‘All I’m thinking about is being the best golfer in the world one day,’ says St. Mary’s student, who is heading to British Columbia at the end of the month for the MJT competition
Twelve-year-old Niklas Zierik has been chasing birdies this summer.
St. Mary’s Catholic School student has been making his mark on the golf world with multiple tournaments this summer. On July 28, he took the gold in the 2025 MJT (Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour) Mini Tour in Puslinch, Ont. in the Boys 11 to 12 division – a provincial tournament he’s played in three times before but seldom has taken the top spot.
As the tournament was a qualifier for the national Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour, now Zierik is preparing to head to British Columbia this month to compete on the national stage.
“From the beginning of the year, I hadn’t been doing too well. I was hoping to get a win, so I just went out and played like I normally do, and it turned out pretty well. It feels great,” said Zierik.
Zierik is a regular feature at Batteaux Creek Golf Course in Nottawa, where he practises most days.
“I know I’ve been putting in the work. It finally payed off,” he said.
Zierik’s dad Martin was a hockey player, playing for the Collingwood Blues from 1997 to 1998, eventually transitioning into golf.
Niklas Zierik hits some balls at Batteaux Creek Golf Course in Nottawa. | Jessica Owen/CollingwoodToday
When Zierik was four years old, Martin took him to the golf course for the first time, as a way for father and son to bond.
“I’ve been attached ever since then,” said Zierik, noting he took to the sport right away and has been able to hit a par-3 since he was six years old.
While Zierik has played regularly with his dad since, he first considered entering into tournaments two years ago at the advice of a fellow golfer in Barrie, who had been running an MJT tournament.
“That was when I started getting into tournaments,” said Zierik. “When I play, I like having fun. I see what I do wrong, and work to make it better. I have a good time with my friends. I love all of it.”
Zierik has been competing in multiple provincial junior tournaments this season. In addition to the MJT tournaments, he also played in the Pepsi Titlist Junior Tour in Barrie on Aug. 5, taking second in the under-15 division.
He said he’s not at all nervous about the national tournament at the end of the month.
“I’m super excited. I know if I get nervous, I’ll overthink it,” he said. “I have to stay calm, and play golf. Sometimes you just have to hit the ball, and hope for the best.”
Looking to the future, despite his young age, Zierik is confident in his future ambitions which include eventually becoming a professional golfer. Ideally, he said he’d like to earn a scholarship through golf to attend post-secondary school down the road. Competing in tournaments as a junior will help him beef up his record so he can get there.
“All I’m thinking about is being the best golfer in the world one day,” he said.
