From hockey rink to golf course: Hastings set for stardom

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If someone had told Justin Hastings 15 years ago while he was all in for the sport of hockey that one day he’d be lining up against golfing greats like Tiger Woods at the US Masters, he most likely would have thought them crazy.

But that is now the reality for the 21-year-old Caymanian who earned that right after a splendid performance over the weekend to win the 2025 Latin America Amateur Golf Championship.

His journey to capturing the prestigious title began at the tender age of 7 – the first time Hastings recalled picking up a golf club.

And the North Sound Golf Club was where Hastings’ competitive spirit sprouted by the age of 9 – around the time he started playing for Cayman’s national team.

“I have been flying our flag ever since I was 9 years old and to now do something that gets this island wide recognition is something I am super proud to be able to have accomplished,” Hastings told the Compass.

Cayman golf star Hastings ‘so proud’ after winning place at US Masters

He remembered being inspired by Phil Mickelson growing up, but said those who played amongst him domestically also fuelled his love for golf.

‘I truly love hockey’ However, his fondness for golf came as a rebound to the sport he first loved.

“I would be a hockey player,” Hastings admitted. “I grew up playing hockey before golf and I truly love the game.”

Hastings jumped between the two sports for a couple years before focusing his attention on golf, noting that, unfortunately, hockey was not huge on island, so he stopped playing at age 16.

And now, he said there is no looking back.

“I’m so addicted to this game and can’t see myself doing anything else for my life.”

The rise Early on, Hastings showed great promise as one of the best golfers in Cayman as he progressed through the age groups. He won multiple junior titles, local and international, including the IMG Junior Golf Tournament in 2017 and 2018.

He has since competed at the World Amateur Team Championship; the Pan American Games, where he was one stroke away from the top 10; the 2024 Puerto Rico Open, his first PGA Tour event; and collegiate competitions, where he has captured multiple victories wins for San Diego State University, which he acknowledged he owes a great deal to.

“School has really elevated my game,” Hastings said. “I was far from a prodigy as a junior golfer, and I feel like I have made [big] strides at the college level. College golf is so competitive and is producing more and more PGA Tour-calibre players.”

San Diego State was both a springboard and testing ground for Hastings, who proved his skill at the game.

“My biggest hurdle was making the starting line-up in college,” he said. “That is something that took me almost a full year to do and was very difficult for me, but once I cracked that barrier, I feel like the floodgates opened for my golf career and I got better very fast.”

‘I couldn’t do it without all the people in my corner’ The year before his LAAC win, Hastings placed fourth at that event, putting the region on notice that he was one of the best amateurs in the Caribbean.

After that performance, Hastings said his intention was always to return to that tournament with gold in mind. And he followed through on that goal, shooting 16 under par to win by a single stroke ahead of Peru’s Patrick Sparks.

“My goal was absolutely to win,” he said after claiming the 2025 title in Argentina on Saturday, 18 Jan. “After last year, and after Aaron [Jarvis] won in 2022, I really knew that I was capable of doing it.

“With that being said, it’s important not to put too big of expectations on yourself when the tournament rolls around – but I definitely knew in the back of my mind that I could do it and it was my goal.”

Justin Hastings of The Cayman Islands, winner of the 2025 Latin America Amateur Championship, stands alongside the US Open trophy, the Latin America Amateur Championship trophy, the Masters trophy and The Open trophy, inside the Clubhouse. 2025 Latin America Amateur Championship being played at the Pilar Golf club in Buenos Aires, Argentina on Sunday 19 January 2025. Photograph by LAAC. His win was met by an overwhelming amount of support from the Cayman community, across social media platforms.

“The feeling of knowing I have made my country proud is probably the thing I take the most pride in from this whole experience.”

Hastings is now a two-time top-five finisher at the LAAC and the youngest player that has ever played in the tournament – he was just 14 years old when he took part in the 2018 event.

All of his accomplishments, his ambitions to turn pro and everything he has learnt throughout his golfing career to date will be put to the ultimate test at the US Masters and the US Open later this year.

“I originally planned to go pro in the summer after the college season ended with the status that I will earn through college,” Hastings said. “However, with these new opportunities that require me to stay amateur I will have to reassess my options and delay turning pro until after the major championships.”

With confidence, gratitude and excitement, Hastings will assemble on the green against greats like Woods, Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler for the Masters and the Open in a couple months.

“To do something like this really takes a village and I couldn’t do it without all the people in my corner,” Hastings said. “Parents, friends, coaches, and so many more. Grant Thornton has been a huge help to me and my family and has also played a vital role in me achieving these lifelong dreams.”

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