Jack Turner only squeaked into the senior club championships at The Hills golf club at Arrowtown.
But on Sunday, the 15 year old son of two time NZ Open winner Greg Turner took the title - beating his father's Otago Boys' High School mate David Skeggs in the final - sparking comments about his bright future in the game.
The win rounded out a great week for Wakatipu youngsters - on Tuesday, Sungwoo Han progressed to the next stage of NZ Open qualifying.
Jack, who plays off an 8 handicap, qualified 10th out of 13 players.
''I thought I'd lose,'' the talented teen said.
''I had pretty bad qualifying and a rough week beforehand, so I didn't expect to win it.''
But his game improved - he hit the ball longer and straighter - after switching clubs.
Jack beat Hamish Hudson and Troy Atkins on the way to the matchplay showdown with Skeggs.
Skeggs had a sniff when he birdied the first hole but the youngster managed an eagle, and then birdied the third. When he won on the 13th green, Jack was about even with the card.
Jack said: ''I haven't done too well in national comps in the past, so this is a big benchmark for me.''
Proud father Greg added: ''He played pretty darned good. I followed round and watched. It was great.''
Skeggs said he was impressed with Jack, adding: ''I think he's got a bit of a future.
''To do that off the back tees at The Hills under competition play is pretty impressive.''
Skeggs and Greg Turner started playing golf together in Dunedin at age 13 and ''he used to whip my arse then'', Skeggs said.
''I thought I would have got one back over his son, but the Turner family's continued to whip my arse.''
Jack has played golf at least once a week since he was 8, among myriad other sports. He has now whittled that down to three - cricket, basketball and golf.
For years, golf has been about fun. But as he has got keener, worked harder and grown taller, Jack has worked with three coaches - The Hills director of golf Craig Palmer, Millbrook's head pro Ben Gallie and Dunedin's Shelley Duncan.
He has pinned his hopes on clinching a golf scholarship at an American university and turning pro. It is a familiar trail - his father had a University of Oklahoma scholarship and won four times on the European Tour.
For the past two days Jack has been assessed at Auckland's Institute of Golf. But before scholarship dreams, there is the reality of NCEA. Greg suggests golfing success is great motivation for school work.
Jack, fingers taped after 12 straight days of golf, earnestly responded: ''I'm going to try quite hard this year.''
Greg Turner made his name in golf but his brothers Glenn and Brian also had sporting careers. Glenn is regarded as one of New Zealand's greatest batsmen, while Brian, better known today for his poetry, played hockey for his country and was a handy cyclist and club cricketer.
By David Williams.
