Meet the teen making waves on the green

Seventeen-year-old Namibian golfer Kyle Johnson is making waves in golfing circles.At the recent Region 5 Tournament in May, he emerged as the standout performer for his team, helping Namibia secure a fourth-place finish. More notably, Johnson clinched third place individually, becoming the first Namibian ever to reach the podium at this prestigious event.Since Johnson first stepped onto the green, he has been nothing short of exceptional. From winning his first tournament at just eight years old, he marked a remarkable start to a promising golf career. Like many father-to-son legacies, Johnson was inspired to play golf by his father.“I always used to watch how he played and would beg to go with him to games, until I finally started playing at the age of six,” Johnson explained.Despite his success, the young golfer admits balancing schoolwork and golf can be tough. “As with most successful careers, you often fall short in other important areas,” he said. To manage, he chose homeschooling for its flexibility. “I can just take my laptop everywhere and do schoolwork whenever I have time, like at the airport.”According to Johnson, his biggest challenge so far has been the constant ridicule and doubt he has faced from others. He has often been brought down by people, largely due to the level of success he’s achieved at such an early stage in his life – something that’s seen as unusual or even frowned upon in a sport where early excellence is rare.However, Johnson explained that, although overused, the saying remains true: nothing can bring you down if you believe in yourself.Despite the challenges, Johnson remains focused on his future, with his eyes set on becoming a professional golfer like his favourite player, Rickie Fowler. “I also want to be sponsored by Kuro and wear orange like him,” he added with a smile.For a teenager who has already broken barriers and silenced doubters, the journey is only just beginning – and the world of golf may want to start paying closer attention.

Meet the teen making waves on the green

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Namibian Sun 2025-06-27

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Meet the teen making waves on the green

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Namibian Sun 2025-06-27

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