A TEENAGE golfing talent hailed the last few weeks as the best of his life after claiming his first ever hole in one while breaking a course record at Kilspindie Golf Club.

Pencaitland’s Rob Paterson gave himself the best 18th birthday present on April 18 when his seven-iron tee-shot on the first hole at Kilspindie travelled about 155 yards, bounced and rolled into the hole.

Playing with two friends, one who had previously recorded a hole in one on the hole, Paterson immediately kept the successful ball safe as it now takes pride of place in his house on The Green in the village.

“It was a surprise but I was really happy,” he told Courier Sport. “They couldn’t believe it and were a bit annoyed!

“I kept the ball, putting it straight in my bag. Now it is sitting on the mantelpiece.” The youngster then followed it up last weekend with a frantic few days of golf which started last Saturday when he played in the Lothians Amateur Championship qualifiers at Whitekirk.

Paterson shot 73 in his first round before scoring 67 in the second at the Glen, finishing in joint first position and only losing out on winning the Stuart Cup for the lowest scoring qualifier on countback.

That ensured qualification to the Lothians Amateur Championship at Longniddry.

But before he played his first round last Monday, he played in the Junior Championship qualifier at Kilspindie, where he scored 61, breaking a record held by by Lloyd Saltman and Bob Humble as the lowest ever amateur score at the course.

Riding a wave of euphoria, Paterson then won his first round at Longniddry on the 18th hole, but his streak came to an end last Wednesday when he was defeated 2&1.

“It has been the best few weeks of my life,” he said. “It has been really good, a bit hectic with a lot going on.” Paterson, who plays off one, has been a member at Kilspindie since 2007 and only started taking his golf seriously in the last three or four years.

And he achieved one of his aims when he broke Saltman and Humble’s amateur score of 62 at the course.

“When I started to get a bit better I tried harder and practised a bit more,” he explained.

“It was definitely one of my best rounds. I couldn’t really believe it, it was just unreal.

“I’ve seen the scorecard in the clubhouse and thought it would be amazing to beat that!” Currently in sixth year at George Watson’s College in Edinburgh, Paterson has already earned himself a place at Aberdeen University, where he will study pharmacology, starting in September.

However, Paterson, as of yet, has little thought of turning professional.

“I think they have got a decent golf set up there so I should still be able to play,” he said.

“Obviously [turning pro] would be good, but it is not in my plans at the moment. I will see how my golf develops over the next couple of years.”