Santa Maria Sun / Athlete of the Week

Jack Avrit

BY HENRY HOUSTON

PHOTO COURTESY DARREN AVRIT

Today, Jack Avrit may be 11, but he’s already been golfing for nine years. His passion began at home. Literally.

“My dad bought plastic clubs and balls that we could play with out in the backyard and inside the house,” Avrit said. “I loved it. It was awesome.”

Avrit went on to join the Junior Golf and the First Tee Program a few years after he first gripped a club.

In the past, he’s competed in the Junior World Golf Championship on the sunny shores of San Diego and has played in the U.S. Kids World Golf Championship.

At the Coastal Valley Junior Golf Association’s event in late July, Avrit placed first with a score of 45; his younger brother, who’s 9, followed a rank behind.

Overall, Avrit has won all but one tournament within the Coastal Valley, and he’s won 14 out of 16 tournaments in the San Luis Obispo Jr. Golf circuit.

The victories aren’t stopping; he won the boys’ “Closest to the Pin” competition held during the 10th annual Jane Merlo Memorial Golf Tournament on Aug. 28. Avrit placed his tee shot 18 feet, 8 inches away from the pin.

“I was really happy,” Avrit said. “It was the exact shot that I wanted.”

Not only does Avrit hope to play in the PGA Tour someday, he “hopes to be the best golfer in the world.”

At this pace, he’ll be on the green soon.