KEY POINTS:
His lineage suggested he would be a standout in one sport or another. Now at the age of 21, Ryan Fox, grandson of cricketing great Merv Wallace and son of famous All Black Grant Fox, has come of age as one of the country's top half-dozen amateur golfers.
He didn't start 2008 in that situation. But his remarkably consistent form in the last nine months has earned him a place in the national academy squad and brought him to the brink of New Zealand team selection, an honour he's likely to achieve next year.
Fox finally won a significant tournament in late August when he claimed the Auckland provincial strokeplay title. Although weather restricted the event to two rounds, Fox's 10-under par score for 36 holes at Manukau was the dominant performance. It made up for three heartbreaking playoff losses in the past year, including the prestigious New Zealand Amateur Strokeplay title at Paraparaumu Beach in April.
So what's brought about the big turnaround? "To be honest I don't know what's changed," he offers at the start of our conversation this week - when, ironically, he'd just shot one of his worst scores of the year, a 79 in the first round of the Taranaki Open.
But the outgoing youngster then reveals that his alliance with Hawke's Bay-based coach Brian Doyle has done wonders for his game.
"I started working with him in March. Overall this year my stroke average in tournament play is 71.1. Since I've been seeing Brian, I average 69.8."
Fox has a powerful upper body which can generate tremendous clubhead speed. His reputation until this year was of someone who might hit it anywhere, especially off the tee. He says Doyle has brought his game more control.
"He's shown me how to turn behind the ball properly which means my swing is much more repeatable. I might not hit it further than before, but I certainly hit it more consistently further."
Fox is no teenage whiz-kid. He has serious golf ambitions but he and his family made sure he has an education as well. He studied full-time at Auckland University for two years and now, after continuing his degree part-time while working on his golf, he's poised to finish his BA in psychology this year.
"It's a back-up really, if golf doesn't work out, but I know I need to go and play overseas as an amateur before I can contemplate going any further.
"Nick Gillespie [2007 NZ Amateur runner-up] played in the US during the last few months and tells me just how much higher the standard is over there. So I've got to go and pit myself against those guys."
The man Fox sees on course most is his father, his regular caddy. So does having someone with extensive experience of top-level sport help his game?
"He's great on that score. We have a really good caddy-player relationship. But then I think I'm a bit easier to handle now. I guess there was time when I wasn't the easiest player to caddy for."
For Fox, No 1 in the year's unbeaten Auckland team and with ambitions to play for New Zealand at the 2010 Eisenhower Trophy, that statement may well be the key to his breakthrough.
The family bloodlines have bred much sporting success before. There's no reason why the latest generation can't match those who've gone before.
