It was a stroke of luck that saw Nat Young compete at the inaugural NSW Inclusive Championship and the code-crossing athlete made the most of his opportunity.
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The Tamworth Golf Club member took out the stableford event at the championship which was open to players with a physical, sensory or intellectual impairment.
The stableford event was for players with a handicap above 18.4 while players with a handicap lower than that competed in the stroke event.
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The only reason Nat competed at the event at Pacific Dunes was due to his father Mark learning about it on a trip away at that very same golf course.
"They had a golf magazine and I picked it up and saw the registration for this [NSW Inclusive Championship]," Mark recalled.
Nat - who plays off 22 - registered, was put into the stableford event and finished on 69 points after his two rounds to take it out.
The golfer got to share the moment with his father who was right by his side.
"I had the privilege of caddying for him over the two days," Mark said.
Everywhere Mark looked at the tournament, he saw people who inspired him just like his son does.
"This guy we played with on Monday was blind and relied on his caddy to line up his club and tell him what was ahead of him and it was amazing to watch as a golfer myself," Mark said.
"To see people overcoming these adversities and play with a smile on their face was incredibly humbling."
Mark said Nat hoped to return to the championship next year but before then he had another sport to focus on.
In November, Nat was selected in the Australian Intellectual Disability Cricket training squad.
He's been training with the likes of Tom O'Neill, Terry Browne and John Kilborn in Tamworth in the hope of making the final team.
The side is hoping to tour New Zealand later in the year.
"The training squad has to be cut back. There's 25 in the squad and only 13 will be in the final team," Mark said.
"All he can do is keep training and trying to improve."
Mark also encouraged other families to get in contact with him about how to get involved in these different tournaments.
Mark's email address is markthomasyoung@yahoo.com.au
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