ROSE HALL, St James — It’s almost inevitable that Sebert Walker Jr would follow in the footsteps of his accomplished father and take up the golf clubs that he grew up seeing all over the family home.

The 15-year-old Cornwall College fourth former and national junior representative acknowledged that the game ran through his blood and told the

Jamaica Observer recently that, while he dabbles in other sports, the pull of the sport was too strong to ignore.

“I had choices, but could not choose anything else,” he saidduring the recent 50th staging of the Jamaica Golf Association (JGA) Open at Half Moon in Rose Hall.

Walker said he has participated in football and track and field athletics for his house team at Cornwall College.

The young golfer is the third child for his father, who was once one of the top professionals in the island, and whose older siblings, both sisters, played the sport at a high level. Patrice attended university in the United States on a golf scholarship and Sherece also played for the national junior team.

Walker started playing at five years old when he was tall enough to hold his father’s clubs. With access to the Cinnamon Hill course where his father is the head professional and with his dad’s expert guidance, the younger Walker has gone on to represent the island three times, travelling to the Cayman Islands, US Virgin ISlands and Barbados.

Walker was one of five juniors who were selected by the JGA to play in the recent Open and said his hopes were to “finish in the top 10 in the amateur section”.

He achieved that goal easily, finishing sixth overall with a three-rounds score of 29 over par 245 as he shot a nine over par 81 on the first day, and followed that up with a 12 over 84 on the second day, finishing with his best round — an eight over par 80 on the final day.

Playing against opponents much older and more accomplished than himself was good for Walker and he told the

Observer that while it was not the first time he was playing against professionals, he admitted it was the biggest tournament he had participated in.

“Playing in the Open will help me a lot… the competition is good and the exposure to good competition is always good for the future.”

He expects to follow his eldest sister and play golf at the US college level, but says he also has an eye on playing the sport professionally.

“I hope to get a scholarship, go to college in the States and get to play golf. I would love to play professionally, but the education would come first,” Walker ended.