Latest news with #juniorchampionship
CBC
6 days ago
- Sport
- CBC
Trained by his grandfather, 16-year-old Lucas Loftin is making Canadian shooting history
On the surface, 16-year-old Lucas Loftin is your normal everyday teenager. But hand the Kitchener, Ont., teen a rifle, and he transforms into one of Canada's most promising young sharpshooters. Loftin is in Innisfil, Ont., this week to compete for his third consecutive Canadian Junior Shooting Championship. Supporting him during his rapid rise in the sport is his grandfather and coach, Glynn Loftin. Glynn is a former member of the national team and won the same junior title 50 years ago. "My grandfather got me into it about five years ago," Lucas recalled during a recent interview at a shooting range in New Hamburg. "He'd pick me up from school and take me to the range and slowly I just fell in love with it." That passion has led Lucas to many victories. At just 13-years-old Lucas set the national record in prone position shooting. The prone position in shooting is when the shooter is lying on their stomach on the ground. Lucas also set the Ontario indoor three position record in August 2024. Three position is where shooters fire from three positions: Prone, standing and kneeling. But Lucas is not just winning against his peers; he's beating experienced shooters twice to three times his age. Lucas says he doesn't let the more experienced shooters get in his head. "One shot can make or break a match. So it can be nerve wracking. But when you look over at the target and see you had a good shot , it's a nice feeling," he said. A legacy in the making For Glynn, his grandson's success is a big source of pride. He says seeing Lucas win the same championship he won 50-years-ago was a thrill for him. "That was fantastic, absolutely excellent. In my efforts to coach him all I can do is give him the best opportunity to put out his best performance," he said. Not only did Lucas win the same championship as grandfather, he beat his grandfather's original score. Glynn thinks the key to his grandson's success is his ability to stay calm in the face of mounting pressure. "Overall it's his temperament and his ability to focus. It's being able to put the previous shots behind him and just concentrate on the one in the gun," he said. This mindset was echoed by Lucas. "Your focus should be on the one in the gun. It doesn't matter if you've messed up five shots, you can't change that," he said. A mentor for Lucas To Lucas and Glynn, shooting is a lifestyle and a bond between them. Their training sessions are less coach-and-athlete and more mentor-and-student. "I try to lead him into the best decisions as opposed to trying to just tell him. I've found that when he comes up with his own idea, that's when it takes root," he said. Glynn says his proudest moment as a mentor was when Lucas broke the Ontario Indoor three position shooting record. Glynn dropped Lucas off at the event but wasn't there for most of it since he had to work. As Lucas was getting out of the car he told his grandfather: "Don't worry. I got this." "I made it back in time to see his last couple of shots. His final shot was a 10.9 which is essentially dead centre," Glynn said. Olympic ambitions Going forward Lucas is aiming to compete in the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. While 2028 is only three years away, Lucas knows he still has a long way to go. With just two more years of high school left, plans are already in motion for Lucas to attend an NCAA school in the U.S., where shooting is a collegiate sport. The schools could be his gateway to the Olympics. Lucas knows it won't be easy to qualify but his confidence remains high. "If I keep growing at this rate, it's really a matter of when it comes down to crunch time. I have to do a good match to get the qualification spot," he said. A spot in the Olympics may also help keep the sport alive in his family. "Just the experience of going to the Olympics sounds really great. An experience to tell my kids and grandchildren about," he said.
RNZ News
30-05-2025
- General
- RNZ News
Golf: Cooper Moore wins Asia-Pacific junior champs
Christchurch golfer Cooper Moore competing at the New Zealand Open earlier this year. Photo: Photosport Christchurch golfer Cooper Moore's burgeoning career has reached another height as he claimed the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation Junior Championship Boys title in Hong Kong. In a remarkable come-from-behind victory, Moore battled the elements and a strong field to emerge the champion by two strokes two ahead of Vietnam's Nguyen Tuan Anh and three in front of Thai Parin Sarasmut, after birdies on the 53rd and 54th holes of the tournament. Half an hour of a rain delay on the final day was enough for puddles to form on the greens and fairways, with Moore showing fortitude to remain focused in the testing conditions. The 16-year-old, who had relinquished the tournament lead on the 18th green on day two with a double-bogey six after an errant drive went out of bounds, displayed mental as well as physical strength in round three after pushing two early birdie putts wide and scoring a triple-bogey on the fourth hole. Making the turn five shots off the lead, Moore said he reminded himself that anything can happen in golf. "I felt I still had a chance and needed to be patient," he said. His back nine run was faultless, remaining bogey-free with four birdies, including birdies on 17 and 18 that would secure him the title in emphatic fashion as the rain descended on the Hong Kong Golf Club's Old Course. Speaking after his round, Moore said he tried to recall his previous back nine form at the tournament and avoid making high numbers. "I made bogey on 9 and was five back, there was quite a bit there [to make up] but I've played some of my best golf all week on the back nine, found myself in contention on the 18th tee and just went with it. "Didn't really change too much with my game plan just middle of the green most of the time, just trying to avoid trouble hoping that the weather may come in and the other guys may struggle a bit." He said a slight internal battle was required after a shaky start to the final round. "I didn't get off to the best start, missed a few short putts on one and two then made triple on four and I was a bit like 'Ah need to sort of wake up a bit' but then found myself… guess it came down to that back nine." On the final hole of the tournament, Moore had about 130m to the flag with his second shot. He took his pitching wedge, threw a dart to four feet and rolled in the birdie putt to finish at 9-under for the tournament and win by two strokes. "It was dead at the pin; I was a bit blocked out by the trees on the left. I hit a little drawing pitching wedge and yeah, it looked perfect the whole way." Congratulations not only Cooper Moore on his title-winning effort, but fellow Golf New Zealand Academy member Emma Zheng on her commendable performance in placing 16th at the APGC Junior Championships in a highly competitive field and difficult conditions. The experience of teeing it up at an internationally acclaimed course against some of the best junior golfers in the region is invaluable, it will stand her in great stead as she continues her rise as a talented athlete and Zheng can be proud of her efforts representing New Zealand in Hong Kong to help the team take 9th place in the Mixed Teams division. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
