Nelson Golf Club’s most promising women’s prospect, Eve Clarke, is gambling on herself in 2017.
The 17-year-old former Waimea College pupil will take up a place at the Lee Westwood Golf Academy in Essex later this year in an effort to see how far she can push her game.
Eve, who took up the game at age 12, says she has gained confidence after winning four of her six matches at the Toro Interprovincials earlier in the season.
Eve also won the Kina Open women’s event at the Tasman Golf Club, fending off a strong challenge from Tasman teammate Lizzie Neale to beat her with a strong final round.
The Kina Open victory goes alongside Eve’s Motueka Open triumph in January.
Despite her success, Eve says her ability to grind out results, particularly in matchplay situations, is what she found most pleasing.
“I haven’t been overly happy with my play, my ball striking has been a bit off, but sometimes it’s not about playing well, it’s about finding a way to win.”
She says she gained plenty of confidence after the Toro’s but was looking forward to getting out of Nelson and testing her game.
“I have a hard time believing in myself and my game at times,” she says. People tell me I’m good but that’s in a small place like Nelson and I look at this as a chance to see how good I am compared to others around the world.”
At the academy, Eve will work on all aspects of her game, including mental aptitude during the week and then have the opportunity to play in county tournaments on the weekend.
She is hopeful of more opportunities coming from her time away but she believes the experience will be invaluable.
Takaka’s Sean Riordan won the Kina Open for men, leading from start to finish to win by two shots with a score of two under 134.
Hamish Campbell and Blair Bavin were joint second at even par for the tournament, after a weekend of good weather produced solid scoring.