Golf: Local teen shoots to be next Ko

Whangarei's Shanice Croft-Kemp hopes to follow in Lydia Ko's footsteps and play in the LPGA in years to come. Photo/Michael Cunningham

Northland has its own Lydia Ko in the making by the name of Shanice Croft-Kemp, only she's yet to enjoy the same pay days and travels as Ko.

At 15 Croft-Kemp isn't much younger than Ko, and has even rubbed shoulders with the superstar, so it's no wonder the Whangarei Girls' High School student aspires to be like her.

Ko, 17, and Croft-Kemp share a similarity in that they rose through the ranks quickly, something Croft-Kemp has done regionally of late.

In the last month or so she has broken the Ngunguru Golf Club ladies record, won Waitangi's 18-hole Women's Open, and played in a pro-am event in Whangarei where she finished ahead of Northland professional Caroline Bon.

And that's not all.

Croft-Kemp was also part of Girls' High's team which beat the world champion Whangarei Boys' High School team at the Eagles Secondary Schools Day last month and has been selected as part of a team to represent Northland at Ngaruawahia.

Not bad for someone who has only been in the sport for five years and currently has no coach.

The level-headed Croft-Kemp doesn't have an answer as to why she has all of a sudden hit her straps, but says she has the LPGA in her sights.

"I look up to [Ko] a lot. I think she's absolutely amazing. I can't believe she's only 17 now and she's at that stage in golf and I'm only two years younger than her," she said, adding that Ko has helped change the shape of golf in New Zealand already.

"When I first started golf I didn't like saying I play golf because golf is a sport for boys but now I've figured out if girls like [Ko] can do it then so can I," Croft-Kemp said.

"I'd like to play in an LPGA tour, I think that'd be pretty cool with the experience and everything but I do have other things I want to do outside of golf.

"I want to go to university, I want to do studies in the police force side of things or law, but I do want to keep my golf there."

While Ko was the national figurehead for women's golf, Croft-Kemp said she still has plenty to do with local talent Bon and looks up to her also.

Croft-Kemp said she wanted to give a special thanks to her grandfather and mum for all their support.