FIVE-YEAR-OLD Jeju Fuentes is a familiar face on the golf course at Birkdale and is now making a name for himself on the national scene.
The Kelvin Grove preschooler - who is a regular at Howeston Golf Course - is set to play at the US Kids Golf New Zealand Open in Arrowtown on the South Island next month.
It came after he took out the top spot in a US Kids Tour championship, guaranteeing him a spot in international tournaments from Canada to Italy.
In the meantime, Jeju plays regularly in weekend competitions around Brisbane, often taking on players two or three times his age.
Most recently, he impressed as the youngest competitor at the Bulimba Golf Club pro-am, teeing off alongside Order of Merit leader Tim Hart and other Queensland golf heavyweights.
Father Jeran Fuentes said it did not take much encouragement to get Jeju on the course, with the pint-sized golfer brimming with enthusiasm and energy.
He said Jeju had first picked up a club at 15 months old and was competing by age four.
"He loves to win and he keeps saying golf is fun," father Jeran Fuentes says.
"(That) is what drives him."
Mr Fuentes said Jeju was also inspired by his golfing idols, including Rory McIlroy, Adam Scott, Tiger Woods and Ben Hogan.
Howeston Golf Course owner Lynn Weston said older golfers were astounded to see Jeju out on the course.
"I've never seen anybody as young as that to be out there and competing. I'm amazed," she said.
"He's a polite little lad (and) he's going to do big things."
Jeju has a GoFundMe page to raise money to help him travel to international competitions.
Read more local sport here.
