Petite Kathryn Norris, WA’s number one ranked amateur female heads to the United Kingdom this month to compete in the European Women’s Amateur Championship in Dorset.
Kathryn, inspired by her Dad David, first enjoyed “whacking some balls” around The Cut at age six.
I think I loved riding in the cart the most at the start. I got a handicap when I was about eleven or twelve and I remember playing my first junior tournament at Kwinana
In 2018 Kathryn won the Jack Newton International Junior Classic, the South Australian Junior Masters and the Drummond Golf 54-hole Classic. This year with second place in the WA Amateur, and the Tasmanian Open, eighteen-year-old Kathryn has risen to fourth position on the Australian Amateur Rankings.
I am very proud of my Australian Ranking – that is certainly my biggest achievement. I have really focused on playing as much golf as I can in Australia and develop my game. It will be exciting to compete in a European field.
The European Women’s Amateur Championship will be hosted by Parkstone Golf Club on Britain’s South Coast. Parkstone is the grooming ground of 2018 RICOH Women’s British Open Champion, Georgia Hall. Georgia was a Junior member of Parkstone when she won the 2012 European Amateur, and after turning professional now sits at number 25 in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings.
Kathryn is coached by young Professional Golfer Braden Becker, at Mandurah Country Club, “Braden works with me on my game and on my course strategies. It’s not just on my swing on the range. I like that he is a current playing professional and I always come away from a lesson positive and wanting to do more.”
Becker notes, “the sky is the limit for Kathryn. She is a very hard worker and has the right balance in her life. You have to be happy in yourself to be happy on the course and perform. She is a good example of this.”
Kathryn will need to focus on not getting physically drained whilst competing overseas. With so many new challenges, climates and courses it is vital to take good care of yourself. She will need all her strength to get the length she needs on course.
Regular strength training and mentoring with Aaron Doyle forms a critical part of Kathryn’s successful formula.
“Aaron works with me on my mental strength and my core stability. He is a fantastic person and I really feel I have gained so much since working with him over the last few years.”
“Overall though it is my parents who have been a huge support to me. They never take a holiday and I am very grateful for the financial and emotional support they offer so I can continue to play in tournaments, train and practice.”
“I am also very fortunate to have the support of a very special group of family friends from the Cut Golf Course. My home club contributes with a grant each year and a wonderful group of guys from The Cut golf club, who play each Monday, donate every week to a little pot for me. I am so thankful for this as every little bit helps.”
This bright young star clearly has a wonderful future ahead. Best of luck in the UK Kathryn, may all your hard work, preparation and training bring you success on the international stage.
