As one of Australia’s newest professional golfers, pint-sized Stephanie Kyriacou is on par to becoming a queen of the international greens.
The 19-year-old cruised to an eight-shot win at the Australian Ladies Classic at Coffs Harbour’s Bonville Golf Resort recently enabling her to turn pro this week and taking up a two-year exemption on the Ladies European Tour, which includes major championship starts at the Evian Championship in France and the Women’s British Open.
The recent graduate of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart at Kensington said she’s still not only trying to come to terms with her recent success but about being congratulated by her golfing idol Carrie Webb.
“Taking out the title was just unreal, it really is still sinking in, I can’t believe it,” she said.
“I hadn’t been hitting the ball well leading up to the tournament so actually winning it by eight shots as an amateur against some of the best female golfers in the world is almost unheard of.
“And equally as exciting was exciting was getting a message from my absolute idol Carrie Webb herself saying ‘good job and if you ever need anything just let me know was equally as exciting.
“Carrie has been my inspiration during my career so to hear from her really is very, very special.
“I just want to concentrate on my golf now and see how far I can go with it.”
Stephanie, who plays at St Michael’s Little Bay in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, is preparing to compete in Saudi Arabia’s Ladies European Tour event this month, the first time the country will host a women’s event and with a prize-pool of $1.465 million, before competing in the 2020 Evian Championship in France, one of the 5 major women’s golf tournaments in the world.
It’s a far cry from her humble beginnings playing with her dad at local eastern suburbs driving ranges, and she’s thrilled to be one of the new breed of golfing superstars to hit the international circuit.
“I started playing with my dad when I was little, following him around driving ranges on a weekend,” she said.
“That’s where my passion started and
I have just gone from strength to strength ever since and now he actually caddies for me.
“When I was at school most of my friends really don’t understand what a big deal golf is.
“They knew I got to fly around the world and compete in lots of different tournaments but they didn’t understand how much hard work actually goes into it but to be honest from where I’m standing it’s all been so very worthwhile.
“I just can’t wait to see what the future holds and where it will take me.”