Our Current Cadets
Our existing Young Achievers Foundation Cadets, if you believe you have what it takes to be a Cadet, please apply here
Aiden Nicholas
I am a 17-year-old golfer, and my dream is to play golf in America and be able to turn professional soon.
I am currently studying VCE and hoping to do well in school. I love the game and enjoy playing and the friendships I have been able to develop. My handicap has dropped from 10 to a 5 within a few months with the help of my coach and my goal is to get to scratch as soon as I can.
Joanne Tey
I am 19 years old. I have been playing golf since the age of 5 and started playing competitively when I was 12 years old. I’ve been a member at Sanctuary Lakes Golf Club for the past 10 years and have had the privilege to represent the club in many junior tournaments, compete Club Championships as well as represent the club in women’s, youth and junior pennant over the years. In the past few months, I won the 2024 Sanctuary Lakes Women’s Club Championships, had the privilege of playing in my 2nd Australian Amateur and achieved my lowest handicap of +0.5. I have now joined Huntingdale Golf Club and am looking forward to playing in the women’s team for the upcoming pennant season. This year, I am wanting to play in more high-level golf tournaments, improve my golf game and challenge myself by playing on more sand belt courses
Kirk Kryskow
I started playing golf at 5 years of age at Riverside Golf Club. At 7 years of age, I began my junior pennant career and have represented Riverside golf club, Medway golf club and more recently Yarra Yarra golf club. I am currently in year 10 at Maribyrnong College where I am a student athlete in the MSA program. I also currently hold a tier 4 scholarship with Golf Australia. My achievements have included; making the under 12’s VIC SSV team, winning the under 14’s VIC Junior Open Division in 2023, winning the Riversdale Junior Cup in 2024, remaining undefeated in my 2024 pennant season, finishing top 5 in the 2024 VIC Junior Masters and being invited to play in the 2025 Webex Junior series in Victoria. My dream is to become a tour player and in the meantime, my focus is to obtain my World Golf Amateur Ranking.
Luke Keenan
I’m a 16-year-old golfer playing off scratch and have been at Sanctuary Lakes since I was 8 years old. During this time, I led the Sanctuary Lakes Junior Pennant team to 3 regional flags and was honored to win the 2023 Metropolitan Pennant premiership with a playoff win on 2 consecutive weeks.
In 2024 I won the Sandhurst Junior Open and look forward to getting more wins in 2025 with the assistance of YAF. My goal is to play college golf in the United States and have started the process to commence in 2027.
Marc Pagcu
I am 12 years old and a member of Mt Derrimut Golf & Community Club, I participate in Club Pennant and represent Caroline Chisholm Catholic College in SACCSS representing the interschool golf competitions and participate at the school’s sport academy..
My achievements include winner of the 2024 SACCSS Junior Golf Competition, net winner of the 2024 Ballarat Junior Classic (U15 Boys Bracket), gross and nearest to the pin winner of the 2024 Golf Australia TeeMates at Edithvale,
My ambitions are to become a pro golfer and to play in international competitions.
Quan Liu
I’m a 16-year-old golfer playing off scratch and have been at Sanctuary Lakes since I was 8 years old. During this time, I led the Sanctuary Lakes Junior Pennant team to 3 regional flags and was honoured to win the 2023 Metropolitan Pennant premiership with a playoff win on 2 consecutive weeks.
In 2024 I won the Sandhurst Junior Open and look forward to getting more wins in 2025 with the assistance of YAF. My goal is to play college golf in the United States and have started the process to commence in 2027.
Sakura Yoshizawa
I’m a 13-year-old golfer who goes to Maribyrnong Sport Academy (for golf) and my achievements over the last year is being undefeated in the Junior Pennant Season, my position in the girls order of merit in 2024 was 12th out of 144 people. My journey has been full of experience and excitement from meeting new people, travelling to different places and playing great courses.
My aspiration is to go to U.S. college and become a professional golfer. I also want to be selected in the under 18 VIC team representing Victoria and Sanctuary Lakes GC.
Shannon Wuttichainakorn
I’m a 12-year-old golfer, study at Saltwater P-9 College. I have secured the 2024 SLGC Championship Captain’ s Trophy Men, 2024 SLGC Championship Junior Nett and 2024 SLGC Championship Men’s C Grade Nett on Club Championships’ Day, indicating the onset of my aspirations. In addition,
I am a member of the Junior Sanctuary Lake Pennant Team. My aim is to bring down my Handicap to be a single digit by the end of this year. Thank you to YAF Support and inspiration for me and young kids in the team to keep working towards their dreams in the future.
Taegen Dodds
I want to say a massive thank you to the Young Achievers Foundation, the continuous help and support for all junior golfers in the foundation does not go unnoticed.
The last year was a huge success for me, with lots of challenges and satisfying results, the best which was coming 3rd in the Victorian U18 Order of Merit, recently coming 5th in the South Australian Junior Masters, top 10 finish in the South Australian Junior Amateur and winning the Murray River Junior Masters, qualifying me fort he Bonville Champions Trophy later this year . 2025 will be a big year for me as I chase results in more elite junior and amateur events across the country. Thank you to everyone playing in the 2025 Young Achievers Foundation Golf Day and the sponsors and supporter for your assistance with the fundraising.
Yifan Wang
I started my golf journey at 9 years old after Covid-19. Within 4 years, I have dropped my handicap to single digits and won a few different prizes in school and junior tournaments. As a passionate junior golfer, I embrace the sport not just for competition but for the joy it brings, the friendships it fosters, and the healthy lifestyle it promotes. My journey in golf has been marked by dedication, growth, and a love for the game. Representing my school and state in prestigious tournaments, I recently earned a gold medal with a trophy in Boys Team Nett Gross at the School Sport Australia 12 & Under National Championship. While I continues to develop my skills, my true aspiration is to have fun, make new friends, and inspire others to stay active and lead a healthy life through golf.
Zane Nicholas
I am a 17-year-old golfer and a well inspired player.
Since working with my Golf Coach, I have reduced my handicap from a 10.6 to a 3.4 in under 12 months.
I am studying VCE at Werribee secondary college and my lifelong goal is to become a professional golfer.
Both Aiden and I have only recently joined the Young Achievers Foundation as Cadets and look forward to sharing stories of our success over the coming months.