It’s been a busy and successful year for golfing prospect Pyper Hollis.
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However, the 16-year-old still has some unfinished business.
Pyper is the newly crowned Central North Coast women’s champion following her nine shot win on her home course at Kew. Here she also won the team Beryl Avery team’s event with Jenny Hardy. This followed Pyper’s third placing in the Seaside Classic held at Port Macquarie.
Now she is preparing for the Australian All Schools championship to be played at Bonville, where she’s been invited to play for Western Australia.
Pyper is the Manning River Times-Iguana Sportstar of the Week, earning a $50 open order at Iguana.
The CNC championship was played over two days and 36 holes. Pyper led by four shots following the opening 18 holes.
“Not really,’’ she replied when asked if she felt any pressure going into the second 18. “I thought I was playing pretty well and I was on my home course, so that helped.’’
This is the first year she’s contested the event, with the CNC area taking in clubs from Bulahdelah to Woolgoolga. The Seaside Classic at Port attracted a field of 180 from all over NSW. This was also played over two days and 36 holes. Pyper was in contention for major honours throughout the tournament but said putting let her down at crucial times.
“The greens were really fast, and they were tough,’’ she said.
Her handicap currently sits at six but Pyper is hoping to reduce that to one by the year’s end.
She’s in her first year at Kew, having previously played at Harrington Waters. Her next major event will be the national all schools, where she received an invitation to play with Western Australia.
“That was a bit of a shock,’’ she said. “Mum received an e-mail asking if I was interested. I don’t know how they got onto me.’’
Pyper has been a finalist in the Jack Newton champion of champions played at Bonville for the past two years. To make the cut here players must win or finish runner up in one of the Jack Newton tournaments held through the year. Pyper has yet to secure a spot and said that’s at the top of her list at the moment.
“There’s two more (tournaments) left,’’ she said.
Playing the Jack Newton series takes her anywhere in NSW from Wagga to Tamworth and Ballina. She’s also had international experience, winning the North Island Under 19 Championship in New Zealand on the day she turned 13.
Turning professional is her ultimate ambition.
“Sometime in the next couple of years,’’ she replied when asked when she hopes to achieve the goal.