GOLF: Waipawa high-flyer soars in America

Anendra Singh
Waipawa golfer Sheridan Graham's grandfather, Peter, is a member of the Eagles Golfing Society so it's only appropriate that Graham soars with the elite flock in the American university circuit.
On Wednesday, the 2003 Hastings Girls' High School headgirl finished runner-up in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament at the at the PGA Golf Resort in Port St Lucie, Florida.
The 18-year-old first-year University of Arkansas student finished her last tournament in a cliffhanger fashion, coming off second best in a five-hole playoff to Emily Hoeper, of Denver University.
UALR Trojans' Graham and Hoeper were tied at 223 after the final round at PGA Village before the sudden-death playoff, with Hoeper shooting 77-73-73 (223) while Graham shot 72-76-75 (223) and finishing just ahead of her teammate, Scotswoman Emily Ogilvy, who carded 73-76-75 (224) in third spot.
To add icing on the cake, Graham and Ogilvy were both named to the All-Sun Belt Conference team, comprising 15 players from the 10 different universities in the conference.
"When I teed off in the play-off, I never thought I would be the one in this situation, especially with the way I started this season," Graham said.
She finished no better than 35th in the five tournaments the Trojans played in the northern autumn, recording a stroke average of 85.53 - the fifth-best on a six-member team - going into the holiday break.
"I went home for Christmas, practised a lot with my mum (Caroline Graham, of Waipawa) and got a lot more confidence," Graham said.
"I realised I didn't have to hit far to play well. I'm not the longest hitter in the team. In fact, I'm the shortest hitter.
"Things just seemed to click while I was away. I came back with more desire to play and belief in myself."
Saving her best for the last, this is the best finish she has had with three top-20 finishes.
Her proud grandparents, Peter and Lynley Graham, are well-known golfers in Hawke's Bay and as her grandad is a member of the Eagles Golfing Society.
Her grandparents and mother Caroline, a schoolteacher at Pakipaki School, are looking forward to Graham's return home on May 21 for a three-month break before she heads back to Little Rock for her second year at university.
Graham was among youngsters in New Zealand chosen to hit a few balls in front of former world No 1 Tiger Woods during the New Zealand Open in Paraparaumu in 2003.
Graham is doing a double major in psychology and mass communication involving television, radio and filming.
She has played only one match for the Hawke's Bay women's team as the No 5 player during the Judy Pearson Salver at the Manawatu course in Palmerston North in May last year.
Graham left for the US before the Bay Interprovincial side was named in October.