Golf: Bon in hunt for top-10 finish

Northland professional golfer Caroline Bon has carded a two-under-par 70 to be in a share of 10th place at the Volvik RACV Ladies Masters on the ALPG Tour.

The former New Zealand rep, who is in her second year as a professional, made two birdies in a bogey-free round to be four shots back from American Alison Washe, who leads by one.

Bon, who represented NZ at the Espirito Santo World Amateur Team Championship in 2010, has made a slow start to her professional career.

Her best result remains a tie for 16th place at the ISPS Handa New Zealand Women's Open at Pegasus in 2011.

But she is showing that she can match it with the world-class field on the Gold Coast before she returns home next week to compete in the New Zealand Women's Open at Clearwater from February 8-10.

North Harbour professional Cathryn Bristow, who qualified for the Ladies European Tour in 2012, has shot a two-over-par 74 in round one to be in a share of 59th place. Wellington pro Lynnette Brooky was well off the pace after shooting a five-over-par 77.

World No1 amateur Lydia Ko, who finished runner-up at the NSW Open last week, is having the week off before the NZ Women's Open where she is the Kiwi favourite to become the first home winner of the event.