PYPER Hollis will be changing State allegiances when she plays for NSW in the Australian All Schools Golf Championship next week in Western Australia.
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Last year Pyper just missed selection in the NSW team for the championships held at Bonville and Coffs Harbour. However, the Western Australian side ended up being short, so Pyper was called into the squad.
This year Pyper earned a berth in the NSW team following the NSW All Schools Championships held at Yamba. She is the Manning River Times-Iguana Sportstar of the Week, picking up a $50 open order at Iguana.
The State event was played in steady rain and cold conditions.
Despite this Pyper qualified in the top 16 following strokeplay and from there finished equal fourth overall after the matchplay section to secure a spot in the team bound for WA.
"It was tough, but I thought I played pretty well,'' she said.
Pyper's hoping to repeat her efforts from last year when representing WA.
She was the leading player for the team after the opening two rounds to win the School Sports Australian net trophy.
She started the No. 2 player for the adopted State in the match play but moved up to No 1. She won three of her five matches.
Pyper will leave for Western Australia on Sunday. She isn't sure where the championships will be played. Last year she was well acquainted with the layouts at Coffs Harbour and Bonville, the venues for the titles, so next week will present a new challenge.
"But I'm still pretty confident,'' she said.
Her handicap currently sits on 3.2.
"I have been down to three but it's gone up a bit,'' she said.
This year Pyper's had to mix HSC study commitments with her playing schedule.
Pyper's a member of three clubs - Kew, Harrington Waters and Taree. She has two coaches, Luke Garel at Kew and Jason Laws at Newcastle, although she only works with Laws once or twice a month.
Pyper said her strength at the moment is her long game.
"My short game's alright, but I'd like to improve it,'' she added.
Pyper is regular in the Jack Newton Junior Golf program, although her appearances in tournaments this year have been truncated because of study.
Once the HSC is completed Pyper will turn her attention to the program, with the aim of qualifying for the year's finale at Bonville in November.
Pyper's been swinging a club since she was about four. It's been her ambition for a few years now to play golf fulltime and earlier this year she was accepted as an apprentice professional at Tallwoods. She starts work soon on completing her HSC.
