Together with the United States Golf Association R&A governs the game of golf worldwide. Rules of amateur status, equipment standards and world amateur rankings while it working jurisdiction is global excluding the United States and Mexico.
The R&A is committed to support the growth of the game internationally and the development and management of sustainable gold facilities. It operates with the consent of 149 organizations from the amateur and professional game on behalf of over thirty million golfers in 135 countries.
The Centurion Country Club, Pretoria, the young golfer boasts an impressive resume of stroke average (2013): 78,5 stroke Average (2014 -) 76,9 with tournament scores (2013) of SA Golf School of Excellence Cycle 1 Champs (74, 76, 77, 74) Namibian Open (74, 79, 75) SA Golf School of Excellence Cycle 2 Champs (74, 75, 80, 76) Windhoek Central Open (75, 75) SA Golf school of Excellence Cycle 3 Champs (77, 73, 79, 74) Central Gauteng Stroke Play (75, 83) Junior Tri-Nations Stroke Play (80) SA Golf School of Excellence Cycle 4 Champs (81, 80, 76, 74) Junior Silver Vase (80, 77) Rossmund Open (82, 80, 78)
Tournament scores (2014): Gauteng North Stroke Play (80, 80), Johannesburg, Curro World Juniors (76, 84, 84), Cape Town, Windhoek Lager Central Open (81, 83), Windhoek, 2014 All Africa Junior Golf Championship (78,79,90,80), Lusaka, Africa Youth Games (82,75,80) Gaborone, SA Boys under-17 Championships (82,81,74,74) Polokwane