Nearly 200 entries were submitted from over 15 different countries
Orlando, FL – For the 11th consecutive year, children from across the globe recorded their golf swings and submitted entries for the “Best Pee Wee Golf Swing in the World” video contest, created and supported by Little Linksters™, LLC, and The Little Linksters™ Association for Junior Golf Development.
The popular contest allows parents to upload a video to YouTube of their Little Linksters swing. This year submissions came flowing in from the beginning of the year through August and winners were crowned in six age groups – from ages 1 to 12. The inclusive contest urged all children to participate, regardless of playing ability. In all, the contest saw just shy of 200 entries pour in from over 15 different countries.
Once again, heavy hitters joined the cause to help judge the contest, including the legendary Jack Nicklaus, PGA and European tour star Tommy Fleetwood, LPGA star Inbee Park and golf media personality Lauren Thompson.
They were joined by a team of esteemed U.S. and International PGA and LPGA teaching professionals – U.S. Kids Golf Top 50 Master Kids coaches Michelle Holmes from Virginia Beach, Zoe Allen from Ireland, Tom Reid from the UK, and acclaimed Canadian instructor Jason Helman. Little Linksters founder Brendon Elliott, the PGA’s National Youth Player Development award winner in 2017, rounded out the judging panel.
“In what has been an incredibly challenging year, we were determined to offer this opportunity to children and showcase to the golf world what the youngest among us can do with a golf club,” Elliott said. “This contest is primarily about fun and celebrating a game that is blind to age. Over the years, we have been extremely humbled by the response to this contest, both from a participant and judging standpoint. I’m as proud this year as I’ve ever been, especially knowing how difficult times have been for so many.”
AND THE WINNERS ARE…
Under 3 Division
1st Place- BOSTON SAYWELL (British Columbia, Canada)
2nd Place- THEO TANNER (California, USA)
3rd Place- CARSON JACOBS (Pennsylvania, USA)
3-4 Years
1st Place- FINLEY ERICKSON (Montana, USA)
2nd Place- BRIANNE YANG (United Kingdom)
3rd Place- BOBBY BEST (New Zealand)
5-6 Years
T-1st Place- KATIE LANDON (Virginia, USA)
T-1st Place- PENNY ROACH (Ontario, Canada)
T-2nd Place- JAGGER HOGAN (Australia)
T-2nd Place- KAY COX (Texas, USA)
T-3rd Place- KAI BUCHANAN (Florida, USA)
T-3rd Place- BRODY MACIVER (United Kingdom)
7-8 Years
1st Place- AUTUMN SOLESBEE (North Carolina, USA)
2nd Place- CAMDEN GUYTON (Georgia, USA)
3rd Place- TREBOR MELENDEZ (New Jersey, USA)
9-10 Years
1st Place- CARERON AMEN (South Carolina, USA)
2nd Place- CONNOR MULHOLLAND (United Kingdom)
T-3rd Place- AUSTIN NESBITT (SASKATCHEWAN, Canada)
T-3rd Place- JORDAN CHRISTINE DE GARAF (Virginia, USA)
11-12 Years
1st Place- ALEX ZHANG (British Columbia, Canada)
2nd Place- MADDIE BECK (Ontario, Canada)
3rd Place- ZACH LEDERER (Ontario, Canada)
WATCH THE WINNERS VIDEO PRESENTATION HERE:
This year’s contest was sponsored by Ikonik Golf, which helped provide trophies for each winner. Ikonik is an online platform for golf coaches to deliver personalized and effective training for students. It’s also a remote coaching platform where students can receive personalized instruction, track and test their progress, and learn how to improve their games via the handiness of their phone. To learn more about Ikonik Golf, visit https://www.ikonikgolf.com/.
MORE ABOUT LITTLE LINKSTERS
The Little Linksters™ golf program in Central Florida was originally designed for children ages 3-8 but has expanded to include those up to 18 years old and children of all abilities. Introductory programs are taught in a fun and interactive way, using both traditional and non-traditional instructional methods to ensure a child’s first introduction to golf is FUN! The more advanced programs are also based in fun but offer award-winning coaching that can help older kids achieve their goals. Programming is conducted at both of Little Linksters Academy locations, at Wekiva Golf Club in Longwood, FL and Mount Dora Golf Club in Mount Dora, FL. Programming is also offered at area schools throughout Central Florida.
The Little Linksters™ Association for Junior Golf Development, a 501c3 nonprofit in conjunction with AAU, is constantly raising funding to help create scholarship opportunities which allow children of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds to experience golf for the first time or take their games to the next level. One of the Association’s most prized projects, called GOALS (Golf Outreach Advances Life Skills) is specifically aimed at introducing children ages 3-12+ with special needs to the game. In doing so, children will learn valuable life skills that will help them throughout their life. Support of the GOALS program has also come from the Alliance for Accessible Golf as well as Jordan Spieth and the Jordan Spieth Family Foundation.
Elliott, Little Linksters founder, is a U.S. Kids Golf Top 50 Kids Teacher (2010-2012), a 2013 U.S. Kids Golf Top 50 Master Kids Teacher, a four-time NFPGA Junior Golf Leader award winner (2011-2014), a six-time Top 50 Growth of the Game Teacher as named by the Golf Range Association (2012-2016 & 2020), a three-time Elite Status Top 50 Growth of the Game Teacher by the GRAA (2017-2019), and was named the PGA of America’s National Youth Player Development award winner in 2017. More recently, Elliott was named as one of Orlando Family Magazine’s 2019 Men of the Year.
To donate to Little Linksters™ please visit: https://littlelinksters.com/linkstersgiving/
For more information about any of the Little Linksters™ initiatives, including corporate sponsorship, the “Best Pee Wee Golf Swing in the World” video contest or the Little Linksters™ Association for Junior Golf Development please visit www.littlelinksters.com or contact Brendon Elliott at BrendonElliott@pga.com or by phone at (321) 278-1612.