GOLF: Elizabeth Elmassian’s love for golf started when she was a toddler. Fast forward 15 years and the amateur golfer is now a few weeks away from teeing off at the Youth Olympic Games (YOG).
Elmassian has played numerous tournaments around the world but to represent Australia at the YOG will be a great step in her young career.
“I am most excited about getting onto the golf course and representing my country. It is such an honour and privilege to wear the green and gold and the Australian coat of arms," she said.
The now 18-year-old first gripped an iron at the age of four after her Dad had a club cut down.
“As a toddler I was always going out with dad on the course to have a hit, hitting balls at the park and going to professional tournaments with him and mum,” Elmassian said.
Apart from hitting golf balls in a park, the Sydney local was striking balls over a six-foot fence into her neigbour’s pool before starting kindergarten.
Elmassian has now moved her way through the ranks and is being noticed throughout the world of junior golf.
When it comes to golf Elmassian thinks about the sport more than hitting a few balls down the fairway.
“Throughout my years of playing I have learnt so many life lessons and continue to keep learning as I play on and off the golf course,” the amateur golfer said.
Elmassian has been working hard with coach Kris Barkway and the youngster has delivered some outstanding results this year in both amateur and professional tournaments.
The Australian Golf Club member came first at this year’s Northern Territory and Tasmanian Amateur tournaments and finished an impressive fifteenth at the 2014 Victorian Women’s Open.
The YOG are only a few weeks away and Elmassian has been getting in the right frame of mind before the biggest moment of her career.
“These past six weeks I’ve been competing in tournaments overseas in the US and Canada in order to start getting into competitive mode in the lead up to the Youth Olympics,” Elmassian said.
Elmassian and her teammate Brett Coletta will be part of history when they tee off in Nanjing. They’ll be the first golfers for Australia to compete at the YOG.
With this achievement comes another in particular for the sport of golf. The sport will make a return to the Olympic stage at Rio 2016.
“The great thing about golf returning is that it will now grab the attention of a bigger audience and give athletes aspiring to turn professional a big incentive to represent their country which will make the game even more competitive,” Elmassian said.
To keep up to date with Elizabeth’s journey in Nanjing follow @AUSOlympicTeam on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube and Google+.
Phillip Brent
olympics.com.au
@AUSOlympicTeam
