When Marilyn Weng received a set of plastic golf clubs for Christmas a few years ago, she was just two years old. Her family didn’t know it at the time, but Weng would soon be making headlines.

“On my daughter’s second birthday, we gave her a gift that was a set of plastic golf clubs, and she had a blast playing with them every day,” Weng’s mother, Anna Zhang, told the Tri-City Voice. “I took her to play mini golf when she was around three years old and she loved it.”

Now, Zhang has transitioned to golf coach, guiding her daughter as Weng has earned nearly 30 medals from U.S. Kids Golf tournaments. In recent months, 5-year-old Weng took first place in two local tournaments. These competitions are for girls age 8 and under.

She took the top spot in the Valley of the Moon championship in Santa Rosa and followed that up with a victory at the Regional Championship at Monterey Pines.

Weng also earned three top 5 finishes including second place in the U.S. Kids Golf East Bay tournament and third place in the Central Valley competition.

Weng scored 41 at the 9-hole Valley of the Moon Club in September to take first place. She also scored 42 at Diablo Creek Golf Course during the East Bay championship in October. Most recently, she shot a 42 at Micke Grove Golf Links during the Central Valley winter tournament on Nov. 29.

For now, the focus for Zhang and Weng is to have fun as a family. Zhang told the Tri-City Voice that she wants Weng’s passion for the sport to lead the way. Zhang is there to support her daughter’s ambitions, wherever that path may take them.

Still, the family has their eyes on the U.S. Kids World Championship in North Carolina next summer. Weng is clearly a young athlete to keep an eye on in the Bay Area. She’s already made headlines, and her future is bright whatever path she takes — thanks to a foundation of love for her family and high-level competition.