At just eight years old, Highlander Hayden has one a huge number of tenpin bowling accolades. 

The bowling sensation placed fourth on the national stage at the Australian Junior Championships recently.

The Championships were held in Lidcombe and ran over two weeks from April 12 to April 22.

Hayden was one of the youngest competitors, playing against bowlers aged up to 18 years old. 

He qualified for the junior restricted cup in 13th place and then went to the final where he placed fourth overall.

Hayden’s mum Shirilee Honey said things became tense when Hayden dropped to tenth place with three games left to play. 

“We didn’t really think he could back from that, we sort of wrote him off,” she said. 

“But he really surprised us all and came back, he did very well.”

Shirilee was initially told not to enter Hayden in the national competition. 

“People were saying I probably shouldn’t enter him because he would be playing against kids from all over Australia and most of them would be much older than him,” she said. 

“But we decided it was best for him to play, even if he didn’t place it would still be a great experience. 

But Hayden managed to prove his doubters wrong and finished among the top junior tenpin bowlers in the country. 

“Everyone was cheering and screaming for him,” Shirilee said. 

“Hayden amazes me all the time, he just turned eight and considering what he’s competing against he’s done an outstanding job.”

Hayden will compete in the 2017 Milo International All-Stars competition. 

The first round will be played in Shellharbour on April 30. Hayden will then compete in Wadonga, Victoria. If he qualifies, he will then travel to Malaysia to compete in the Championship. 

“He will really need to concentrate and focus,” Shirilee said. 

But for Hayden, it isn’t all about winning.

“He’s just happy if he can get out there and bowl, his results doesn’t concern him too much, he just loves playing,” Shirilee said.