Bon to weigh up future direction

After an intensive month competing in Britain and Ireland, Northland golfer Caroline Bon is taking  time out in Europe to consider what is next for her playing career.
The trip to  Britain to contest four tournaments was an opportunity for the 22-year-old to get a taste of international competition and what she might expect if she were to turn professional - something she had been aiming for this year before her overseas adventure.
"It's been a brilliant trip for my golf," Bon said.
"I now have so much more understanding of which level to take my golf to to play well here in Europe, something I could never  have been able to do without taking this step."
Following the St Rule Amateurs Trophy at Scotland's St Andrews golf course, where she hit a 10 over and four over, Bon travelled south to London's Beringshire Golf Club to contest the 36-hole Astor Salver tournament.
"I didn't perform well in this at all," Bon said.
"I had one day to fly to London then quickly a practice round of 36 holes - as we played two different courses. Then 36 in one day. So it was pretty difficult in that respect."
In mid-June, Bon lined up for the British Ladies Amateur Championships at Harlech, Wales. Bon's handicap of 0 and her performance over the past 12 months was enough to qualify her for the tournament.
"I was able to stay with the three Australians who came over for it, which was awesome," she said.
Bon came home strong in the tournament on a difficult obstacle-ridden course after hitting two bad holes and she finished the last 12 holes one under (including a triple bogey).
"I played way better but those holes cost me making the cut. It was unfortunate but now I know how to hit out of hay so that's good!"
After further practice with the Australian contingent Bon headed across the Irish sea to play the Ladies Open Stroke Play at Douglas Golf Club in Cork last week.
"I played really well first round, shot par and was sitting fourth. The next round however, I hit it slightly worse off the tee so shot a disappointing eight over which dropped me back quite a few places, but I still made the cut.
"The final day I played the best since being over here - I was unlucky after starting par for the first five, my ball landed in a divot in the centre of the fairway and it came out slightly thin and went into a tree root.
"I took a triple on that hole, but finished the rest of the round one under to finish two over."
Bon finished 28th which was disappointing, she said.
"If I had a decent score in round two I would have easily been in the top 10," she said.
Overall, Bon rated the trip a huge success - she was happy with the golf, making weekly improvements and learning plenty which was the main aim of her trip.
Before returning to Whangarei, Bon was taking time off in France, Italy and Spain.
"It should be good to relax in Europe, sit back and look at where to from now," she said.