GOLF - Teen getting into the swing

Northland golf No.2 Phoebe Perrin isn't adverse to practice, and it's paying off for her in the national rankings.
The 17-year-old has worked her way up to No.32 in the national amateur ranks and has another chance to improve this weekend, when she lines up at the Waitangi Golf Club for the 56th Elaine Bledisloe matchplay tournament.
At this stage, the make-up of the elite (no handicap) division is looking strong, but Perrin, playing on her home course, will be one of the favourites.
She is looking to improve on her third place at the Lady Bledisloe tournament last year. She will have to get past two previous winners, New Zealand international representative Caroline Bon, who won in 2006, and last year's winner, Northland No.3 Sunny Nam Koon.
Bon was a surprise second round exit last year, beaten by Wellsford's Sjanna Bonnington, but is unlikely to be such an easy target this year.
Perrin has lowered her handicap from about 5 to 1.3 and is keen improve.
"I think the difference is that I want to practise as much as I can," the Bay of Island's high school student said.
"After school I go straight up to the golf course to hit some balls and practice my putting and chipping," she said.
Perrin began playing golf as a 12-year-old with her grandmother and was quickly drawn to the game. With both parents also keen golfers, she's never short of someone to play a round with.
"I think I enjoyed it because I liked socialising with other people on the course and meeting new people," she said.
The highlight of her career to date was making the cut in the matchplay championships at the New Zealand amateur tournament in Wellington earlier this year.
Perrin has set herself a target of making the top-12 at next year's nationals and as her recent form has shown, she's more than capable of doing that.Peter Thorley