Ashton O’Kola’s bright star continues to shine

By Morissa Lindsay 

Golf sensation Ashton O’Kola ended the year on a high when he won the six and under Future Champions Golf National Championship last week in San Diego, California, United States. 

A six-year-old student of Providence School, O’Kola said he was happy about his recent outstanding performance at the Future Champions which has allowed him to qualify for the IMG Junior World Championships also to be played in San Diego. 

“I was very happy to win this tournament. It’s nice to get another trophy and I played this tournament much better than the last one. It feels exciting to win this tournament because this was a big tournament for me and I almost had to withdraw because I injured my hand a few days before the tournament and couldn’t hold a club until the day of my practice round,” he told Barbados TODAY. 

Playing in his first Future Champions competition, O’Kola was two strokes off the lead but on the final day on the last nine holes, O’Kola had seven pars and two birdies to finish, which was sufficient for him to take the lead and win the championship by two strokes. 

Speaking about his time in the tournament, O’Kola explained: “The overall experience of the tournament was awesome because I worked hard for the trophy and got it in the end. I feel like I accomplished a task that was very big.

“During the competition the weather was freezing. I had to wear three layers of clothes to warm up. On the first day it was raining and on the second day it was hard to play and cold, but that was the day I got a chip I hit the hole for birdie.”

Coached by David Marshall who holds a certificate from the United States Golf Teachers Federation and is the owner of the David Marshall Youth Golf Academy based at the Barbados Golf Club, O’Kola has had a phenomenal year on the golf course in 2022.

He won his division at the New York State Championship and finished in the top 25 at the World Championship at Pinehurst, North Carolina. O’Kola also stood out in the boys seven and under age group at the Doral Junior Golf Classic presented by the Orange Bowl in Miami. 

He was also successful at the British Kids Championship and finished in the top half of the Disney Under Armour tournament against seven and eight-year-old boys. 

Speaking about his plans for this New Year, O’Kola said: “My plans for 2023 are to accomplish all the achievements that I didn’t accomplish in 2022 like getting another hole in one and winning a trophy at a world championship.  And I want to work on my driving, chipping and especially putting. I want to practise better, travel to more competitions, see my golf friends and have even more fun.” 

morissalindsay@barbadostoday.bb