Westown golfer to tee off in Scotland ahead of British Open
New Plymouth golfer Jocelyn Stevenson has won the trip of a lifetime to play golf in Scotland.
Stevenson, from Westown Golf Club, will represent New Zealand at the R&A 9-Hole Challenge on the eve of the 152nd Open Championship – also known as the British Open – held at the Royal Troon Golf Club in Scotland in July.
The world final will feature 42 nine-hole players from 22 countries. It will be one of her proudest moments after playing links courses for 47 years.
Stevenson won Golf New Zealand’s ninehole initiative Make Time, Play 9 at Queenstown’s Millbrook Resort as part of the recent New Zealand Open golf celebration.
The initiative ran through the summer and encouraged golfers of all ages and skill levels across the country to participate in a shorter format of the game.
Golfers went into the prize draw by simply submitting their nine-hole scorecard.
Stevenson was one of nine players selected from across the country for an all-expenses-paid trip to the final event on the eve of the New Zealand Open.
She realised she won when the scorecards were tallied up after the round.
Golf New Zealand chief executive Jeff Latch presented her with the news.
“My chat thing has been going ping, ping, ping, ping all day long,” Jocelyn Stevenson
“My chat thing has been going ping, ping, ping, ping all day long,” she said on TVNZ’S Seven Sharp once news of her achievement went public.
She admitted there were a few challenging holes during her round.
She recalled where she was at the front of a green but chipped the ball into a bunker and couldn’t get it out. But she made up for it with the two that followed.
Stevenson, also a keen bowler at Paritutu, credits breathing as one of the ways to stay composed.
“My daughter had a T-shirt on that said ‘breathe’, so that helped. I probably don’t hit as long as the guys that were playing, I was straight down the middle. I was quite proud of myself; I can stray at times like the best of people.”
That straight hitting started from the first tee. After completing television interviews, being watched by an entourage from New Zealand Golf and seeing the first player hook his shot, there were some nerves. But Stevenson hit the ball down the middle of the fairway.
“I was pleased,” she said, with a smile of relief.
Stevenson’s son-in-law was the caddy during the championship round, and earned a further call-up for the British Open.
“He did very well because he didn’t say a thing. I didn’t let him,” she said, with a laugh.
“I’m sure he wanted to read my putts for me, but it’s better if I read them myself, because if I miss, I can blame myself.
“I think a lot of the family are hoping to come with me. There will be no pressure.”