PINEHURST, N.C. — Scott Justus cannot remember the last time he played golf without a six-year-old at his side.
The West Hall High School principal also cannot remember the last time he outshot the little guy either. And this past weekend, Hudson Justus showed the rest of the world that he has a bright future indeed in the sport as he finished tied for seventh in his age division at the US Kids Golf World Championships at Pinehurst, North Carolina.
"My son started riding with me in the golf cart every time I went out to play at about one-and-a-half; and he started playing when he was about two, three years old," Scott Justus said. "But to go to this event and finish as one of the top 10 six-year-olds in the world is pretty incredible."
Playing nine holes apiece over three straight days at the world famous course, Hudson Justus fired a 35, 35 and 40 to finish at 110 (2-over-par) in a tournament that featured 1,500 youth golfers from around the world -- 71 in the six-year-old division. Justus finished as the top of three competitors from the state of Georgia.
"It was way more than what we expected to accomplish," Scott Justus said. "It was a great opportunity, and it was something that he pursued; he's got the fever."
Hudson Justus first became aware of US Kids Golf via the Netflix series "The Short Game," which documents the efforts and performances of youth golfers around the nation.
"He found out he could start competing on this tour and played his first tournament at five years old in Atlanta," Scott Justus said. "He was hooked from there."
Justus -- who plays several other sports -- excelled in local tournaments, earning an invite earlier this year to a regional tournament in Jekyll Island, where he finished third and claimed a spot in the nationals.
"We just try to keep everything in perspective, but he loves it," Scott Justus said. "He only takes one 30 minute lesson a week, and some of these other golfers are constantly taking lessons. Who knows where it will lead, but he's had a heck of a time with it, and he loves it. We want to thank everyone for their thoughts and well wishes this weekend. He got an automatic invite to come back next year, and he's just absolutely thrilled."
