Lizzie Neale has been embarrassing boys on the golf course since she was seven-years-old.
As the only junior female member of the Nelson Golf Club, the young lads all try to out-drive her, but fall well short of her 200 metre monsters.
The 15-year-old Nelson College for Girls student has been playing off a staggering one handicap, for the past two months.
Lizzie also recently won the Junior Links Best Gross and Net competition which pitted all the best young golfers in the country against each other.
During her recorded round, Lizzie shot a 69 gross and 67 net on her home course.
Her winning, bogey free round, also happened to be the best she has ever shot.
“I didn’t realise until I got a text, but I was pretty happy.”
Lizzie says she dreams of becoming a professional golfer and joining the LPGA.
“I just want to keep trying to get good enough grades, so I can maybe get a scholarship to the States and hopefully get on the tour.”
Her grandfather, Mike Neale, is a former Nelson Golf Club president and introduced her to the game. “He taught me how to swing a club.”
Current Nelson Golf Club president Derek Drysdale says it didn’t take long before she started showing her true potential.
She attended junior skills sessions but soon outgrew the beginner lessons as she excelled in all areas and says she got to the stage where she was a bit bored.
“I just wanted to go hit balls on the range.”
Derek says because she was so good from an early age she was able to develop under club pros Glyn Delaney and Sean Riordan.
He likens her rapid ascent to another Kiwi golfing prodigy.
“There aren’t too many female golfers playing off a one handicap, the obvious comparison is to Lydia Ko who, at 14, was doing exceptional things and now we are seeing that from Lizzie.”
Derek says Lizzie’s dedication to her game is immeasurable.
“I was leaving the carpark the other night, it was almost dark but there was Lizzie hitting balls.”
He says she brings a ‘feel good factor’ to the Nelson Golf Club.
“We are just delighted to have Lizzie in our ranks, she’s very humble and one of the nicest people you’ll meet.”
The young golf gun will now switch her focus to the New Zealand Women’s U19 Championships in Palmerston North next month and the New Zealand amateurs in October.
She says she just hopes to keep progressing her skill level.
“There is no perfect game, you are always learning.”
