The 17-year-old Wakatipu High School pupil arrived in Queenstown nine years ago and eventually figured if he was going to be living in New Zealand's golfing Mecca, he would take it up.
The year 13 pupil will compete at the national secondary school tournament with team-mates Samson Kim (16), Edward Cochrane (16) and Sungwoo Han (15), after a 16-year hiatus for the school.
Otago Boys' High School has been the winner of the Otago intercollegiate tournament for the past 15 years, but the Wakatipu squad won this year's title by 17 shots and will compete at Waipu in September.
"It's huge for us. It is the first time since 1996 and it's a really proud moment for me," Jamie said.
It may appear that Jamie's talent has come easily, since he is just two years into his sport of choice, but he practises two hours every day after school and 10-15 hours every weekend.
Training includes private lessons with Millbrook professional Ben Gallie, competitive rounds with his team-mates, and a lone run over the five courses on offer in the area: Millbrook, Arrowtown, Frankton, Jacks Point and his home turf, Kelvin Heights.
"There is so much variation here."
Jamie, who has a handicap of 0.2, looks up to Tiger Woods and believes the fallen star is on his way back.
"It's just his general aura in his game. He draws attention, he plays his shots at the right time - he's coming back."
This year, Jamie has come out on top at Taieri, Arrowtown, Cromwell and Southland tournaments as an individual and, with his team, has become a Southland and Otago secondary school champion.
At the national tournament in September, he wants to "try to play my own game, stick to the plan and play the shots I know how to play."
His goal is to make the top 20 at the national tournament and be selected for the 10-man Otago squad before heading to university in Dunedin next year to study commerce
Name: Jamie Anstiss (17).
School: Wakatipu High School.
Sport: Golf.
Achievements: Member of Otago intercollegiate and Southland secondary schools winning squads; Central Otago squad; won Taieri, Arrowtown, Cromwell and Southland tournaments in 2012; finished in top four at Kelvin Heights club championships.
