Given the less than impressive 2009 performances by the NZ pros it was a no-brainer that Danny Lee would win the award of 2009 New Zealand Golfer of the Year.

The Golf Awards held in Queenstown and hosted by New Zealand Golf and the NZPGA prior to the NZ Open produced no surprises.
David Smail won the award for the PGA of New Zealand Professional Golfer of the Year and the most remarkable award was Cecilia Cho winning the female amateur award.

Saw her some time back at Muriwai and was most impressed and not surprised that the young lass won the New Zealand amateur plus 14 other individual titles. Hopefully she’ll go on to better things.
And quite coincidentally I’ve just been reading Golf Magazine’s Connell Barrett’s interview with Michelle Wie.

“In a rare interview, 20-year-old Michelle Wie reveals how she bounced back in 2009 to reclaim a future that looks brighter than ever”

Fortunately Cecilia lives in far-off NZ and it’s unlikely she’ll be subjected to the media hype experienced by Michelle.

The “rare interview” doesn’t produce any startling revelations about Michelle and there’s no “secret” to her regained stature. In other words David Leadbetter who she calls “Lead” didn’t lead the way with a piece of advice to turn her game around. A lot of her success appears to be due to overcoming the wrist problems Michelle had suffered from for some time.

As for advice to lasses like Cecilia Cho, Connell Barrett asks.
“A hypothetical: A teenage girl comes to you for advice. She wants to conquer the world — to play the LPGA, the PGA Tour, the Masters. What do you tell her?”

Michelle replies,
I would say, "Have a thick skin. There will be a backlash." Also, I see a lot of girls being home-schooled, not getting [a formal] education. That worries me. College is an important growing experience. People say I didn't have a normal life growing up, but I did. I went to a regular high school. My advice would be to find a balance. If you want to conquer the world, enjoy it.”

As for the NZ Open it was good to see Josh Geary, as predicted, lead the way among the NZ pros. I’ve never seen him play except on the telly but an ex-pat Scot acquaintance who in his day was a leading Scottish amateur golfer tells me Josh has the “X” factor that many up and coming young NZ pros just don’t have. This assessment based on his experience playing with them in Pro-Ams.

Thought for the Day based on my previous post about Lakes Resort. And just in case you’re thinking about a golfing trip to the Coromandel.
Yes it’s still a wee bit rough in places but the new management are on to it and I’ve no doubt it will return it to its pristine condition.

Slainte

Stan