Yap caps off fair year on the greens

Story & Images Courtesy of the Guardian Messenger
(Wednesday, 22nd June 2011)

PROMISING young golfer Elysia Yap is hoping the adage practise makes perfect comes true as her sporting career progresses.

Elysia, 16, took out the Youth Sports Awards individual female category in the southern region for her results in golf, presented last week at the Festival Centre.

Elysia, a student at the Australian Maths and Science School at Flinders Uni and a resident of Cumberland Park, won the Secondary Schools Sports A grade Girls Golfing title at the Grange Golf Club in May.  There she recorded a gross score of 165 – five strokes clear of second place.

But the young star is not getting carried away with her early success.  One of Elysia’s best results was when she was a semi-finalist in April this year at the State amateur championships, beaten by fellow young gun Jenny Lee.  She is using the experience, and that she has gained from other matchplays, to keep focused in the big matches. “Just to stay positive is the aim,” she said last week.

“At the moment I’m playing for Glenelg in the pennant competition, so I’m hoping we can win the final. I got into golf really when my mum sent me off with dad to learn.

“Later on I’d like to turn professional if I can.”

Elysia is playing off a handicap of eight and is under the guidance of coach Heath Lewis.

Elysia is eligible to win the overall female award at a Youth Sports Awards gala night at the Festival Centre on November 22.