Less than two years after picking up golf, teen playing in U.S.
Kids World Championship
PINEHURST, N.C. — The story behind Amay Poria’s rise to phenomenal success in golf is no cliche. He did not drive a ball 200 yards with his first swing. He does not come from a long line of professional players, coaches, caddies or even golf fans.
Growing up, Poria had no outside influence in making golf his sport of choice.
But he did have an Xbox.
“He started golf on the Tiger Woods game and fell in love with it there,” his father, Bharat, said Tuesday. “And it stuck to him. … He had to keep playing.”
The novelty of that story will likely grow for the Poria family today, when Amay — less than two years into his career — tees off in the U.S. Kids Golf Teen World Championship at historic Pinehurst Resort.
It marks the first major tournament for Amay, who will compete among 140 of the world’s top 13-year-old males.
The Morgan Hill native is playing in a threesome this afternoon with Grant Welch of Baton Rouge, La., and British Columbia’s Chris Crisologo.
“He was in awe when we got here (Tuesday),” Bharat said. “He was very excited. He wanted to start playing right away.”
The four-day event comprises six three-round tournaments, three per gender, that are broken down by age. Players will cover 18 holes a day with the top finishers in each tournament advancing to Sunday’s Teen World Cup, a match play event between American and international players.
Amay just wants to do his best.
“It’s really fun being here. It’s definitely the nicest course I’ve been to,” the incoming eighth-grader at Martin Murphy Middle School said. “I hope to place maybe in the top 50, but I want to just have fun and do good.”
Amay has done both in his debut year on the Bay Area’s U.S. Kids Tour. He has two tournament titles under his belt and is third in the tour standings going into the final month of play.
The 5-foot-1, 85-pound righty also holds the short-course record at the Santa Teresa Golf Club, Bharat said.
“He’s got an 11 handicap right now, shooting anywhere from a 76 to mid-80s,” Bharat said. “He has great course management, and his swing mechanics are good.”
There is nothing surprising behind that. Amay practices six times a week with his swing coach, Don Leone, a PGA director of instruction at Coyote Creek Golf Club.
“He’s addicted to golf; he eats, sleeps and drinks golf,” said Leone, who also mentors two of the top-ranked girls in California. “For someone who has played as little as he has, he’s exceptional.”
Amay and Leone spent most of their recent practices fine-tuning Amay’s accuracy. Although he lacks a strong drive, Amay counters with a steadfast short game.
That should level the playing field for him on Pinehurst’s undulating 6,537-yard No. 6 course. It features three par 5s and 11 par 4s.
“This is going to be a learning experience for him,” Leone said. “He’s just a little kid and he’s very skinny, so he doesn’t have a lot of power. But he’s got it where it counts most with chipping and putting.”
The Poria’s hope an eventual growth spurt unlocks an inside track to Amay’s ultimate goal: playing on the PGA Tour.
“Golf is his passion,” Bharat said. “He’s very motivated and focused on becoming a professional.”
A strong showing this week will help his cause. Major youth tournaments like the Teen World Championships are magnets for scouts and college coaches.
“They look at the best players,” Leone said. “They haven’t been looking at Amay, but they might after this week.”
