Northland golfer Caroline Bon is one step closer to her goal of becoming a professional golfer on the Ladies European Tour and she is attributing her success to the help of her boyfriend.
After making the cut in the LET pre-qualifying tournament at the La Manga Golf Club in the south
of Spain yesterday morning, Bon was quick to point out that having Billy West carry her bag had helped her to remain focused during the tournament.
"It's been great to have a caddy here - he has really helped me stay in the moment this week," she said.
Bon said West has the ability to distract her around the course, allowing her to relax more and conversely this has helped her to focus when she has really needed to.
West wasn't the only boyfriend on the bag during the week's competition at the Cartegena golf club, with world number-three Martin Kaymer caddying for his girlfriend, Allison Micheletti, who like, Bon is attempting to make the step up from the amateur into the professional ranks.
"There have been a few big names out there caddying. It's pretty cool that they are there supporting us - it's cool for me because it reminds me of my support back in sunny New Zealand," she said.
The 23-year-old Northland Golf Club player was elated after shooting a par round 71 yesterday to finish the four round tournament on 8-over in a tie for 20th place.
"Oh yeah, I'm through to stage two," she cheered.
The solid final round meant she never had doubts about qualifying - even after bogeying the first hole - with the cut line for the top 35 golfers in the South-North field eventually set at 14-over.
Swede Caroline Hedwell won the South-North field with a score of 11-under, with her compatriot Louise Larrson leading the North-South field home on 7-under.
Bon won't be the only Kiwi in the final qualifying series with Auckland professional Wendy Hawkes finishing level with Bon on 8-over to join her at the final stage at La Manga, but Hawkes' sister Angela failed to qualify. Wellington's Sarah Nicholson also missed the cut, finishing with in a share of 41st place.
It was Bon's best score of the week, with three bogeys balanced by three birdies.
Bon has pulled of some great wins at tournaments in the past, but all too often she has allowed three good rounds to be ruined by an odd off round. It looks as though she has begun to put that trend behind her and she will still need to play near her best if she wants to play on the LET this season.
The final qualifying series starts on December 15 and again runs for four rounds, with two rounds on the north course (par-71) at La Manga and two on the more difficult south course (par-73). "We played over two courses, so I'm looking forward to getting real familiar with the south course (in the next two weeks)," she said.
As well as the 70 players from the pre-qualifying series, there will be another 70 professionals who received exemptions into the tournament after failing to keep their tour cards at the tour this year.
However it goes, Bon has achieved her aim.
She is now just four rounds away from her ultimate goal - and she knows that in golf if you are in with a chance then anything can happen.
Northland golfer Caroline Bon is one step closer to her goal of becoming a professional golfer on the Ladies European Tour and she is attributing her success to the help of her boyfriend.
After making the cut in the LET pre-qualifying tournament at the La Manga Golf Club in the south
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