Schoolboy sporting whiz Harry Leggatt, 14, a sensation on the golf course and soccer field
Sinking birdies on a golf course, stopping a goal in an elite football game, or hitting an ace on the tennis court is a way of life for Tea Gardens sports expert Harry Leggatt.
Fourteen year old Harry is passionate about the sport and already has an impressive track record that would make any seasoned athlete proud.
As soon as he could walk, he had a tennis racquet and a golf club in his hand and kept kicking a ball around.
Most weekends, the promising golfer takes part in local competitions or at Jack Newton Junior Foundation events across New South Wales.
The talented student at Medowie Christian School is a two-time Junior Club Champion at Hawks Nest Golf Club and the current A Grade Nett Champion.
The versatile Harry told News Of The Area: “Golf is my favorite sport which I enjoy a lot.
“I like being active on the soccer field, but the strategy and shot selection around a golf course gets my adrenaline and competitive spirit pumping,” he said.
With a six, Harry will be aiming for his third consecutive junior club championship title in October after hitting a historic personal milestone earlier in the year.
The talented teenager put his name in the record books when he was selected to represent Hawks Nest Golf Club on the 2023 A Grade Pennants team.
Harry and his father, Ian Leggatt, made history when they became the first son and father to represent Hawks Nest Golf Club on the same A Grade team since the club’s inception in 1963.
In 2019, Harry played his first Pennants game for Hawks Nest in the C-Grade tournament at the age of eleven, and placed first in the C-Grade Net and second overall in the Net- at the Hawks Nest Beachside Pro Am tournament. Competition.
Harry is also a member of Newcastle District Golf Club and last year represented the Newcastle District Golf Association in the PR West Shield and Lower North Coast District.
When not teeing off on the golf course, the youngster excels as a centre-back or defender with the Newcastle Olympic Under 15s in Northern NSW Football Youth League competition.
He started his football career as a five year old with Tea Gardens Soccer Club and played for Medowie FC under 8 and under 9 years old before being picked up in the Northern NSW Skills Acquisition Phase (SAP) 10’s, 11’s and 12’s teams.
During the 2019 season Harry represented the Newcastle SAP Under 12s at the Northern NSW State SAP Championships and secured the 11 Years Boys title.
At the age of eleven, Harry was placed in a junior development team, traveling to the UK to train at big clubs and play matches against teams of a similar or better level.
The group trained at centers for famous clubs such as Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea, Brighton, Derby, Blackburn Rovers and St George’s Park National Football and played games against the Red Devils, Seagulls, Rovers, Rams, Cheltenham Town, Chester and Crewe Alexandra.
Harry played under 13 and under 14 for Lake Macquarie City Football Club and last year won the Coaches Player of the Year award.
The aspiring golfer is keen on becoming a club professional one day, and if his recent exploits are meaningful, Harry is well on his way to that goal.
By Chris KARAS
