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Many people use the term "natural" fairly
loosely these days when describing athletes, writers and, well, just
about anyone. However, in the case of Jason Burstyn, Pinecrest's
10-year-old golfing phenom, there is probably no more appropriate
adjective.
Jason Burstyn at the National Putt, Pitch, and Drive Competition
 Burstyn
began playing golf just this past summer, yet already has gained
national stature because of his accomplishments.
Most recently he finished second in the
10-years-old-and-under class in the National Putt, Pitch and Drive
Contest where 3,000 youngsters competed -- held in Orlando at Walt
Disney's Palm Course. That followed two great performances at the
regional and the super-regional qualifier, where he tallied the
highest score of anyone in the country in his class.
"His instructor, Charlie DeLucca, has looked at
thousands of junior golfers and says that he's never seen one with a
gift like Jason's," said Jason's father, Attorney David Burstyn.
Jason resides in Pinecrest with his father and mother,
Dr. Clara Milikowski of the UM School of Medicine, and brother, Adam,
a Palmetto Senior High School student. A Village resident his entire
life, Burstyn has attended Pinecrest Elementary since the first grade.
Seemingly since the day he took up golf, young Burstyn
has done exceptionally well, winning first place six times and
finishing second and third in eight Dade Amateur Golf Association
tournaments, while placing third at the Jacaranda's New Hope for Kids
competition.
Burstyn was even featured recently in a 20-minute
segment on the Golf Channel illustrating the perfect swing. Kids from
across the country submitted videotape hoping to be selected as one of
the three golfers featured, many with years of experience under their
belt.
But, it was the relative newcomer Burstyn who was one
of those tapped.
Make no mistake about it; Burstyn is a gifted
all-around athlete. He played center, guard, and tackle for Suniland's
football team, including all forty-eight minutes of one game. He was a
Khoury League all-star the two years he played baseball and he did it
as a catcher, arguably the toughest position on the field. Burstyn was
even a successful tennis player for a year in the Richard Dowling
Tennis League.
Just as with all of his sporting endeavors, Jason took
up golf innocently enough. After playing a few holes in summer camp
one day, he asked his parents for lessons. And today, not content to
rest on his laurels, Burstyn continues to take lessons from DeLucca
twice a week.
Just as important to Burstyn and his parents is the
fact that he is a standout in the classroom as well.
"Jason is a straight-A student," the elder
Burstyn said proudly. Jason was quick to correct that.
"No, Dad," he said somewhat sadly,
"I've had all A's in school, except for one B in conduct."
Don't worry Jason, despite your B in conduct you're
most certainly a student-athlete Pinecrest can be proud of -- and one
we'll certainly hear more from in the near future!
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