Three weeks into becoming a golf professional, 20-year-old Nick Jones is already being noticed as a rising young player: out of four pro tournaments so far he has taken first place in two.

Speaking to The Royal Gazette from the driving range at Florida's Golf Academy of America, Nick said he was very satisfied with taking fifth place at Thursday's Red Tail golf course event.

"That was my first ever two-day mini tournament. I've come far. It was amazing to be among that level of players." Nick finished six shots behind the winner, Renaud Langevin of Canada.

"To compete against top players in Florida over these four events is exceptional," said Nick's father, local golf pro, Eardley Jones.

"Next month he'll be playing back home in Bermuda at one of the biggest cash tournaments played in Bermuda, the Goslings Invitational. As a golfer I can say this is a great record for a Bermudian player."

Goslings Invitational tournament director Alex Madeiros said: "Nick's been playing extremely well, so it's going to be great to have him down for this. He's going against good competition.

"Nick's going to have a good test out there."

Having a professional golfing father is about as good a start as any player could ask for. While his sister Catherine inherited a passion for horses from her mother Jean, Nick took after his father.

He said: "My dad had a golf club in my hand when I was around three. He made cut-down clubs for me to play with and I started swinging in the backyard."

Nick started competing in junior golf events around the Island at the age of eight. Growing up in Somerset, Port Royal was the closest course, but he enjoyed golfing at Belmont most.

Winning a Riddell's Bay Golf Course Junior Match Play Championships when he was ten proved the turning point in Nick's golf career.

"That was when I really started to focus on the golf. That was my first tournament, nine holes, and I started to get really into it.

"My dad taught me everything up until the age of 16, and then I started to branch out with different teachers. We agreed on me going overseas, and that's when my game really started to get better."

His first trips overseas exposed him to an entirely new level of golf.

"Going to North Carolina, I was 14 and I could see the calibre of other 14-year-olds. It was a bigger field, more kids, and better kids. I'd have to wake up at six and there'd be hundreds of kids out on the driving range. I really had to work hard, but that's what it took."

Switching to high school in Florida, Nick rapidly acquired a broad portfolio of overseas experience.

His father said: "Nick went to Florida when he was 15. It was good for his game and I figured he stood a good chance at getting a scholarship. Nick got a partial scholarship to Stetson University. He was studying engineering but he switched over to golf, and that looks like where he belongs."

Now five months into the Gold Academy of America, Nick said he's studying professional golf and the business side of the game as well.

"I've got a great team of teachers here. I have one for learning the feel of golf, one for swinging, a mental coach who helps to improve my game. All of this is part of why I'm playing well right now. I practice every day, and what's important too is I know what to practice."

Bettering one's game is chiefly an issue of focus and inward concentration.

"I believe it's one of the hardest of all the sports, particularly because nowadays you have to be so precise on achieving your goal. Your margin of error is very small. You can lose a tournament just by a couple of yards. There's no leeway in golf."

After graduating from Golf Academy in 2011, his dream is to pursue PGA golf.

The qualifying tournament, known as Q School, begins in a year's time — shortly before Nick's 22nd birthday.

Eardley Jones said: "My son's led a life devoted to golf. In these last few weeks of tournaments he's won $1,800 playing the game and he's very proud of it. The way he's played these championship courses, we know he's ready."