Northland golfer shot closer to becoming a pro

Northland's Caroline Bon is just four rounds away from becoming a professional on the Ladies European Tour after making the cut in the pre-qualifying tournament at the La Manga Golf Club in the south of Spain.
Bon was elated after shooting a par round 71, with three birdies and three bogeys to finish the four round tournament on 8-over in a tie for 20th place. The solid final round meant the 23-year-old 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.
Another professional - Wellington's Sarah Nicholson - just missed the cut in the South-North field with a final round of 74 not good enough to lift her up to the cut line and she finished with 16-over in a share of 41st place.
The final 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). Bon knows she'll have to improve her scores if she wants to be one of the top 50 players to be offered a full playing card.
As well as the 70 players from the pre-qualifying series, there will be another 70-odd professionals who received exemptions into the tournament after failing to keep their tour cards at the tour this year.
 Read more in tomorrow's Northern Advocate.