Golf: Scholarship will help Bon meet goals

Caroline Bon says the funds this year will enable her to plan for a significant playing season in Chinese and Asian events. Photo/Michael Cunningham

Burgeoning Kiwi, and Northland, professional Caroline Bon has been awarded the New Zealand Professional Women's Golf (NZPWG) scholarship for the second straight year.

The $10,000 scholarship, open to New Zealand professional women golfers, is designed to help talented Kiwis achieve their golfing ambitions.

Northland's Bon used last year's scholarship to help fund her to China and Asia where she secured her full playing rights on both tours. She said the funds this year would enable her to plan for a significant playing season in China and Asian events.

Bon said the scholarship was a huge boost for her financially and personally.

"The scholarship last year helped me get the chance to gain entry to these tours. The support this year is absolutely huge as it will enable me to actually fund my way to the tours and to the key events," Bon said.

"It is great for my confidence - for the NZPWG to invest in me two years in a row is incredible, that they can see what I am doing is working and they are willing to back me again is fantastic."

The scholarship is the result of profits from last year's Anita Boon Pro-Am, supported by KFC and Coca-Cola Amatil NZ, which is a 36-hole tournament at North Shore Golf Club co-sanctioned with the Australian Ladies Professional Golf tour.

The NZPWG, which stages the event, also raised a further $10,000 from the tournament for their official charity, the NZ Gynaecological Cancer Foundation.

Spokeswoman Liz McKinnon said the scholarship and charity were vital parts of their successful tournament, the only stand-alone professional women's golf pro-am event in New Zealand.

"We are delighted with the number of applications we received this year and the high standard of each application," said McKinnon.

"Caroline Bon was the standout, with her improved performances, clear growth and development not just in her game but personally and professionally.

"We are proud of what Caroline is achieving and wish to continue to support her as she establishes herself on the Asian, Australian and China tours."

Bon has a full schedule of events in China and Asia before returning home for a break, and preparing for the Australasian events in the summer.

She has also confirmed she will return to Auckland to play in the 2014 Anita Boon Pro-Am in November.