Submitted photo New Ulm’s Ethan Schmidt poses for a photo after taking first at a U.S. Kids Golf tournament Sunday at Mississippi National Golf Links in Red Wing.

NEW ULM — New Ulm youth golfer Ethan Schmidt celebrated his 10th birthday in style this past Sunday by gifting himself a U.S. Kids Golf tournament victory at Mississippi National Golf Links in Red Wing.

That was the first of six U.S. Kids Golf tournaments on the Minneapolis Local Fall Tour (MLFT). Shaking off an early triple bogey, Schmidt made two birdies and finished with a 2-over-par 38 on the day for the win.

“I always got second when I was with the 9-year-olds, they kept beating me by like one or two,” Schmidt said. “And now I’m playing with the upper group of 10-year-olds and it’s a little different competition. I didn’t know if I was going to win [Sunday], but I wanted to.”

Schmidt is quickly becoming a young area golfer to keep an eye on. He is a fourth-grader at Jefferson Elementary in New Ulm and has been interested in golfing since before he could walk.

Schmidt was happy to ditch the pacifier for a golf club to swing around after his dad, Eric, bought him toy golf clubs to play with around 6 months old.

Schmidt picked up on the game relatively quickly and said he really started getting good at it around 5 years old before entering summer tournaments at 6 years old.

He said he’s most proud of his short game, but he can also drive the ball pretty well.

Schmidt’s win on Sunday was the first U.S. Kids Golf tournament win for him this year. He’s had several other top three finishes during the summer, including a third-place finish at the U.S. Kids Golf Tour Championship on July 24 at Gopher Hills Golf Course in Cannon Falls, playing in the 9-year-old group out of the Minneapolis Local Summer Tour (MLST).

Schmidt missed the first two tournaments during the MLST, and the golfers earn points for every tournament. So to finish third overall in the MLST without two opportunities to earn more points is quite the feat.

Schmidt also competes in Minnesota Junior Golf tournaments during the summer, participating in seven of those this year. He’s also played in five U.S Kids Golf tournaments this year, along with three junior scramble events at the New Ulm Country Club (NUCC) and the Junior Club Championship at the NUCC.

Schmidt gets most of his practice in at the NUCC, but he’ll play when and wherever he can.

“Usually at the [New Ulm] Country Club, sometimes playing with [my dad], too, and in the backyard — sometimes chip and play around,” Schmidt said.

Schmidt now turns his attention to school and completing the rest of the MLFT.

“I’m trying to win a couple more tournaments maybe,” Schmidt said.

The MLFT continues on Sept. 11 at Gopher Hills Golf Course.